Hi Infidelity is the ninth studio album by American rock band REO Speedwagon, released on November 21, 1980, by Epic Records. The album became a big hit in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200, spending 15 weeks at number one (only 27 albums, and only 7 rock acts, have spent at least 15 weeks at number 1). It went on to become the biggest-selling album of 1981, eventually being certified 10 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Of the four singles released, "Take It on the Run" went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the band got their first of two number one hits with "Keep On Loving You".

Background

The album title is a play on the term "in high fidelity," which used to appear on album covers. The album art is an illustration of this pun where an act of sexual infidelity is apparently occurring while the man is putting an LP record to play on the hi-fi stereo.

Songs

Six songs from the album charted on the Billboard charts, including "Keep On Loving You" which was the band's first Number 1 hit, and "Take It on the Run", which reached No. 5 on the charts. The song "Tough Guys" uses an audio clip from the Our Gang short film Hearts Are Thumps (1937).

"Tough Guys" was one of two songs from the album that charted on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart despite not being released as singles. Music critic Robert Christgau called "Tough Guys" his favorite song from the album but suggested that the line "They think they're full of fire/She thinks they're full of shit" would prevent the song from reaching the pop Top 40.

Record World described "I Wish You Were There" as having a "novel gospel touch."

Reissues

On October 25, 2004, the band recorded the songs of this album live from beginning to end for an XM Radio "Then Again Live" special.

On July 19, 2011, Sony Music re-released Hi Infidelity with bonus demo tracks for the album's 30th anniversary. Demo tracks were recorded Live at Crystal Studios, Hollywood, June through August 1980.

In 2024, the album was again remastered for vinyl reissue. It was also made available on streaming.

Track listing

Original release

30th Anniversary Edition (2011)

Personnel

REO Speedwagon

• Kevin Cronin – lead and backing vocals (except on "Someone Tonight"), acoustic and electric rhythm guitars, acoustic piano on "Keep on Loving You" and "I Wish You Were There"

• Gary Richrath – electric guitar

• Neal Doughty – keyboards

• Bruce Hall – bass, lead vocals on "Someone Tonight"

• Alan Gratzer – drums, tambourine on "I Wish You Were There"

Additional musicians

• Steve Forman – percussion on "Keep on Loving You"

• Tom Kelly – backing vocals

• Richard Page – backing vocals

• "N. Yolletta" – backing vocals on "In Your Letter"

• Maggie Ryder – backing vocals on "Keep On Loving You"

Technical personnel

• Kevin Beamish – producer, engineer

• Kevin Cronin – producer, arrangements

• Gary Richrath – producer

• Alan Gratzer – co-producer

• Tom Cummings – assistant engineer

• Jeff Eccles – assistant engineer

• Kent Duncan – mastering at Kendun Recorders (Burbank, California).

• Aaron Rapoport – photography

• John Kosh – art direction, design

• Bobby Gordon – lighting design

• John Baruck – management

• Al Quaglieri – reissue producer

• Joseph M. Palmaccio – remastering

• Laura Grover – remastering supervisor

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Hi Infidelity

Year-end charts

1981 year-end chart performance for Hi Infidelity

1982 year-end chart performance for Hi Infidelity

Certifications

Release history

Release history and formats for Hi Infidelity

Notes

References