Rocktrospectiva: The Big And Massive "Hi Infidelity" Turns 45

Released on 21 November 1980 "Hi Infidelity" was the ninth studio album by US rock band REO Speedwagon. The album became a big hit in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200. It went on to become the biggest-selling album of 1981, spawning four singles "Take It On The Run", "Keep On Loving You", "In Your Letter", "Don't Let Him Go". 

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. While the band had previously released some successful recordings, none of them came close to what happened for them with Hi Infidelity.

It spawned several hit singles, including the first of two Number #1 hits they would have in their career. The album itself also made it to #1 on the charts. It would end up becoming the biggest-selling rock album of 1981.

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", on the other hand "Tough Guys" was one of two songs from the album that charted on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart despite not being released as singles. 

The album opened with "Don't Let Him Go", a great rocking song for them to start the album with. Singer Kevin Cronin sounds fantastic, as do the rest of the band members. I especially love the playing of keyboardist Neal Doughty and guitarist Gary Richrath on this track, "Keep On Loving You" was the first single that eventually became the band's first No. 1 song and it become one of the most popular ballads of the 1980s. "Follow My Heart" many believe this song was a kinda of a filler but in the end it was another great rock and roll song criminally underrated, "In Your Letter" the 4th., single that made it onto the top 20, a song that was inspired by how keyboardist Neal Doughty found out that his wife was leaving him. He and the band had just finished a tour. Doughty returned to his home and found a “goodbye” letter from his wife in their kitchen, informing him that she had left him for another man. The man in question was actually a person who supplied the band members with illegal drugs. Now here it comes the masterpiece "Take It On The Run" was the second single released from the album and it was almost as successful as “Keep On Loving You,” reaching No. 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

The second part began with "Tough Guys" the song started with a short, fun clip of a classic scene from one of The Little Rascals short films, to turned into a great, rocking song with wesome music and vocals. "Out Of Season" this was another funny song to listening to, "Shakin' It Loose" another great cool rock song from the beginning and all the way to the end, Neil Doughty went into a great brief piano solo which sounds amazing…and then Gary Richrath rips into one of his best guitar solos ever. "Someone Tonight" on here the bassist Bruce Hall took the lead vocals, and finally "I Wish You Were There" a sort of a third ballad on the album, maybe not even as close as their biggest ballads, but indeed Cronin voice here was brilliant and sang with a lot of passion in his voice and it was ap erfect song to end this magnificent album and of the biggest of the 1980s.

 

Hi Infidelity Track List: 

 

1. Don't Let Him Go

2. Keep On Loving You

3. Follow My Heart

4. In Your Letter

5. Take It On The Run

6. Tough Guys

7. Out Of Season

8. Shakin' It Loose

9. Someone Tonight

10. I Wish You Were There

Rocktrospectiva: The Gratifying "Wheel Are Turnin'" Turns 40

 

 

Released on 5 November 1984 "Wheels Are Turnin'" was the 11th., studio album by REO Speedwagon, the album peaked at No. 7 on Billboard 200, and spawned four singles "I Do Wanna Know", "Can't Fight This Feeling", "One Lonely Night", & "Live Every Moment", the lead single peaked at No. 29 on Billboard Hot 100, while the second single, "Can't Fight This Feeling," was REO's second and longest-running number one single. Other singles released were "One Lonely Night" and "Live Every Moment". These singles also reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.

The album blends clear, crisp ballads with high-energy pop/rock, which eventually gave REO Speedwagon four Top 40 singles, the same amount as Hi Infidelity credited them with four years earlier. Kevin Cronin's writing is rock-solid, a delightful turnaround from 1982's Good Trouble album. As one of the band's best ballads, "Can't Fight This Feeling" puts an elegant piano riff in front of Cronin's earnest voice, presenting REO with its second number one single, while "I Do' Wanna Know" is a turbulent ride of clean-cut guitar and up-and-down piano that comes off as well-crafted pop with a bite. 

Every track has the band sounding sharper and more alive, with even the less-extravagant material like "Break His Spell" and "Thru the Window", while "One Lonely Night" throws the spotlight on Cronin's voice, proving that his expertise at carrying out the slow stuff hasn't dwindled, while "Live Every Moment" rounds out the last of the singles from the album, hitting number 34 in August of 1985, eight months after Wheels Are Turnin' achieved its number-seven mark on the U.S. charts. With production, songwriting, and tight instrumentation wisely dished out in equal portions, Wheels Are Turnin' was evidence that REO Speedwagon could still make some gratifying rock & roll. 

Is definitely one of their best-selling albums but it also contains some of the catchiest, and most uplifting classic rock tunes and a guilty pleasures as well so "Wheels are Turnin'" is so much more than the smashing hit single "Can’t Fight This Feeling". but every song on that album has a similar effect on me. The opening track, "I Do' Wanna Know" is a personal favorite maybe because it has that early-REO Speedwagon vibe, mixed with modern elements. It’s actually the best of both worlds – raw and melodic. It’s most certainly a song that should’ve gotten more attention and recognition. "One Lonely Night" is another worthy track; "Rock ‘N Roll Star" is an often forgotten rock anthem despite being a fantastic piece of a puzzle. The rest is just as appealing; from start to finish.

Basically these guys just wanted to craft a satisfying piece of rock music and they did it. The album is breezy and atmospheric, with fantastic instrumentation, gratifying riffs and superb vocals. 

 

Wheels Are Turnin' Track List:  

1. I Do' Wanna Know

2. One Lonely Night

3. Thru The Window

4. Rock 'N Roll Star

5. Live Every Moment 

6. Can't Fight This Feeling

7. Gotta Feel More

8. Break His Spell

9. Wheels Are Turnin'

Rocktrospectiva: El Gigantesco "Hi Infidelity" Cumple 40 Años

 

Lanzado el 21 de Noviembre de 1980, "Hi Infidelity" noveno disco de la banda Estadounidense REO Speedwagon, resultó ser el disco más vendido al año siguiente, alcanzando el No. 1 del Billboard 200, lanzó cuatro singles de los cuales el primero "Keep On Loving You" fue No. 1, mientras que la grandiosa "Take It On The Run" llegó al No. 5, también destaco "In Your Letter" y menos acogida tuvo "Don't Let Him Go". La portada del disco fue una de las mejores en donde destacada un acto de infidelidad sexual que aparentemente ocurría mientra un hombre ponía un disco en su estero de alta fidelidad. 

 

La banda venía hacia tiempo ganandose el beneplácito de las masas, pero necesitaba algo que le permitiera establecerse finalmente como uno de los pesos pesados del arena rock que dominó el panorama musical entre finales de los 70's y principios de los 80's., y entonces aparece este disco que logra agrupar sus fuerzas y captura todo lo bueno acerca del movimiento arena rock, el disco estaba hecho para eso, para que sus tema fueran coreados en un estadio, el eslabón perfecto entre los actos de hard rock masivos de los años 70's y el sonido y la estetica MTV que comenzaba a tomar parte, las canciones tiene el tipico estilo de la banda con letras acerca de relaciones y partidas, pero con buenos ganchos pop que le dieron ese toque masivo al disco ya que los temas tenian alma y pasión pese a que por momentos se sienten algunas limitaciones en cuanto a producción, y es que en el disco destacan dos temas, la power ballad "Keep On Loving You" que sonó y sonó sin parar hasta bien entrados los 90's., y por supuesto mi favorita "Take It On The Run", que definieron el sonido de su era y le dieron un poder único sobre los demas discos del mismo estilo de bandas como Styx, Journey o April Wine por decirlo así, pero también hay otros grandes momento como "Don't Let hum Go", con un rimo consistente que le permitío entrar en los charts, otros grandes tracks como "Follow My Heart", y la baladita al estilo sesentero en "In Your Letter" y la vibrante "Tough Guys", que hicieron destacar el disco en aquel entonces. 

 

Con el pasar de los años y la decadencia del arena rock, la banda comenzaría a ser olvidada e injustamente asociada al sonido que dominó a principios de los 80's y le hizo dar identidad a MTV en su momento debut, en parte la culpa la tuvo este disco que pese a todo fue, es y será su gran carta de presentación, el disco que definío el estilo y fue la prueba viva del porque el arena rock fue algo masivo y gigante hace 40 años.

Hi Infidelity Track List:

1. Don't Let Him Go

2. Keep On Loving You

3. Follow My Heart

4. In Your Letter

5. Take It On The Run

6. Tough Guys 

7. Out Of Season

8. Shakin' It Loose

9. Someone Tonight

10. I Wish You Were There