1980 - December: REO Speedwagon “Hi Infidelity”

Hi Infidelity would be the biggest selling rock album of 1981, and would be the high water mark for REO Speedwagon.  The band at the time was Kevin Chronin on lead vocals, Gary Richrath on lead guitars, Neal Doughty on keyboards, Bruce Hall on bass, and Alan Gratzer on drums.

REO Speedwagon started out in 1967, and the name comes from a 1915 truck called the REO Speed Wagon.  Neal Doughty saw the name on the blackboard in his History of Transportation class as an electrical engineering major at the University of Illinois in Champaign, and thought the name was cool.  The original lead singer for their 1971 debut album was Terry Luttrell, who would go on to be the vocalist for Starcastle after a breakup that involved Luttrell being left in a cornfield after a bad gig.  Kevin Cronin came in for their second album, would leave during the recording sessions on their third album, then return in 1976 for their sixth album.  

Cronin and Richrath wrote a lot of the music from 1977 on, and around this time long time bassist Greg Philbin left the band, either because of the changing split in money as the band became more commercially successful, or because of his lifestyle issues affecting the music (depending on who you ask).  Bruce Hall joined thereafter for the recording of the album "You Can Tune A Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish."  That was their first top 40 album, including the singles "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly."

Hi Infidelity put them over the top.  This was a pop-rock crossover, with more commercial appeal than previous rock-oriented efforts.  The big song was the ballad "Keep On Loving You," which was everywhere in early 1981.  High Infidelity would be the biggest selling rock album of 1981, taking the top spot on the Billboard 200, and certified 10 times platinum over time.

Thought they had a number of hits through the 1980's, Hi Infidelity would never be topped.  Gary Richrath would leave the band in 1989.  He reunited with the band in a concert in 1998, in 2000, and again in 2013 for a benefit concert.  REO Speedwagon tours today with Doughty, Cronin, and Hall still in the lineup, joined by Dave Amato on guitar (formerly with Ted Nugent) and Bryan Hitt on percussion (formerly of Wang Chung).

 

Don't Let Him Go This track opens the album, and was the third single released.  Kevin Cronin wrote this hard driving song with a Bo Diddley beat.  The song is based on the experiences of all the band members and is basically a plea to all their girlfriends to have patience with them.

Follow My Heart This is a deeper cut, not one of the singles.  It's basically about a girl that the guy knows is bad news, but he can't decide whether to follow his head or follow his heart.  Gary Richrath wrote this song with songwriter Tom Kelly.

Tough Guys Kevin Cronin wrote this as a bit of a rebuttal to the "nice guys finish last" trope.  "She doesn't like the tough guys, she doesn't like the rough guys.  She's gonna call your bluff guys, and you better believe it's true - she don't like you."  The opening clip is from a 1937 "Our Gang" (aka "The Little Rascals") episode.  This song wasn't released as a single, but made the mainstream rock chart anyway.

Take It on the Run The second single from the album was written by Gary Richrath and went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The song takes on the rumor mill in an interesting way:  "Now, I'm telling you, babe, that I don't think its true, babe, and even if it is, keep this in mind."  The music video to this song was the ninth video played on MTV's first day in August 1981, but technical difficulties resulted in only 12 seconds of the video airing.  

 

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

9 to 5 by Dolly Parton (from the motion picture 9 to 5) Working women exact revenge on their boss in this satire starring Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, and Dolly Parton.

 

STAFF PICKS:

Dreamin' by Cliff Richard Brian's staff pick takes us to a famous British singer.  Leo Sayer helped write this upbeat song.  Richard stated that this was an unusual song for him because it is in a higher range than is typical for Richard.  The song was accumulated in the studio, as a verse would be recorded, then the next written.   

(Just Like) Starting Over by John Lennon Rob features a song that took off the charts shortly after Lennon was shot and killed by Mark David Chapman.  Lennon was trying to create a sound that he called his "Elvis-Orbison track," and it had a definite 50's feel to it.  The song was released in October but took off on the charts after his death.

I Will Follow by U2 Wayne brings us the first single from the debut album by U2.  This single was a staple of fraternity parties across the nation at the time.  Bono wrote this song as a tribute to his mom who died when he was young.  Unusual instruments were used for percussive effect including silverware and breaking bottles.

The Turn of a Friendly Card, part 1 by The Alan Parsons Project Bruce finishes the staff picks with the first part of a 16-minute suite bearing the same name as the album.  The Turn of a Friendly Card was a concept album revolving around gambling, gambling addiction, and what happens to a person who turns to gambling in the midst of a mid-life crisis.

 

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

The Gold Bug by The Alan Parson's Project An instrumental from "The Turn of a Friendly Card," this song was inspired by a short story of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe.

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