In preparation for the 1980 album deep dive, I took a quick look back at my Mt. Rushmore for that year. Permanent Waves...check. Blizzard of Ozz...check. Heaven and Hell...check. Hi Infidelity...was I drunk? Yes, drunk on nostalgia. I thought back to my sophomore year in high school when REO Speedwagon ruled the world. I listened to this record just about everyday. "Keep on Loving You" dominated the charts. "Take it On the Run" is a classic rock radio staple to this day. Surely, Hi Infidelity had stood the test of time. Well, not so much.
On a certain level, I still love this album. It led me down a rabbit hole of classic 70's REO Speedwagon. "Roll With the Changes", "Keep Pushin", "Time For Me To Fly", "Ridin' the Storm Out" just to name a few. It features one of the most underrated guitarists of all-time, the late Gary Richrath. His solo on "Take it On the Run" is blistering. Back in the day, I even liked the album tracks. I'm not sure why an album with the subtle as a sledgehammer theme of infidelity appealed so much to a 16-year-old who had yet to even have a girlfriend. But it did.
Today, I went back and gave Hi Infidelity another spin. "2025 Me" decided to rate it 3.5 Stars and there's no chance of it making my Top 25 of 1980. "1980 Me" was a little sad. "Keep on Loving You" and "Take it On the Run" still hold up well. The problem is the songwriting on the rest of the album is a major step down from their 70's catalog and frequently quite cheesy. I could rehash some of the lyrics about hot, sweet-talkin' studs and tough guys, but I don't have the heart to pile on. It's notable that the only other album track that holds up is "Someone Tonight", which was written and sung by bassist Bruce Hall. It was the only track on the album that captures the 1979-81 power pop zeitgeist.
When I woke up today, I had no idea I would be posting about Hi Infidelity. And I don't mean to crap on it. It's still a very significant touchstone in my music journey. It's just remarkable that in two years an album could go from being on my Mt. Rushmore to not even making the Top 25. I felt that deserves some sort of call out before I post the 1980 Deep Dive some time in the near future. I still have about 80 albums to review, so bring your patience for the ride. Peace.
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