REO Speedwagon had the number one album and the number one single and their greatest success with this guilty pleasure. Recorded during a time of emotional upheaval for the entire band, the record became an arena rock concept album about secrets and lies in relationships. After a decade of playing live and paying their dues, they finally made it big. 'Hi Infidelity' was the biggest selling rock album of that year, hitting the top of the album chart three times for a total of fifteen weeks.
The power ballad 'Keep On Lovin' You' was their first number one single.
"I wrote the verses in the middle of the night. I wandered into my home studio and sat down at an old Wurlitzer piano that was in there; it was about three or four in the morning. It was really one of those cathartic moments. I didn’t write the chorus at that time but I felt like I really connected with some pretty deep feelings with the verses. You don’t know when you are writing a song where it will end up. I just knew it was extremely honest, maybe honest to a fault."
"You should've seen by the look in my eyes, baby
There was somethin missin
You should've known by the tone of my voice, maybe
But you didn't listen
You played dead
But you never bled
Instead you lay still in the grass
All coiled up and hissin"
Guitarist Gary Richrath wrote 'Take It On The Run' which made it to number five and features the classic opening line:
"Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from a friend who
Heard it from another you been messin' around"
'Don't Let Him Go'
"If you took all five of the band members and rolled them into one then that was our hero in “Don’t Let Him Go.” It was a pretty simple concept. This character was saying to the woman that he loved that he knew he was immature and that he was trying to be the best man he could be and not to give up on him. The chorus says, “Don’t let him go/Give him a chance to grow/Take it easy, take it slow/And don’t let him go.” It was not my deepest lyric ever but it was heartfelt and it was what all five of us were going through. All of our relationships were in turmoil. It was really a group cry for help to one degree or another."
'In Your Letter'
"In your letter you said you didn't love me
You said you're gonna leave me
But you could've said it better"
'Tough Guys'
"She doesn't like the tough guys.
She says she's heard enough lies.
She's gonna call your bluff, guys.
And you better believe it's true.
She don't like you."
'Hi Infidelity'
full album:
Side 1
1. "Don't Let Him Go" Kevin Cronin 3:47
2. "Keep On Loving You" Cronin 3:22
3. "Follow My Heart" Tom Kelly, Gary Richrath 3:50
4. "In Your Letter" Richrath 3:18
5. "Take It on the Run" Richrath 3:59
Side 2
6. "Tough Guys" Cronin 3:51
7. "Out of Season" Cronin, Kelly 3:07
8. "Shakin' It Loose" Richrath 2:27
9. "Someone Tonight" Bruce Hall 2:42
10. "I Wish You Were There" Cronin 4:27
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