REO Speedwagon's 30-Year Anniversary of Multi-Platinum #1 Breakthrough Hit Hi Infidelity Brings Re-Release With Double-CD Package Due Out July 19, 2011


Anniversary Package To Include Previously-Unreleased Demos of Nine Songs and Liner Notes From Frontman Kevin Cronin

NEW YORK, May 24, 2011 -- The year 1981 marks the debut of the groundbreaking MTV Networks and, simultaneously, as MTV was hitting the airwaves, REO Speedwagon held the #1 album spot with their multi-platinum Hi Infidelity, making an impression that has also come to last decades.  Now, marking its 30th Anniversary, the highest-selling rock LP of 1981 is being commemorated with HI INFIDELITY: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, with special, never-before-released demos and more.  The double-CD set will be released at all physical and digital retail outlets on July 19th through Epic/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. 

Hi Infidelity was a career-changing album for REO Speedwagon, achieving a staggering number of accolades, chart positions and sales, among them:

  • Highest-selling rock LP of 1981
  • Has sold close to 10 million copies in the US
  • February 21, 1981; the album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and remained at #1 for 15 weeks straight; taking over John Lennon & Yoko Ono's "Double Fantasy," which previously held the spot for eight weeks
  • Remained on Billboard 200 album chart for 101 weeks, unprecedented for an American rock band at the time
  • Album certified RIAA Gold and Platinum on February 2, 1981; since been 10x Platinum certified
  • Single "Keep on Loving You," certified RIAA gold on March 4th, replaced Eddie Rabbitt's "I Love a Rainy Night" at #1 on Billboard Hot 100 on March 21, 1981
  • March 21st, 1981, the first week of Billboard's then new "Top Tracks" chart (now known as the Mainstream Rock Chart) boasted four songs from Hi Infidelity: "Keep on Loving You" and "Take It On the Run," which both hit the top 10; and "Don't Let Him Go"(#11) and "Tough Guys" (#25); "Out of Season," joined those four a week later
  • "Take It On the Run" was the 9th music video ever to be played on MTV

HI INFIDELITY: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION will pair the original album with a second CD of previously unreleased 'Crystal Demos' of nine of the album's 10 songs.  Additionally, the album packaging will include new liner notes by lead singer Kevin Cronin, as well as original lead guitarist Gary Richrath.  Cronin's essay takes the reader on a trip behind the curtain to the roots of many of the songs:  "I remember writing the verses to piano, after sleepwalking into my home studio around 4:00 a.m.... A long simmering response to the bullies of my youth came in the form of 'Tough Guys'... Bruce wrote and sang 'Someone Tonight,' which is one of the gems from the Crystal Demos... 'I wish You Were There' [was] a little gospel thing that I had written in the house where I grew up in suburban Chicago."

Originally formed in Champaign, Illinois, REO Speedwagon is still led today by keyboardist Neal Doughty (founding member since 1967), Kevin Cronin (who has fronted the band since 1972 on lead vocals and guitar), and bassist Bruce Hall (who joined in 1977) – along with lead guitarist Dave Amato (member since 1989) and drummer Bryan Hitt (since 1990).  Together, REO continues to define the essence of two enduring genres, arena rock on the performance side, and classic rock on the audio and video side.  Summer tour dates begin at Los Angeles' Greek Theatre on June 4th and take the band through more than 40 shows where they'll showcase the best of Hi Infidelity with the live performances that audiences have grown to love over the last three decades and continue to sell out time and time again.

As Cronin writes, "Hi Infidelity was a major life changer for all of us.  On our eleventh album, we went from being the perennial Midwestern underdog, to at last hitting the global big time.  Suddenly, the world was listening, and watching... But the truth is, it all still boiled down to the music, the songs, some inspired performances, and a great deal of good fortune.  We were a tight knit, dedicated group of individuals, with a dream, a purpose, and no doubt that we would pull it all off."

HI INFIDELITY: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION by REO SPEEDWAGON (Epic/Legacy 88697 69579 2, originally issuedNovember 1980, as Epic 36844)    

Disc One – Selections1. 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.

Disc Two: The Crystal Demos – Selections1. Someone Tonight  2. Tough Guys  3. In Your Letter  4. Follow My Heart  5. Take It On The Run  6. Don't Let Him Go  7. Keep On Loving You  8. Shakin' It Loose (Instrumental)  9. I Wish You Were There.  (All tracks previously unreleased.)

"The heavens, our emotions, the music business, and REO fans all over the world, were all perfectly aligned.  There was a common sense of purpose, of longing and loss, within the band members' collective psyche, that erupted with a burst of creativity, and resulted in the music of Hi Infidelity."

– from the liner notes written by Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon

"Kevin and I go way back, having met right about the time I joined Styx.  There was probably no one more keenly aware of their chart positions than we were for all those weeks back in 1981. Most exciting days indeed!"  – Tommy Shaw of Styx

REO SPEEDWAGON ON TOUR

June

June 4, 2011 - The Greek Theatre Los Angeles, CA
June 11, 2011 - Hoosier Park Racing & Casino Anderson, IN
June 17, 2011 - Show Me Music & Arts Festival Ozark, MO
June 18, 2011 - Guts Church Tulsa, OK
June 23, 2011 - Star Spangled Celebration Richland Center, WI
June 24, 2011 - DeVent Center Norfolk , NE
June 25, 2011 - The Oleson Park Bandshell Ft. Dodge, IA 

July

July 01, 2011 - Naperville Ribfest Naperville, IL
July 02, 2011 - Double JJ Ranch and Resort Rothbury, MI
July 04, 2011 - San Diego County Fair - Grandstand Del Mar, CA
July 23, 2011 - Elkhart County Fair Goshen, IN
July 25, 2011 - EAA AirVenture Aero Shell Square Oshkosh, WI
July 30, 2011 - Medicine Hat Stampede Medicine Hat, AB Canada

August

August 02, 2011 - Montana State Fair Great Falls, MT
August 19, 2011 - Chase County Fair Imperial, NE
August 21, 2011 - Central States Fairground Rapid City, SD
August 26, 2011 - Freedom Hall at the Lancaster County Convention Center Lancaster, PA
August 27, 2011 - Blue Ash Towne Square Blue Ash, OH
August 28, 2011 - Shenandoah County Fair Woodstock, VA

September

September 03, 2011 - New Lenox Commons New Lenox, IL
September 04, 2011 - Fulton County Fair Wauseon, OH
September 15, 2011 - Kansas State Fair Hutchison, KS
September 17, 2011 - Great Frederick Fair Frederick, MD
September 18, 2011 - Trib Total Media Amphitheater Pittsburgh, PA
September 23, 2011 - Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre

Notes to Editors

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

RELATED LINKS
http://www.legacyrecordings.com

May 24, 2011 9:39am ET by Pressparty   Comments (0)

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