In hindsight, the stunning commercial indifference to the early work of the Romantics leaves anyone with ears absolutely stymied. After all, the band's "What I Like About You" - a song that, despite recent overuse in commercials, remains almost universally adored - didn't even dent the Top 40 when it was originally released as a single in 1980.
If you're asking yourself how such a thing is even possible, you're not alone.
One can only surmise that the backlash against anything considered remotely "power pop" in the wake of the Knack's spectacular flame-out had led radio programmers to keep the Romantics at arm's length no matter how damn catchy their tunes were.
For the cover of National Breakout, which had hit store shelves the same year as their debut, the band ditched the matching suits that had become a bit of a "power pop" cliche, and, in doing so, succeeded only in diluting their own visual identity.
The album itself, however, is chock-full of garage rock gems every bit as inspired as those found on their now-classic debut, including a blistering cover of Detroit psych-rockers The Underdogs' "Friday At The Hideout" that lovingly pays tribute to both the band and the fertile scene that existed around the storied Detroit rock club The Hideout (which was home to both Glen Frey and Bob Seger) in the '60s.
Having handed their label two stellar albums that had met with only a smattering of national interest, it was easy to see why the Romantics were looking to change things up for album #3.
The band made two key decisions before sessions began, hiring Coz Canler to fill the vacancy left by Mike Skill and replacing producer Pete Solley with Mike Stone, who'd co-produced Queen's News Of The World.
At times, the album almost drifts into heavy metal territory, believe it or not, and Rich Cole's lead vocals on "Can't Get Over You" and "No One Like You" (the album's only single) add yet another dimension to the band's sonic palette.
Despite also featuring some of the most lunk-headed compositions in the band's catalog ("Look At Her", "Bop" and "She's Hot", the high points are without equal: "In The Nighttime", "Spend A Little Love On Me" and "Why'd You Leave Me" all hint at what could have been had MTV been the factor that it was in helping their next album, In Heat, become the hit that it was.
Sadly, Rich Cole would depart the band after Strictly Personal, clearing the way for Mike Skill's return.