Foreigner “Hot Blooded” released

Hot Blooded Foreigner

Writer(s): Lou Gramm, Mick Jones (see lyrics here) Released: June 9, 1978 First Charted: July 1, 1978 Peak: 3 US, 4 CB, 4 HR, 2 RR, 2 CL, 42 UK, 3 CN, 24 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 7.0 video, 63.24 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones formed Foreigner in 1976 with Ian McDonald, formerly of King Crimson, along with drummer Dennis Elliott. Those three were British while singer Lou Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood, and bassist Ed Gagliardi were American. Their self-titled debut was released in 1977. It reached #4 on the Billboard album chart and sold five million copies in the U.S. Matching such feats on a sophomore release was a daunting challenge, but Foreigner outdid themselves. 1978’s Double Vision got to #3 and outsold its predecessor with seven million copies sold in America. Like the Foreigner album, Double Vision also generated two top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and a third top-20 hit. The first single, “Hot Blooded,” reached #3 and while follow-up single “Double Vision” outdid it on the charts by hitting #2, “Hot Blooded” had more than double the sales. Songfacts.com said, “Nothing conveys testosterone-charged sexuality quite like this song.” SF It notes how the phrase “hot blooded” is used to “indicate a raging libido.” SF Gramm creepily acknowledged the song is about lamenting about missed hook-ups at shows (are we really supposed to feel sorry for rock stars not getting laid everytime they want?). He said, it is “a bit tongue-in-cheek, but really, it is a problem meeting ladies on the road. You see somebody in the audience you want to meet, but after the show, by the time you’re through doing interviews and getting cleaned up, there’s nobody around. You find yourself wandering around a city alone with nothing to do.” WK Billboard called the song “a high energy rocker that boils with a fervent energy” WK while Cash Box praised it as “driving, unadorned rock ‘n’ roll.” WK Conrad Bibens of St. Joseph News-Press called it a “Free soundalike that lets Gramm sing in the gruff manner of Paul Rodgers.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Foreigner SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/9/2022.