Foreigner: A Retrospective, 1976-1992

Foreigner A Retrospective: 1976-1992

Overview: English musician Mick Jones, formerly of Spooky Tooth, formed Foreigner in 1976 with Ian McDonald (formerly of King Crimson) and American singer Lou Gramm. He suggested the name “Foreigner” after the group had blossomed into a six-piece with three Brits and three Americans. In the short five years covered on this page, they lost three founding members and by 1981 were working as a four-piece unit. From 1977 to 1981 the band released four studio albums, all of which hit the top 5 on the Billboard album charts and sold at least five million each. Their most successful album was 4, which spent 10 weeks on top. They hit the top 40 eleven times in that same span with their biggest hit being “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” a #2 hit for 10 weeks. The Players: Lou Gramm (vocals, percussion): 1977-82 Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards, vocals): 1977-82 Ian McDonald (guitar, backing vocals, saxophone, keyboards): 1977-79 Al Greenwood (keyboards): 1977-79 Ed Gagliardi (bass): 1977-78 Dennis Elliott (drums): 1977-82 Rick Wills (bass): 1979-82 On the Web: A (official site) Facebook Wikipedia

Awards:

The Studio Albums: Hover over an album cover to see its title and year of release. Click on the album to go to its dedicated DMDB page. Compilations: R Records (1976-1982, released 1982) VB The Very Best…and Beyond (1976-1992, released 1992) Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to singles charts.

Foreigner (1977): Feels Like the First Time (3/26/77, 4 US, 2 CL, 39 UK, 7 CN, 41 AU, 6 DF) R, VB Cold As Ice (7/23/77, 6 US, 1 CL, 24 UK, 9 CN, 32 AU, 3 DF) R, VB Long, Long Way from Home (12/10/77, 20 US, 7 CL, 22 CN, 70 AU, 9 DF) R

The debut album from Foreigner was an immediate success, spawning three top-10 hits and a third top-20 hit. The album sold more than five million copies and hit the top 5 on the Billboard album chart.

Double Vision (1978): Hot Blooded (7/1/78, 3 US, 2 CL, 42 UK, 3 CN, 24 AU, 1 DF) R, VB Double Vision (9/22/78, 2 US, 2 CL, 7 CN, 97 AU, 3 DF) R, VB

With two top-five hits, Foreigner wasn’t suffering from a sophomore slump. Not only did the album chart a notch higher (#3) than its predecessor, but it outsold it with more than ten million copies worldwide. A third song, “Blue Morning, Blue Day,” was a top-20 hit, but isn’t included on the Records compilation.

Head Games (1979): Head Games (11/10/79, 14 US, 6 CL, 14 CN, 8 DF) R, VB Dirty White Boy (9/8/79, 12 US, 6 CL, 14 CN, 9 DF) R, VB Rev on the Red Line (44 CL, 14 DF) VB

While Head Games still put two songs in the top 20 on the U.S. pop chart, it wasn’t quite the same lofty heights as the Double Vision album. Still, the album was a top-five hit with sales over five million.

Foreigner 4 (1981): Urgent (7/4/81, 4 US, 1 AR, 45 UK, 1 CN, 24 AU, 4 DF) R, VB Juke Box Hero (7/25/81, 26 US, 3 AR, 48 UK, 39 CN, 53 AU, 1 DF) R, VB Waiting for a Girl Like You (10/10/81, 2 US, 1 AR, 5 AC, 8 UK, 2 CN, 3 AU, 1 DF) R, VB

This was Foreigner’s most successful outing. The album spent a whopping ten weeks atop the Billboard album chart and gave them their biggest hit to date with the power ballad “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” which spent ten weeks in the runner-up spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

Records Foreigner

Released: November 29, 1982 Recorded: 1977-1982 Peak: 10 US, 58 UK, -- CN, 26 AU, 11 DF Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, 0.06 UK, 11.4 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: (1) Cold As Ice (2) Double Vision (3) Head Games (4) Waiting for a Girl Like You (5) Feels Like the First Time (6) Urgent (7) Dirty White Boy (8) Juke Box Hero (9) Long, Long Way from Home (10) Hot Blooded (live) Total Running Time: 39:23

Rating: 4.392 out of 5.00 (average of 13 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About Records: After four top-10 albums and 11 top-40 singles in five years, Foreigner took a break, offering fans their first compilation. It was a multi-platinum, top-10 hit just like its predecessors despite offering nothing new, save a live version of “Hot Blooded.” In fact, this wasn’t just a multi-platinum seller; it was Foreigner’s third album (after Double Vision and 4) to top ten million in sales worldwide. As packed as this is with hits, it still misses a few, most notably the #15 hit “Blue Morning, Blue Day” and the #41 hit “Women.” They could have easily been added, considering the album’s sub-40-minute running length. Still, there’s no arguing with what is here. There would be many compilations to follow over the years, but this was the first and most successful.

Agent Provocateur (1984): I Want to Know What Love Is (11/13/84, 12 US, 11 CB, 12 RR, 3 AC, 85 RB, 11 AR, 13 UK, 13 CN, 15 AU, 1 DF) VB That Was Yesterday (1/19/85, 12 US, 10 CB, 10 RR, 24 AC, 4 AR, 28 UK, 24 CN, 55 AU, 1 DF) VB

Foreigner’s fifth album couldn’t possibly live up the success of their #1, multi-platinum fourth effort, but Agent Provocateur was still a top 5, platinum seller. It also gave the group their only #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

Inside Information (1987): Say You Will (12/5/87, 6 US, 8 CB, 7 RR, 41 AC, 14 AR, 71 UK, 13 CN, 6 AU, 9 DF) VB I Don’t Want to Live Without You (5 US, 8 CB, 4 RR, 11 AC, 18 AR, 18 CN, 21 AU, 9 DF) VB

This was Foreigner’s first album to miss the Billboard top 10, but it was still a million seller with two top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Very Best…and Beyond Foreigner

Released: September 22, 1992 Recorded: 1977-1992 Peak: 123 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.06 UK, 4.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: (1) Soul Doctor (2) Prisoner of Love (3) With Heaven on Our Side (4) Juke Box Hero (5) Hot Blooded (6) Cold As Ice (7) Head Games (8) Waiting for a Girl Like You (9) Urgent (10) Double Vision (11) I Want to Know What Love Is (12) Say You Will (13) That Was Yesterday (14) I Don’t Want to Live Without You (15) Rev on the Red Line (16) Dirty White Boy (17) Feels Like the First Time Total Running Time: 73:10

Rating: 3.774 out of 5.00 (average of 9 ratings)

About The Very Best…and Beyond: This collection essentially served as a super-sized version of 1982’s Records with the studio recording of “Hot Blooded” instead of a live version. “Long, Long Way from Home” is absent and “Blue Morning, Blue Day” still hasn’t made the cut on a compilation, but this set is superior to Records because of the inclusion of post-1982 hits “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “That Was Yesterday,” “Say You Will,” and “I Don’t Want to Live Without You.” This set skips over Foreigner’s 1991 Unusual Heat, which was made without Lou Gramm, and adds three fairly forgettable new songs. Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: Soul Doctor (9/26/92, 5 AR, 48 CN, 31 DF) VB With Heaven on Our Side (12/5/92, 85 CN, 31 DF) VB Prisoner of Love VB

Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Foreigner WK Wikipedia First posted 9/20/2020; last updated 7/9/2022.

Foreigner released Head Games

First posted 9/20/2020.

Head Games Foreigner

Released: September 11, 1979 Peak: 5 US, -- UK, 5 CN, 45 AU Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, -- UK, 6.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Dirty White Boy (9/8/79, 12 US, 6 CL, 14 CN) Love on the Telephone Women (2/16/80, 41 US, 16 CL, 82 CN) I’ll Get Even with You Seventeen Head Games (11/10/79, 14 US, 6 CL, 14 CN) The Modern Day Blinded by Science Do What You Like Rev on the Red Line (44 CL) Total Running Time: 38:12 The Players: Lou Gramm (vocals, percussion) Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards, vocals) Ian McDonald (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards) Al Greenwood (keyboards) Dennis Elliott (drums) Rick Wills (bass)

Rating: 3.195 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

About the Album: While Head Games didn’t quite match the lofty heights of Foreigner’s debut or Double Vision, it didn’t miss by much. It was the group’s third top-10, multi-platinum album and generated two top-20 hits. The album marked the debut of Rick Wills as the new bassist after Ed Gagliardi was fired from the band. Wills had formerly been with Jokers Wild and Small Faces. The album was also mark the finale for founding members Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood, who left the group after recording the album. The album was preceded by the “thunderous hard rock song” WK Dirty White Boy as the first single. The title cut followed as the second single. However, after eight top-40 hits over three albums, Foreigner finally missed the mark with the third single from Double Vision. Women peaked just outside the top 40 at #41.

Resources and Related Links: Foreigner’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry WK Wikipedia

 

Foreigner “Double Vision” released

Double Vision Foreigner

Writer(s): Lou Gramm, Mick Jones (see lyrics here) Released: September 8, 1978 First Charted: September 22, 1978 Peak: 2 US, 5 CB, 8 HR, 2 RR, 2 CL, 7 CN, 97 AU, 3 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 5.7 video, -- 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. The title song was released as the second single and went a rung higher, peaking at #2. Gramm said, “A lot of people think it’s about being intoxicated or being high.” WK He said he was watching a New York Rangers game while in the vocal booth at the studio. WK Jones, however, says they were at the game. Both of them, however, agreed that a player was knocked out and it was later announced that he wouldn’t returning because he was experiencing double vision. SF Cash Box said the song has “slashing guitars and a mean, ticking beat.” WK Joseph Bensoua of the San Pedro News-Pilot said it has “just the right hooks, phrasing and simple lyrics needed for controlled rock ‘n’ roll.” WK Kim McAuliffe of the Detroit Free Press described it as “one of those ditties…that imprints itself on your brain whether you want it to or not.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Foreigner SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/10/2022.

Foreigner released Double Vision

First posted 9/20/2020; updated 10/17/2020.

Double Vision Foreigner

Released: June 20, 1978 Peak: 3 US, 32 UK, 3 CN, 13 AU Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, -- UK, 10.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Hot Blooded (7/1/78, 3 US, 2 CL, 42 UK, 3 CN, 24 AU) Blue Morning, Blue Day (12/23/78, 15 US, 6 CL, 45 UK, 21 CN) You’re All I Am Back Where You Belong Love Has Taken Its Toll (26 CL) Double Vision (9/22/78, 2 US, 2 CL, 7 CN, 97 AU) Tramontane (instrumental) I Have Waited So Long Lonely Children Spellbinder Total Running Time: 37:55 The Players: Lou Gramm (vocals, percussion) Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards, vocals) Ian McDonald (guitar, saxophone, keyboards) Al Greenwood (keyboards) Ed Gagliardi (bass) Dennis Elliott (drums)

Rating: 3.449 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings) Quotable: “Hard rock at its best” – Ace Adams, New York Daily News Awards:

About the Album: With their debut album, Foreigner immediately became players on the rock scene, sending two songs from the album into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 while the album was a top-five smash which sold five million copies. As high as they’d set the bar on their first outing, Foreigner managed to reach even greater heights on their sophomore outing. Double Vision reached #3 on the album charts and sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. The lead single, Hot Blooded, reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the title cut went an even notch higher and peaked at #2. A third single, Blue Morning, Blue Day, reached the top 20. The group had its detractors. Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times described the album as “slickly produced, commercially powerful, but artistically vapid.” WK Rick Atkinson of The Record attacked the album for using the same formula as the debut. WK Van West of Murfreesboro Press agreed that the album had similarities to Foreigner, but noted that Double Vision had “more individualistic interpretations” and “heavy metal tonal structure” instead of some of the debut’s “careful harmonies.” WK Ace Adams of the New York Daily News went as far as to call the album “hard rock at its best.” WK Notes: The 2002 reissue added live versions of “Hot Blooded” and “Love Maker.”

Resources and Related Links: Foreigner’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry WK Wikipedia

 

Foreigner “Cold As Ice” charted

Cold As Ice Foreigner

Writer(s): Lou Gramm, Mick Jones (see lyrics here) First Charted: July 23, 1977 Peak: 6 US, 10 CB, 7 HR, 4 RR, 1 CL, 24 UK, 9 CN, 32 AU, 3 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK, -- world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 6.1 video, 151.15 streaming

About the Song: The band Foreigner formed in 1976 in New York City. Guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones had been with Spooky Tooth while bandmate Ian McDonald was formerly of King Crimson. They joined with drummer Dennis Elliott, a fellow Brit, and Americans Lou Gramm (vocals), Al Greenwood (keyboardist), and Ed Gagilardi (bass). They found success right out of the gate with their self-titled debut, 1977’s Foreigner. The album reached the top 5 on the Billboard charts and eventually sold five million copies in the U.S. The lead single, “Feels Like the First Time,” went gold and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. To prove they weren’t a one-hit wonder, the follow-up single, “Cold As Ice,” nearly matched its predecessor’s success by also going gold and climbing to #6 on the charts. Hartford Courant’s Henry McNutty said the song “is propelled by Elliott’s drums…but the interplay between Gramm’s lead vocal and Greenwood’s electronic keyboard is what raises this from the rock pile.” WK Janey Roberts of Classic Rock History said the opening piano hook will “go down as one of the signature riffs in classic rock history.” WK The song was a replacement for another on the album which producer Gary Lyons didn’t think fit the album. WK It was about “a woman who is materialistic and selfish, with the singer warning that her behavior will come back to haunt her someday.” SF Jones said the song “was based on the idea of the stereotypical cold-hearted, bad girl – the sort of woman Joan Crawford would play in a film – but it wasn’t aimed at anyone specific.” WK The night they recorded the song, a blizzard hit New York and, according to McDonald, “we heard on the radio that it had been the coldest night in New York on record! Somehow that seemed to be a good omen for the song.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Foreigner SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/9/2022.

Foreigner released its debut album

First posted 4/6/2008; updated 10/17/2020.

Foreigner Foreigner

Released: March 8, 1977 Peak: 4 US, -- UK, 9 CN, 9 AU Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, 0.1 UK, 6.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Feels Like the First Time (3/26/77, 4 US, 2 CL, 39 UK, 7 CN, 41 AU) Cold As Ice (7/23/77, 6 US, 1 CL, 24 UK, 9 CN, 32 AU) Starrider (23 CL) Headknocker (23 CL) The Damage Is Done Long, Long Way from Home (12/10/77, 20 US, 7 CL, 22 CN, 70 AU) Woman Oh Woman At War with the World Fool for You Anyway (47 CL) I Need You Total Running Time: 38:46 The Players: Lou Gramm (vocals, percussion) Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards, vocals) Ian McDonald (guitar, backing vocals, saxophone, keyboards) Al Greenwood (keyboards) Ed Gagliardi (bass) Dennis Elliott (drums)

Rating: 3.719 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Awards:

About the Album: “Although punk rock’s furious revolution threatened to overthrow rock’s old guard in 1977, bands like Foreigner came along and proved that there was plenty of room in the marketplace for both the violent, upstart minimalism of punk and the airbrushed slickness of what would be called ‘arena rock.’ Along with Boston, Journey, Heart, and others, Foreigner celebrated professionalism over raw emotion.” AMG “Looking back, it’s easy to see why they sold millions; not everyone in the world was pissed off, dissatisfied with the economy, or even necessarily looking for a change. In fact, for most suburban American teens, Foreigner’s immaculate rock sound was the perfect soundtrack for cruising through well-manicured neighborhoods in their Chevy Novas. The album spawned some of the biggest FM hits of 1977, including the anthemic Feels Like the First Time and Cold as Ice, both of which were anchored – like most of Foreigner’s songs – by the muscular but traditional riffing of guitarist Mick Jones, the soaring vocals of Lou Gramm, and the state-of-the-art rock production values of the day, which allowed the band to sound hard but polished. As pure rock craftsmanship goes, Foreigner was as good as it got in the late ‘70s.” AMG Notes: A 2002 reissue included demos of “Feels Like the First Time,” “Woman Oh Woman,” “At War with the World,” and “Take Me to Your Leader.”

Resources and Related Links: Foreigner’s DMDB Encyclopedia entry AMG All Music Guide review by Andy Hines WK Wikipedia