"Down on Love" by Foreigner

Song#:  2427
Date:  08/17/1985
Debut:  74
Peak:  54
Weeks:  8
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  Foreigner's third single from their album Agent Provocateur, "Reaction to Action," couldn't make much headway on the chart stalling before the midpoint. Despite tepid results, the decision was made to push out this fourth single. Oddly, it exactly replicated the results of "Reaction" by peaking at the same #54 and spending eight weeks on the chart. Despite only featuring two Top 40 entries, the album would end up being a triple-platinum seller. By any means, that was a great result, but it was half the amount of their previous album 4, which featured four Top 40 hits.

ReduxReview:  The rock of "Reaction" didn't really work out, so for the next single this more radio-friendly, mid-tempo track was pushed out. It didn't work either. This tune was fine as an album track, but it just didn't have the extra hookiness and memorability needed to make it a chart contender. However, on an album that really lacked follow-up single contenders, it was probably the best of the remaining bunch. Still, the song wasn't gonna do anything and they probably should have skipped it.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  Two members of Foreigner have their roots in two classic UK bands. Guitarist Mick Jones joined up with psychedelic rock band Spooky Tooth in 1972. That band had broken up in 1970, but reformed two years later with Jones joining in. While Spooky Tooth never had a charting hit song, their albums would sell well enough to hit the lower reaches of the chart. The second iteration of the band would break up in 1974. The band's lead singer Gary Wright would have better luck with his solo career. He grabbed two #2 hits in 1976 with "Dream Weaver" and "Love Is Alive." Foreigner member Ian McDonald would be an original member of the prog-rock band King Crimson. He would only stay with them for two years, but he performed on the band's classic debut In the Court of King Crimson, an album that has made many "best rock albums of all time" lists.

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