Top 10 Alert!
Song#: 3355
Date: 12/05/1987
Debut: 59
Peak: 6
Weeks: 19
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After the band's #4 triple-platinum LP Agent Provocateur, lead singer Lou Gramm decided it was time to do a solo album and pushed out Ready or Not early in '87, which resulted in the #5 hit "Midnight Blue." After the success of the album, it seemed Gramm's tenure in the band was in question as commitments to his solo work interrupted progress of Foreigner's next effort. Luckily, everything got worked out and a full compliment of Foreigner finally finished off their sixth album Inside Information. This first single was released and it shot to the top of the Rock chart where it stayed for four weeks. It also ended up doing well on the Pop chart becoming their eighth Top 10 hit. The tune was also able to scratch the AC chart at #41. It seemed the hit would easily push the album into the Top 10, but in late February of '88, it stalled at #15. It would be Foreigner's first album to miss the Top 10.
ReduxReview: While this kind of sounded like a Foreigner track thanks mainly to Lou Gramm's voice, it certain was one of their most pop-oriented singles. It seemed like they were following Journey's journey towards attracting a more adult soft rock audience. Foreigner was never really cutting edge rock, but they did well in balancing their guitar-driven rock with radio friendly hooks. It just seemed that by this time they had really toned down the guitars in favor of 80s keyboards, perhaps in an attempt to secure a pop hit. It certainly wasn't the Foreigner of "Hot Blooded" or even "Urgent." Still, this wasn't a bad song at all. It was a credible pop tune that played well on the radio and got the band back into the Top 10.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Prior to forming Foreigner, guitarist and co-songwriter Mick Jones had been a member of a couple of other bands that had some limited success. As an 18-year-old, Jones spent about a year playing in the British rock 'n' roll instrumental band Nero and the Gladiators, who lived up to their name by sporting togas and gladiator costumes. The band had scored a couple of minor UK single entries in 1961, which brought them attention. They even opened some shows for The Beatles in their early Cavern Club days. While the band wouldn't chart again, they continued to tour and in 1963 Jones joined them when the band's guitarist left. He'd stay on for a while, but would eventually leave. The band called it quits in 1964. Jones would then mainly be a session musician until he began working with Gary Wright, leader of the British rock band Spooky Tooth. The pair became the duo Wonderwall in 1971, but then in 1972, Wright decided to reform Spooky Tooth and took Jones with him. The band recorded three albums before disbanding again in 1974. Two years later, Jones started to form Foreigner.
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Date: 12/05/1987
Debut: 59
Peak: 6
Weeks: 19
Genre: Rock
Pop Bits: After the band's #4 triple-platinum LP Agent Provocateur, lead singer Lou Gramm decided it was time to do a solo album and pushed out Ready or Not early in '87, which resulted in the #5 hit "Midnight Blue." After the success of the album, it seemed Gramm's tenure in the band was in question as commitments to his solo work interrupted progress of Foreigner's next effort. Luckily, everything got worked out and a full compliment of Foreigner finally finished off their sixth album Inside Information. This first single was released and it shot to the top of the Rock chart where it stayed for four weeks. It also ended up doing well on the Pop chart becoming their eighth Top 10 hit. The tune was also able to scratch the AC chart at #41. It seemed the hit would easily push the album into the Top 10, but in late February of '88, it stalled at #15. It would be Foreigner's first album to miss the Top 10.
ReduxReview: While this kind of sounded like a Foreigner track thanks mainly to Lou Gramm's voice, it certain was one of their most pop-oriented singles. It seemed like they were following Journey's journey towards attracting a more adult soft rock audience. Foreigner was never really cutting edge rock, but they did well in balancing their guitar-driven rock with radio friendly hooks. It just seemed that by this time they had really toned down the guitars in favor of 80s keyboards, perhaps in an attempt to secure a pop hit. It certainly wasn't the Foreigner of "Hot Blooded" or even "Urgent." Still, this wasn't a bad song at all. It was a credible pop tune that played well on the radio and got the band back into the Top 10.
ReduxRating: 7/10
Trivia: Prior to forming Foreigner, guitarist and co-songwriter Mick Jones had been a member of a couple of other bands that had some limited success. As an 18-year-old, Jones spent about a year playing in the British rock 'n' roll instrumental band Nero and the Gladiators, who lived up to their name by sporting togas and gladiator costumes. The band had scored a couple of minor UK single entries in 1961, which brought them attention. They even opened some shows for The Beatles in their early Cavern Club days. While the band wouldn't chart again, they continued to tour and in 1963 Jones joined them when the band's guitarist left. He'd stay on for a while, but would eventually leave. The band called it quits in 1964. Jones would then mainly be a session musician until he began working with Gary Wright, leader of the British rock band Spooky Tooth. The pair became the duo Wonderwall in 1971, but then in 1972, Wright decided to reform Spooky Tooth and took Jones with him. The band recorded three albums before disbanding again in 1974. Two years later, Jones started to form Foreigner.
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9/10, to me this song sounds closer to "Head Games" than any other song despite the 80's keyboard touches, I think this is one of Foreigner's best songs, sadly this one hasn't gotten much airplay since its initial chart run unlike many of their earlier singles, to me this was Foreigner's last great single.
ReplyDeleteIt was the last blast of quality from the band for sure. I never hear it anymore. Their ballads seem to get the most airplay these days.
DeleteI actually hear most of their classic rockers (with the exception of "Dirty White Boy") on the radio, of their ballads I seem to hear "I Want To Know What Love Is" more than "Waiting For A Girl Like You", I never hear their final Top 40 single "I Don't Want To Live Without You" which is fine by me because I never cared much for that song.
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