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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZFOREIGNERAOR supergroup formed NYC '76 by English expatriate guitarist Mick Jones (b 27 Dec. '47), who'd sessioned in Europe and played with UK heavy rockers Spooky Tooth and the Leslie West band, joined by fellow Brit Ian McDonald, multi-instrumentalist late of King Crimson, completing lineup with Americans Al Greenwood, keyboards (ex- Storm), Ed Gagliardi on bass (b 13 Feb. '52, NYC), drummer Dennis Elliott (b 18 Aug. '50, London), also ex-Crimson. Lou Gramm (b 2 May '50, Rochester, NY; ex-Black Sheep) bestowed distinctive whisky-soaked vocals, but debut album Foreigner '77 on Atlantic was basically workmanlike heavy rock in Bad Company mould. US hit singles attested to ready market: 'Feels Like The First Time' no. 4, 'Cold As Ice' no. 6, 'Long Long Way From Home' no. 20. Double Vision '78 served up more solid hard rock, offering hits with top five title song and 'Hot Blooded', no. 15 'Blue Morning Blue Day'. With Head Games '80, despite two more top 20 singles, even leader/songwriter Jones thought things were becoming 'a little blas‚ and predictable': another Brit Rick Wills (ex-Peter Frampton, Roxy Music, Small Faces) had replaced Gagliardi and Greenwood and McDonald departed soon after. Album 4 '81 showed wisdom of Jones's reshaping of band, now with three out of four foreigners in US eyes: co-prod. by Jones and AC/DC prod. Mutt Lange, the mix of hard-edged rock with melodic songs got the best out of Gramm: 'Urgent' (with sax solo from Junior Walker) was US no. 3, quite their best single for a while; UK new wave keyboardist Thomas Dolby synth- washed 'Waiting For A Girl Like You' to no. 8 UK, their biggest hit there, and no. 2 USA, where the album topped the chart. Compilation Foreigner Records '82 preceded long wait for Agent Provocateur late '84, continuing in less overtly rockish mould of 4: lush gospel-tinged choir-backed ballad 'I Want To Know What Love Is' the outstanding track (and transatlantic no. 1). But 'That Was Yesterday' becalmed at no. 15 USA; they may have been uncomfortable in the AOR vein that groups like Reo Speedwagon mined more convincingly; further, Gramm publicly expressed irritation at Jones's method of working (three years between LPs) and resurgence of interest in his former band Black Sheep. Inside Information early '88 was first prod. entirely by Jones, guests incl. synth wizard Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins. Gramm left April '90, his solo career too much in conflict, replaced by Johnny Edwards. Unusual Heat '90 was followed by compilation The Very Best ... And Beyond, neither of which reached the top 100 albums, nor did Mr Moonlight '95 on Generama (though 'Until The End Of Time' made top ten in the Adult Contemporary chart, with Duane Eddy on lead guitar). |