Foreigner, the #37 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"Powerful music--some of the best Rock & Roll ever recorded."

"This is incredible music."

"One of the best Hard Rock bands that ever existed."

"Foreigner had great finesse and artistry."

"This group put out some of the best music I've ever heard my entire life."

"They're one of my all-time favorite groups."

"It doesn't get much better than Foreigner."

"Breathtaking music."

"This is classic rock."

"World class songs."

"They are amazing!"

"Foreigner is an awesome group--I love them!."

"They have so many fantastic songs, and they're great live too."

"They had a perfect sound."

"Much love to Foreigner."

After the breakup of the Leslie West Band in 1976, former Spooky Tooth guitarist Mick Jones received encouragement from Bud Prager, manager of the band.  Prager told Jones to continue writing songs and form a new band.  Jones, keyboardist Al Greenwood, bassist Jay Davis and drummer Stan Williams began playing together in a rehearsal room Prager let the band use near his office in New York City.

Ian Lloyd, lead singer of the Stories ("Brother Louie") was brought in as well, but Jones felt the chemistry wasn't right.  He liked Greenwood and began searching for the right combination of musicians.  Jones soon met Ian McDonald, formerly with King Crimson, and drummer Dennis Elliott.  The group auditioned dozens of singers, but were finding that the most difficult piece of the puzzle.  

Finally, Jones remembered meeting the lead singer of Black Sheep who had presented one of the group's albums to him backstage at a Spooky Tooth concert several years before.  Jones listened to it and called Lou Gramm, who lived in Rochester, New York after Black Sheep broke up.  Gramm was the perfect fit, and, with bassist Ed Gagliardi, the lineup was complete.

The group settled on the name Trigger and recorded a demo tape.  No one was interested in the group initially, until John Kalodner, A&R man at Atlantic Records, noticed the tape on the desk of Atlantic president Jerry Greenberg.  Kalodner had seen a group by that name recently, but upon listening to it, realized it wasn't the same group.  Kalodner liked the tape and suggested to Greenberg that he sign them.  Since the name Trigger was already in use, Jones decided to rename his group Foreigner, since no matter where they were in the world, at least half of its members would be foreigners--Jones, Elliott and McDonald were English while Gramm, Gagliardi and Greenwood were Americans.  Prager agreed to manage the group.

After six months of intense rehearsal, Foreigner began recording their debut album, which they released as their self-titled album in 1977.  The group had auditioned 50 singers for lead vocals before deciding on Gramm, and oh how it paid off immediately.  "When I heard his voice on an album that I'd been given of his band, Black Sheep, I was actually in the midst of writing 'Feels Like The First Time', Jones told Billboard.  "I'd had a few demos from people who'd sent stuff in, and I was listening to them.  The moment I heard Lou's voice, it clicked."  This was the song that earned the group their contract with Atlantic Records, and Foreigner's first single, "Feels Like The First Time", took off to #4 in the United States and #7 in Canada.  

 

The album became one of the biggest debuts in history, staying in the bestseller lists for a full year and selling over four million copies in the U.S. alone.  "Cold As Ice" reached #6 in the U.S. and #9 in Canada.  The piano opening is one of the greatest riffs in Rock history.

Foreigner was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards and received an American Music Award nomination for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group.  On this first song that Jones and Gramm worked on together, Gramm said that it is about when he moved from Rochester to New York City.  The newcomers pulled a third hit from the album, although at a peak of #20, "Long, Long Way From Home" is underrated.  

 

Foreigner came out at just the right time with their fresh sound.  The 12-string guitar at the transition is wonderous on "The Damage Is Done".

"Starrider" features rare lead vocals from Jones and keyboard work from Greenwood, who co-wrote the song.

 

Mark Ronson, who is Mick's stepson, produced "Fool For You Anyway", which provided the first hint of the magic Foreigner could do with a ballad.  Jones describes how Ronson took an interest in what he did:

     Right from the early days, from when he was in his 

     teens, we'd talk about putting the idea together: 

     "Well, if you get to a certain point, maybe we can work

     together." And it took a while, but we were talking 

     about a year ago, and I said, "How about we work on               something on this new album I'm doing?" He was

     really up for it, and "Fool For You Anyway" was one

     of his favorite songs from early on. He chose that one

     to produce. And I let him do his thing.  

The band played large venues throughout North America and played before 200,000 at California Jam II in 1978.  They then traveled to Europe, Japan and Australia.

Foreigner released the great album Double Vision in 1978.  Nothing conveys a man on the make quite like the signature guitar riffs of Jones and the sexually-charged singing of Gramm.  "Hot Blooded" raced to #3. and sold over one million copies.

 

Jones was inspired to write "Double Vision" after seeing a hockey game.  "I was an avid Rangers hockey fan in those days, and Lou and I went to a game," Jones told Songfacts.  "and the goaltender for the Rangers got a concussion, and it was announced over the PA that he was taken off and was suffering from double vision."   The title song peaked at #2 for two weeks and also sold over one million units.

Double Vision has now sold over five million copies in the United States.  A young musician burning the candle at both ends..."Blue Morning, Blue Day" stalled at #15.

"Spellbinder" is to this day one of Jones's favorite Foreigner songs.

"Tramontane", written almost exclusively by Greenwood, is Foreigner's foray into Progressive Rock.

Foreigner continued their surge to the top.  Hear more in Part Two!