(Continued from Part One)
Rick Wills replaced Gagliardi in the group prior to their third LP. The 1979 album Head Games may have been their career best, although it has "only" sold three million copies. "Dirty White Boy" was an odd choice for the lead single, and it only reached #12.
The band recorded Head Games at Atlantic Studios in New York City, with the finishing touches added at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. It was the only Foreigner album co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who became famous for working with Queen. The title song peaked at #14.
"Women" was released as the third single; while it only made it to #41, it is a solid track. The unforgettable guitar riffs, Wills' throbbing bass and the pummeling drum and piano rhythm launch the song into orbit and fire the song up again and again.
Released in Europe as a single, this Top Track* enjoyed some success. Featuring the keyboard work of Greenwood, here is "Love On The Telephone".
"The Modern Day" is a meeting of Rock & New Wave, similar to what the Cars sounded like. Great track here from Foreigner!
"Blinded By Science" seems like the protagonist is conflicted between science and religion and is sitting on the fence, disillusioned by what he sees.
A muscle car fanatic since he first got his driver's license, Gramm has bought and sold more cars than he can keep track of. That background gave us "Rev On The Red Line".
The remaining members wanted their next album to have a harder edge and brought in Robert John "Mutt" Lange to produce it. Lange helped them come up the album of their career, 4, that would elevate them to the top of the Rock world. Featuring a dynamite saxophone solo from Jr. Walker, "Urgent" rose to #4 overall and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Chart, and also hit #1 in Canada.
Foreigner was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance for their work on 4. Foreigner released the ballad "Waiting For A Girl Like You", which showed their versatility. It is one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era*, staying in that position for 10 weeks and selling over one million singles.
Thomas Dolby, who later enjoyed the hit "She Blinded Me With Science", played synthesizers on "Urgent" and "Waiting For A Girl Like You".
"Juke Box Hero" was inspired by a real person who got a peek of what it is like to be a Rock star. Jones shared the story with SongFacts:
That stemmed from an experience that we had, I
think it was in Cincinnati. We'd gone to the arena
for a soundcheck, and it was pouring down rain, and
there were a bunch of fans waiting at the door...
When we came back for the show later on, all that
was left was one lonely fan, a young guy waiting out
there in the rain, soaked to the skin. I thought, well,
he's waiting like five hours here, maybe we'll take
him in and give him a glimpse of what happens
backstage at a show. And this kid was just
mesmerized with everything. I saw this look in his
eyes, and I thought, he's seeing this for the first
time, he's having this experience. And I just imagined
what was going through his mind.
Foreigner launched a contest to find the inspiration behind the song, but there is no evidence that they found him. But the song has also spawned Jukebox Hero The Musical, a saga featuring 16 Foreigner songs. Ripe with amazing guitar riffs and hooks, "Juke Box Hero" peaked at #26, one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
"Break It Up", the album's fourth single, is another worthy song.
Lange, fresh from producing the AC/DC masterpiece Back in Black, worked his magic again on 4. His influence on this album is unmistakable--case in point the energetic "Night Life".
On most albums, "Girl On The Moon" would be the best ballad of the bunch. Entirely outclassed by "Waiting For A Girl Like You", it still is a worthy track.
Here is the sultry "Woman In Black" with Gramm providing outstanding vocals as usual.
Join us for Part Three of Foreigner!
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