After having already reviewed 200 plus albums since I started doing the Album Of The Week segment here on the blog, I’ve been trying to cover albums that I loved growing up. Last week, we did that with Journey’s Frontiers and a few other albums in the past couple of months as well. This week’s album of the week is no different and it’s an album that I have absolutely loved since the first day I heard it. We are covering 4 by English/American rock group Foreigner which coincidentally is the band’s fourth ever album and the first to feature only four original members. Before the writing or recording of the album both Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood had left the band leaving Mick Jones (Guitars), Lou Gramm (Vocals), Rick Willis (Bass), and Dennis Elliot (Drums) in the band. The album featured various special guests filling in the void, but one of the main stays of the album on Synthesizers was Thomas Dolby who we all know we go on to have a successful solo career of his own in the 1980’s. The album was released on July 2, 1981 and it almost immediately shot up to number one and staying there for 10 weeks i a row. The album has since gone platinum seven times selling over seven million albums in the US alone and it featured two number one Mainstream Rock chart singles as well.
1.Night Life– An awesome rock track to open up the album signifying the band’s change to a more rock oriented sound and they mix the keys in with it nicely. The song is about someone who lives for the action that happens at night in the city. 4.5/5
2. Juke Box Hero– One of the coolest rock songs that opens with that famous bass line that drives the song. The singer has a call and response with Mick Jones when he yells one guitar, the guitar reacts. The song is about a kid who wanted to get a ticket to a sold out show, but by waiting outside, it inspired him to buy a guitar and learn it while the other half is about his struggle to stay on top. 5/5
3. Break It Up– the song has more of a melodic sound that is kindy of ballady, but still features that hard rock sound in a track that is about a guy who basically doesn’t do anything and his girlfriend wants it to end. 5/5
4. Waiting For A Girl Like You– The premier ballad of the album and one of the number one Mainstream Rock chart songs from the album. I think you can guess what the song is about for yourself. 5/5
5. Luanne– A cool rock track from the band that is about a girl named Luanne that the singer is in love with, but she is always running away from him. 4.5/5
6. Urgent– One of my favorite tracks on the album that features a cool synth sound from Dolby to go along with a killer bass line and some amazing guitar playing from Jones. It also features a saxophone solo from the legendary Junior Walker. This is also the other number one Mainstream Rock charts hit from the album. 5/5
7. I’m Gonna Win– a track that has a cool bass line and a very blues like riff from Jones in a track that is all about having the desire to win no matter what the costs. 4.5/5
8. Woman In Black– An interesting track from the band as far as lyrics are concerned because it can make you think that the singer is being confronted by a spirit, but as the song goes on, it’s about a sexy woman in black (maybe a dominatrix, maybe not). 4/5
9. Girl On The Moon– The song starts very melodic before it gets bluesy at times with Jones’s playing and it features Hugh McCracken doing some slide guitar for the track. 4/5
10. Don’t Let Go– The last track on the album is Foreigner at it’s best with the melodies, the keys, and the rock sound all working in harmony. An awesome way to end the album because it has that classic rock feel to it. 5/5
My Final Thoughts– This is by far one of my all time favorite Foreigner albums that the band has made in their career. Some can say that the first side of the record is dynamite, but in reality the whole album is a gem. This is definitely a good starting point for anyone looking to listen to Foreigner in my opinion. I am going to give the album 4.6 stars out of five for a final grade.
For this week’s album of the week, I wanted to go back in time and check out an album from a band who I respect a lot. The band is San Francisco rock band Night Ranger who were made up of Jack Blades (Bass/Lead Vocals), Jeff Watson (Guitar/Keyboards), Brad Gillis (Guitars), Alan Fitzgerald (Keyboards), and Kelly Keagy (Drums/Lead Vocals). I have always described the band as the REO Speedwagon/Styx of the 1980’s with their arena rock ready sound. In October of 1983, the band would release their second album entitled Midnight Madness which features the band’s biggest hit Sister Christian (Peaked at #5 on Billboard Hot 100). The album itself was the bands highest selling album with over one million in sales and it peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts. Several of the songs on the album have also been immortalized through television and films with tracks appearing in films like Boogie Nights, Sixteen Candles, Friday The 13TH (2009 Remake), and even TV shows like American Dad as well as several video games.
1. (You Can Still) Rock In America– This rock anthem comes out swinging right away with a roar from the guitars as they claim that rock isn’t dead. Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple is on the track for backing vocals. 5/5
6. Passion Play– The track starts off with some ominous eerie sounds before Gillis and Co. come in with very B.O.C-esque sounds especially with the guitar solo on the track.