Before “Juke Box Heroes,” “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Head Games,” it all started with the debut record, Foreigner. The British-American band of the same name formed just one year prior in 1976 in New York City. The band’s name comes from the fact that some members were British, while the others were American. So, in theory, they would all be foreigners, no matter where they are. It’s a very clever tidbit about the band that often goes unknown in their history.
Foreigner is considered a “perfect” album by some fans and music fanatics. If you look at the almost 40-minute run time as some of rock’s greatest songs and Foreigner classics. Foreigner reached the No. 4 spot on the Billboard 200 charts. The two singles released by the group for this record, “Feels Like the First Time” and “Cold As Ice,” both reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 charts at No. 4 & six spot respectfully.
The record, in fact, kicks off with “Feels Like the First Time.” By now, the guitar, piano and drum intro has become instantly recognized by fans all over the world. This song, which runs just over three minutes, is one of, if not the, best songs in the band’s arsenal. Lead singer Lou Gramm’s voice is crystal clear on this track and is easily heard during the chorus. What makes this tune unique is how driven the tune is by Al Greenwood on keyboards. Greenwood’s sound makes the tune distinct from other tunes at the time and leaves a lasting memory on listeners.
“Cold As Ice” opens as the second track. Lead guitarist Mick Jones slams down on the keys in between vocals and the rest of the band. What makes this tune so great is its simplicity. Drummer Dennis Elliott keeps a steady beat throughout the song. It’s a meat-and-potatoes-type beat that provides a comforting sound during this song. The best part of the tune comes at the 1:30 mark of the song as it begins its breakdown. Jones on the piano accompanies an acapella Gramm while the call-and-response between him and the rest of the band. Jones on guitar pads the vocals perfectly and adds the much-needed toughness to the section.
As listeners move down on the album, “The Damage Is Done” clocks in at song four. The off-putting tone from Greenwood makes the song feel more serious than its predecessors. The combination of Greenwood, Elliott and Ed Gagliardi on bass creates an overwhelming wall of sound. This song allows Jones to showcase himself more as a guitar player through fancy riffs and twiddling notes. There’s more heft on this song with the addition of the acoustic guitars and harmonizing on vocals. While listening to Gramm’s vocals, you can almost feel the pain in his words and take it as personal.
Foreigner continues to showcase themselves as a diverse band on “Long, Long Way from Home.” On this song, they have a great techno feel throughout that sets it apart from many of their classmates in 1977. Instead of a flashy guitar solo, Ian McDonald steps in on saxophone and belts out a blistering solo. Producers Gary Lyons and John Sinclair, in collaboration with Jones and McDonald, did a great job of enhancing the horn section.
“Woman Oh Woman’ is one of the band’s ballads on the record. There’s a nice pace on this ballad which doesn’t make it seem as drawn-out and dramatic as other ballads. There’s an extremely deep sound on this song which adds to the complexity of the song. I really like Jones’ guitar solo on this song. It’s short, sophisticated and is a meaningful addition to the overall song. The ending of the song is carried by a deep, chugging sound from Gagliardi as the song slowly comes to an end.
In the back half of the record, the spotlight goes to “At War With the World.” It has everything that a rock fan would want. There’s a duel guitar sound from Jones and McDonald that blend nice with Gramm’s vocals. These three are layered over beautiful harmonies while Elliott finds snippets of deadspace to drop in his hammering beats. The military-style theme is an interesting angle to write from, but it creates a unique listening experience for the listeners. “At War With the World” is one of Jones’ longest solos on the record and is the bridge that brings the song to the last chorus before the end.
The final song on the record is “I Need You.” There’s a headbanging feel on this song that was absent throughout the overall record. The band explores another rougher sound that fits them perfectly. In the midst of the heavier sound, the band falls back on top-notch harmonies, which have been consistently great throughout the record. “I Need You” is another of Jones’ longer solos that quietly acts as a bridge to the ending platform of the tune.
Foreigner blasted onto the scene with a successful debut record that few bands have achieved. If you look at some of the songs on their debut record, chances are they’ve become concert staples of the band. In recent memory, some bands have had equal success with debut records. Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin are some of the few that come to mind immediately. For some bands, it’s a slow burn to the top; KISS, Bon Jovi, Judas Priest and the amazing Bruce Springsteen all didn’t have their breakthrough till a few albums later. It just goes to show you that sometimes bands knock it out of the park on the first try while others are slower to make it to the top.
On Foreigner, there is instant magic from the first time a listener taps “Play” or drops the needle down on the record. A majority of the songs on the entire record became replays on radio stations across the world. Even though the current lineup is certainly not comprised of any original members, they still carry the torch of greatness from all the way back in 1977. The debut record often gets overshadowed by their later work on 4 or Double Vision, but without Foreigner, the other two records would not be. Listen to the first handful of records in order and see how great the debut is as a jumping-off point for their career.
Rating: 9/10
Tracklist:
1. Feels Like the First Time
2. Cold As Ice
3. Starrider
4. Headknocker
5. The Damage Is Done
6. Long, Long Way from Home
7. Woman Oh Woman
8. At War With the World
9. Fool for You Anyway
10. I Need You
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.