Foreigner 4 @45- Mick Jones, Lou Gramm 7-6
Quite easily on my “desert island disc” shortlist, Foreigner 4 carried obvious as well as hidden meaning in that simple title. But titling this album, with sales estimated at 8,000,000, proved to be about the only thing simple about it.
Foreigner “4” was technically the Anglo-American band’s fourth effort, but the original recordings were scrapped, two original members sacked, and the remaining quartet started over in the studio from scratch. What did finally emerge is a virtual “best of” collection including dashboard pounder “Night Life”, huge hit “Urgent”, Mick Jones’ guitar workout “I’m Gonna Win”, timeless anthem “Juke Box Hero”, and Lou Gramm’s vocal for the ages “Waiting for a Girl Like You”. Foreigner founder Mick Jones and original singer/lyricist Lou Gramm are my guests for Foreigner “4” forty-fifth anniversary the week of July 6. –Redbeard
