ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 29 FOREIGNER - 4 (30TH ANNIVERSARY 1981)

[RJhog (Admin)]

***Click album cover to listen***

 

1. Night Life *

2. Juke Box Hero **

3. Break It Up **

4. Waiting For A Girl Like You **

5. Luanne

6. Urgent **

7. I'm Gonna Win*

8. Woman In Black*

9. Girl On The Moon**

10.  Don't Let Go

 

Well, we made it to 2011, so I thought I'd spend some time throughout this year looking back at albums that came out in 1981.  Do you remember that year?  Do you realize that The Bay City Rollers and The Starland Vocal Band disbanded that year?  Raiders Of The Lost Ark was the top grossing film in the U.S.  George Rogers was the number 1 NFL draft pick, do you even remember who he is?  You probably didn't remember those facts until I mentioned them, just like you may not have realized that Foreigner's fourth album, 4, came out in 1981 as well.  It happens to be their only number one album in the U.S.  Although all of the musicianship on this album is terrific as usual, to me, the highlight would be Lou Gramms vocals.  He puts in a stellar performance.  In Classic Rock Presents AOR, he was named the 3rd best AOR vocalist of all time (Steve Perry was number one).  You can see why on this album.

 

The album had 3 big singles, all hits.  The biggest was Waiting For A Girl Like You, followed closely by Urgent and then Juke Box Hero.  The former is truly one of the all-time great power ballads.  And Urgent may be my favorite Foreigner song after The Damage Is Done from the debut.  Everybody knows Juke Box Hero, as it is a great song as well.  The way I see it, the album cuts only contain 2 possible filler tunes (Luanne and Don't Let Go).  Everything else is pretty good, with Break It Up and Girl On The Moon being hidden gems and excellent songs. 

 

The album cover is nothing special, but I do like it.  If you don't own any Foreigner, I would advise you to pick up this along with the debut to get you started.  You can't go wrong with either one.  It's still easy to find, so the way I see it is that you have no excuse for not owning it.  Come on, invest some money in classic rock, it's really worth it.

 

My Favorite Track: Urgent

 

Hidden Gem Award: Very tough choice this week, but I'll give a slight nod to Girl On The Moon

 

Potential Skipper: This one goes to Luanne this week, sorry honey.

[Scott]

Love Foreigner 4, but I would rate their debut and Head Games as being better.  Yes I'm a huge head games fan, hahaha. Also 4 is Mutt Lange produced, so yo know the quality is high as this was a very prolific time for him.

 

I must agree with you that if 1981 was the year the Bay City Rollers were no more then thats a good year!  hahaha...

 

I also remember George Rogers.  He had a few good years and I think he even picked up a SuperBowl ring with the Redskins.

[RJhog (Admin)]

He won a Heisman Trophy as well, right up the street in Columbia, SC.  He was very good, but it seems like I remember him having a cocaine problem...as David Lee Roth says, he didn't have a cocaine problem until the money ran out.

[Niels (Mod)]

1981 was one of my favorite years, buying music. Just look at my IMHO-list about 1981, where there's a song from this album. And I do agree, that it was a great time for Mutt Lange, producing great albums like this one and "High'n'Dry". I first noticed Mutt Lange around 1979, when I could hear similarities on great albums from City Boy and the Boomtown Rats. "4" is easily my favotite-album by Foreigner.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I agree about 1981.  I have some more from that year that I'll post throughout the year.