Rob riffs on the debut studio album from Foreigner, “Foreigner,” released in March 1977 (Feels Like the First Time / I Need You / Starrider / Long, Long Way from Home). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Theme from the television series “Eight Is Enough” STAFF PICKS: “Year of the Cat” by Al Stewart — Brian. “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” by Jimmy Buffett — Wayne. “Georgia Rhythm” by the Atlanta Rhythm Section — Bruce. “Maybe I'm Amazed (live)” by Paul McCartney & Wings — Rob. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Fanfare for the Common Man”- Aaron Copeland, performed by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
It may not be surprising that the self-titled debut album from Foreigner was a hit, since all the members had previously worked with successful acts, making this collaboration a bit of a supergroup. British guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones came from Spooky Tooth. Multi-instrumentalist and fellow Brit Ian McDonalds had played in King Crimson. They were joined by another Englishman, drummer Dennis Elliott (from Ferris Wheel and The Roy Young Band). Other members were American, including Al Greenwood on keyboards, Ed Gagliardi on bass, and Lou Gramm on vocals. The band had the name Trigger for their demo tapes, but swapped that name out when they found another band had already taken it. The name Foreigner was suggested by Mick Jones, because with three English members and three American members, at least half the band would be foreigners — wherever they played.
The debut album Foreigner would create three hit singles and would be certified 5x platinum in the US, the first of four albums (this one, Double Vision, Head Games, and 4) from the group to achieve such a high level of success.
Foreigner would prove to be one of the biggest bands of the late 70's through the 80's.
Lou Gramm would split from the group in the 1990, return in 1992, and leave again in 2003. Foreigner still tours today, but Mick Jones is the sole original member of the group.
Feels Like the First Time
The leading track and first single released would be the first hit by the group, reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Mick Jones wrote this track prior to the start of Foreigner, when he had met a new love after this previous marriage dissolved. It was a feeling that his life was entering a new phase.
I Need You
This song concludes the album and is a deeper cut with great bass licks and chord progressions. "Many is the time I've cursed the Lord's creations. Ah, but you touched my hand, I loved this new sensation."
Starrider
Another deeper cut with more prominent keyboards, this one features Mick Jones on lead vocals. The song reminds us of "Crystal Ball" by Styx. You might agree it has a medieval or fantasy feel.
Long, Long Way from Home
The third single from the album gives the perspective of a person moving from a small town to a large city, and the loneliness that results. Lou Gramm has said this song is autobiographical, reflecting his move from Rochester, New York to New York City. "I was inside looking outside. Oh, the millions of faces, but still I'm alone."
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the television series “Eight Is Enough”
The family drama starring Dick Van Patten would debut in March of 1977. It was about a single father raising eight kids.
STAFF PICKS:
Year of the Cat by Al Stewart
Brian opens our staff picks with a haunting tune. The song originated from a riff piano player Tim Renwick would play before concerts. Many of the lyrics were inspired from watching the movie Casablanca. The title comes from a Vietnamese calendar which indicated that 1975 was the Year of the Cat.
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes by Jimmy Buffett
Wayne brings us one of the standard songs of summer. The song itself barely cracked the top 40, but has taken on a timelessness with more than just the "Parrot Heads" that attend multiple Buffett concerts. "With all of our running and all of our cunning, if we couldn't laugh we would all go insane."
Georgia Rhythm by the Atlanta Rhythm Section
Bruce features a local Atlanta band who was big in 1977. The Atlanta Rhythm Section was formed from former members of the Candymen and the Classics IV who had come to Atlanta as the session band for Studio One in Doraville in 1970. This song is off their sixth studio album, and the first album to get significant airplay. The big hit was "So Into You," but "Georgia Rhythm" got a lot of airplay in Atlanta for obvious reasons.
Maybe I'm Amazed (live) by Paul McCartney & Wings
Rob wraps up the staff picks with a song originally recorded in 1970 for McCartney’s first album, but never released as a single. This live version was released in February 1977. This touching song was inspired by his romance with his wife, Linda.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Fanfare for the Common Man by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
This was originally written by Aaron Copeland in response to America's entry into the Second World War. The ELP version came about when Emerson was playing the piece on keyboards. Greg Lake came in with a shuffle pattern on bass, and Palmer added in the drums. The engineer was rolling tape and the first time the band played the song through is what made the album.