Foreigner

Foreigner was one of the first rock bands I ever got into when I was pre teen, Jukebox Hero I thought was greatest song ever written ( granted I was only ten) than as I got older I discovered cooler bands such as AC/DC, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and later thrash bands such as Slayer and countless other bands and deceided that Foreigner were too lame and purged them from my collection.
Now years later I have come around and started listening to the old albums that I picked cd on a whim and thought that these guys aren't so bad, Lou Gramm is an excellent vocalist, there songs are very catchy, so I am just being nostalgic or are Foreigner really a good band I unfairly dismissed? Any thoughts?

Foreigner are a SUPERB band. Lou Gramm is such a underrated vocalist. I love all their stuff. Even Unusual Heat with Johnny Edwards.

spectrefate wrote:

Foreigner are a SUPERB band. Lou Gramm is such a underrated vocalist. I love all their stuff. Even Unusual Heat with Johnny Edwards.

when I started rebuying their albums I bought like 5 of their cds including Unusual Heat which wasn't too bad, it turns out that Johnny Edwards once sang for King Kobra but I am not sure if that is correct, btw Spec what is your opinion of current incarnation of Foreigner with kelly Hansen on vocals?

Johnny Edwards was on King Kobra's III album.

What I have heard of Foreigner with Kelly is great. I'm a Hurricane fan, so its a given. I hope they make a full length record sometime soon.

I like Foreigner, especially the early stuff - the first four or so. Saw them live back in college. Wish I could remember the show...

The S/T is my favorite by far. I also really enjoy the Lou Gramm vehicle "Shadow King" which also featured Vivian Campbell.

SAHB Healer wrote:

The S/T is my favorite by far. I also really enjoy the Lou Gramm vehicle "Shadow King" which also featured Vivian Campbell.

Good call! I used to have that and for some reason, traded it in. I need to find that again.

And I agree that Lou Gramm is a vastly underrated vocalist.

I got Shadow King from Uncy Sax not too long ago. Great stuff. I also love both on Lou's solo albums. I'm interested in hearing Mick Jones' solo album he produced in the early 90's.

spectrefate wrote:

I got Shadow King from Uncy Sax not too long ago. Great stuff. I also love both on Lou's solo albums. I'm interested in hearing Mick Jones' solo album he produced in the early 90's.

Shadow King was re-released in '06, but it sells cheap used already. I know I had that Mick Jones CD at one time, I may still. It was hit & miss IMO, not really cohesive but some good songs.

They're a classic rock staple.

I like them - Lou is an underrated singer (as previously mentioned). I swa the latest incarnation when they opened for Def Lep and they were awesome - Kelly Hansen has done a GREAT job taking over for lou, plus they have Pilson from Dokken on bass and Bonham on Drums.

Thanks for reminding me of Shadowking, I bought that shortly after it was released as a cut out and it has been years since I throw that one on for a spin.

thejokeriv wrote:

I like them - Lou is an underrated singer (as previously mentioned). I swa the latest incarnation when they opened for Def Lep and they were awesome - Kelly Hansen has done a GREAT job taking over for lou, plus they have Pilson from Dokken on bass and Bonham on Drums.

Holy crap! When did this lineup get together??? That sounds like a can't miss band!

toho, that lineup has been around for a few years now.

They played on the Today show a couple of weeks ago. Note how Kelly doesn't miss a note. Pilson does pretty wonderful background vocals as well. Also, don't miss Jason Bonham rockin out on the tambourine. Say You Will is one of my favorites.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26055824#26055824

tohostudios wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:

I like them - Lou is an underrated singer (as previously mentioned). I swa the latest incarnation when they opened for Def Lep and they were awesome - Kelly Hansen has done a GREAT job taking over for lou, plus they have Pilson from Dokken on bass and Bonham on Drums.

Holy crap! When did this lineup get together??? That sounds like a can't miss band!

This version of Foreigner have been out for a few years and have a live album " Extended Versions" that you can get it for like $5.99 at Walmart and anywhere else for that matter and they also have released a live DVD

Wow, I must be out of the loop.

I really like their first two albums. After that they got a bit spotty. After "4" I am not really all that familiar with anything they have done.

spectrefate wrote:

toho, that lineup has been around for a few years now.

They played on the Today show a couple of weeks ago. Note how Kelly doesn't miss a note. Pilson does pretty wonderful background vocals as well. Also, don't miss Jason Bonham rockin out on the tambourine. Say You Will is one of my favorites.

[url=http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26055824#26055824

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26055824#26055824[/quote[/url]]

So is Mick Jones the only original guy left in the band? And don't take this as a knock against them, but is there anyone Pilson and Bonham won't play with? Those guys seem to be everywhere.

Mick Jones is the only original member now. But then it always was his band.

Bonham and Pilson makes an awesome rhythm section, IMO. I wish they would play for every band.

spectrefate wrote:

Mick Jones is the only original member now. But then it always was his band.

Bonham and Pilson makes an awesome rhythm section, IMO. I wish they would play for every band.

How's Lou Gramm these days? He had some brain tumors or something, didn't he? I remember that last time I saw him, I think it was on VH-1's Behind the Music, I didn't recognize him. He put on a lot of weight and was talking very slowly.

ultmetal wrote:

I really like their first two albums. After that they got a bit spotty. After "4" I am not really all that familiar with anything they have done.

Same here.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

How's Lou Gramm these days? He had some brain tumors or something, didn't he? I remember that last time I saw him, I think it was on VH-1's Behind the Music, I didn't recognize him. He put on a lot of weight and was talking very slowly.

Yeah he looks and sounds alot different, but I admire his tenacity. He has a christian album coming out soon. Yeah, you read that correctly.

tohostudios wrote:

thejokeriv wrote:

I like them - Lou is an underrated singer (as previously mentioned). I swa the latest incarnation when they opened for Def Lep and they were awesome - Kelly Hansen has done a GREAT job taking over for lou, plus they have Pilson from Dokken on bass and Bonham on Drums.

Holy crap! When did this lineup get together??? That sounds like a can't miss band!

I see you have your answer. I will tell you that the show was last summer and it was Def Lep, Foreigner and Styx. Styx played first, put on a good show playing most of their rockier stuff and then Foreigner was so good they blew them off the stage.

Awesome group. I recently purchased the first 4 Foreigner cd's on rerelease and they sound great. Couple of good bonus tracks too. Peace.

spectrefate wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

How's Lou Gramm these days? He had some brain tumors or something, didn't he? I remember that last time I saw him, I think it was on VH-1's Behind the Music, I didn't recognize him. He put on a lot of weight and was talking very slowly.

Yeah he looks and sounds alot different, but I admire his tenacity. He has a christian album coming out soon. Yeah, you read that correctly.

Lou Gramm has a Christian album coming out?!?! What next Michael Sweet joing Boston?