Spring of 1976, Mick Jones is working on Ian Lloyd's first solo album he meets Ian McDonald (ex-King Crimson). After years of wandering as a session musician and composer (see my reviews) matures within them the idea for starting your own band. Here Bud Prager comes into play! Prague was the Manager Leslie West band, Mick Jones played in 1975. He gave Jones the chance which determine their own on their feet and let his play ;-) relations as the basis of the band was that looking for an exceptional singer was only necessary. A concatenation of many coincidences or not ;-), brought in contact with Louis Grammatico (later business friendly in Lou Gramm changed). He was a singer at the Rochester band "Black Sheep". Stylistically the band made up where Free had stopped. Here are the albums "Black Sheep" in 1974 and "Encouraging Words" 1975 Special mention !!! These gifted voice was what Mick Jones was looking for. Much Stimmenumfang with a distinctive timbre! From the summer of 1976 then began the studio work of the band. Also on board Dennis Elliott (dr), Ed Gagliardi (bg) and Al Greenwood (key). March 1977 appears the self-titled album "Foreigner". Clumsier stomping blues - rock (if you can call it that) paired with melodic choruses! After the slow descent Led Zeppelin Atlantic Records needed fresh blood in "stable". The album raises from three successful singles "Feels Like The First Time", "Cold As Ice" and "Long, Long Way From Home". In particular, the combination of very sluggish and cumbersome rockers like "The Damage Is Done", "At War With The World" and "I Need You" and the quiet melodic ballads "Woman Oh Woman" and "Fool For You Anyway" show musical background Mick Jones and Ian McDonald on. Hard guitar riffs a la Spooky Tooth and on the other hand Uni-solo played saxophone parts and melodic flute as his part in King Crimson ... Conclusion: The Remastered CD version sounds more transparent and spatial! You also need to mention the bonus material! With "Feels Like The First Time", "Woman Oh Woman" and "At War With The World" are three Mick Jones compositions at a very early demo version before. With "Take Me To Your Leader" you get one more rock titles belonging to, in 1977 unfortunately did not make it on the album. For Foreigner fans of course a "must"! ;-) Even the look of the CD similar to the original LP - Publication! Pure nostalgia ;-)
