The spring of 1986 began the preliminary planning phase for a new Foreigner - Album. Lou Gramm had worn some material together, among other things, the idea for "Midnight Blue". Bandleader Mick Jones leaned with all means, there are some anecdotes, gram's content from. Since Lou Gramm with the development of its "house - Band" was dissatisfied plus Mick Jones influential character caused him problems, he decided to start his own project out of hand! The summer of 1986 he was with Nils Lofgren, whom he greatly admired, to win as a guitarist for his project. With Bruce Turgon, band member of "Black Sheep" - times, he wrote the remaining material and started in the autumn of the same year the studio work, where his brother Ben was involved on drums. In February 1987, it is finally time, with "Ready Or Not" appears the first solo - album Lou Gramm's. "Midnight Blue" was the pre - Single and made it to # 5 on the Billboard - Charts! For album: the title song "Ready Or Not" opens the album and makes a few chords clear here is an authentic Lou Gramm at work. Dry guitar - riffs with cold-sounding synths and jazzy drums load in gram's musical world. The chorus lost some and bored with the Time. "Heartache" is somewhat uninspired and with similar design therefore. With its one-dimensional rhythm it leans slightly to Foreigner's "Head Games" at ;-) In "Midnight Blue" then you have done everything right! The entry with the percussion of a drum - computer confused a bit, but the onset after driving bassline compensated. Here one feels in a Foreigner - added production. So you could hear a Lou Gramm! Rockig and with a very good melodic ;-) With "Time" comes the next "Rocker". The title holds up the pace and quality. Now comes the first ballad! A soft "Drum Program" initiates a rather hard as romantic piano sequence. An almost plaintive pleading grams intones "If I Dont Have You". On guitar, his brother Richard. Through many breaks do you build skillfully voltage on, but unfortunately lacks a bit the catchy melodies ... But we are not, after all, to do with Foreigner ;-) "Shes Got To Know" unites the family! Father Ben Sr. plays the lead - trumpet! The title is like a foreign body feels on the album. Blues - Rockig with jazz or big band bonds a more detailed classification is difficult for me. It certainly seems to be gram's most personal title, he's listed here as the sole author! Clearly repeatedly hear recommended ;-) "Arrow Thru Your Heart" makes up for the wait for a new Foreigner - Album. Cumbersome and hard rocking Lou Gramm and you're summarizes tended "It really works," to say ;-) With "Until I Make You Mine" creates Lou Gramm a very nice languishing Schleicher. Very nice chorus - melody with powerful rhythms. The fleet "Chain Of Love" rises a trendy and reminds me in the second part, through the constantly recurring "unusual" bass - melody - form, somehow a "Russian" song ;-) The gram - ballad "Lover Come Back" is Although offered Vocally very plaintive, but sounds callous through the hard drum structure, as does not help, played by Mark Rivera Saxophone Passage ... Conclusion: Lou Gramm creates a lot of Mick Jones dissolved solo - album, but the international standards of singer will only partially meet - Foreigner. Sonically beautifully captured on CD! Very significant channel division of instruments. For Foreigner - Fan's a must :-) Occasional listener without "background knowledge" will be rather disappointed ;-)
