Foreigner - Definitive Collection

One of the top bands of the '70s and '80s, Foreigner-powered by Mick Jones' primal guitar and Lou Gramm's indelible vocals-became arena rock superstars with over two decades of hits and more than 50 million in record sales. The group's signature songs are cornerstones of the classic rock canon, and their worldwide success, beginning with their 1977 self-titled debut album, now over 4X platinum, towers above most bands of their era. With six consecutive albums in Billboard's Top 10-four of them Top 5-Foreigner's driving, hard-edged but soulful sound is as urgent as ever, and their "Hot Blooded" legacy has never sounded better than on Rhino's new 2-CD Definitive Collection of their top hits and greatest tracks. Album Description

Visa Stomper

Say what you will about Foreigner being "corporate rock," but there is no way to deny that they made prino radio rock in their prime. Indeed, the first 19 tracks on this 30 song/2 CD "Definitive" collection would put most bands of the 70's and 80's to shame. From the distinct voice of Lou Gramm to Mick Jones' dogged pursuit of a sound for the band, Foreigner had it together by the time the classic debut hit the airwaves in 1977.

"Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold as Ice" didn't exactly break new ground, but they did lay the blueprint. Rich sounding rock with meaty choruses and ham-sized hooks. Like other bands of the same period (like Boston), Foreigner arrived ready for arena audiences. But at the time when punk was just beginning to leave its bootprint, having ambitions this obvious and songs as grandiose as "Starrider" was greeted with a fair amount of critical leering.

Like that mattered.

Because Double Vision, with its pair of pulse-pounding hits ("Hot Blooded" and the title track), became an album rock staple and then Head Games followed suit. However, "Headknocker" was not just a title of a song from the debut, but was starting to describe life in the band. With a pair of headstrong personalities such as Jones and Graham, other members began to feel like outsiders. In particular, the distinctive sounds Ian MacDonald brought to the band were being pushed aside by Jones' slicker rock ideas. By the time "Head Games" was done with its run, the band had shuffled personnel to a four piece.

Jones had become convinced that Foreigner weren't being creative in the age of new wave, so the new four member band (and guest keyboardist Thomas Dolby) teamed up with producer Robert 'Mutt' Lange and went for broke. That album, Foreigner 4, was the band's best, mixing both Jones' desire to experiment with Gramm's desire to rock harder. The still amazing "Urgent" mixed a Car's like pulse to an incendiary Junior Walker sax solo and killer hook. Dolby's keyboard washes added a sense of mystery to "Waiting For a Girl Like You." And "Jukebox Hero" is one of the great songs of rock dreams.

While 4 was their peak album moment, there was still one last piece of shear brilliance in the Foreigner passport. Agent Provocateur may not have been as coherent an album that any of its predecessors, but "I Want to Know What Love Is," backed by a full-on church choir and a classic MTV video, became the song that the band just couldn't top. It is also where the quality of "Definitive" starts to slip.

Lou Gramm's "Midnight Blue" is here, as are the best 3 songs from Inside Information. There is even one song from the mostly forgotten Gramm-less Unusual Heat and the greatest hits bonus "Soul Doctor" to shore up the latter period. (In my opinion, Mick Jones solo artist makes a better producer.) There's a decent band essay and solid sound (I was surprised at just how raw "Dirty White Boy" was). It makes a slightly better buy than the Complete Greatest Hits, not quite as good as JukeBox Box Hero and blows "Records" off the globe. How much you want depends on what you think you need, but this is a great starter kit. November 7, 2007

The Best "Best of" Out There.

I remember purchasing the "Juke Box Heroes" anthology thinking that Foreigner was finally getting a compilation that would do justice to it's catalog. WRONG! So many choice cuts sliced and diced, all for the sake of what? To make room for some obscure Spooky Tooth schlock and a tad too many solo tunes from Mick Jones and Lou Gramm (they should have stopped with Gramm's wonderful "Midnight Blue"). "Definitive Collection" goes a long way to rectifying the situation. Full, album-length tracks, a tidied up song selection, and a fine remastering job. Now if they would only have carried over the anthology's first class packaging job with the CD's from this set, I could have gladly given it five stars. As it is, it's the best "Best Of" you will find for this band. October 8, 2007

NEVER SOUNDED BETTER!

I have never bought a Foreigner album-they were so ubiquitous on the radio waves- but I came across this
double set at a reasonable price and decided to bite. I'm glad I did. The sound on both cds is the best I have
heard on any cd I own, and it's like hearing the songs for the first time (no pun intended). I had thought about
getting a Foreigner cd for some time-mainly for the songs on side 2-but resisted until I saw that this collection
contained the long lost album cut "Starrider". A truly enjoyable guilty pleasure. May 9, 2007

A Decent Collection that really gives you more stuff!

I really like what Rhino's been doing recently with their re-releases/adjustments of bands greatest hits packages. They just seem to be getting it right in most cases and for we fans who enjoy the essentials so to speak, these best of's are what we want and all we need. Black Sabbath's Sympton Of the Universe release was great and some of the ELP stuff been very good as well. So bring it on Rhino!

Rhino seems to be giving us the listener, a well rounded choice of what we'd like to hear. These very nicely remastered classics are better than ever. Sound quality is very good and they seem to be focusing on the older material or shall I say the good stuff and staying away from the fluff.

Yes it's yet another Hits package, but I really like this one as it gives you more of the older tunes that haven't been showing up on most of the Foreigner greatest hits compilations.

It's just a good listen all around! April 10, 2007

Good Collection Of Hits

This double disk set contains some of their best hits plus some hits from Lou Gramm and Mick Jones' solo efforts. Of course there has been other greatest hits collections from this band. This one is just another one to choose from. If another collection has nine more hits, go for that one if you recognize them. Does this one have a superior sound quality because it is the most recent greatest hits remastered? probably. I recommend this one. February 19, 2007

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