Top 10 Foreigner Songs

Photo: By Yancho Sabev (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

From the Fall of 1976 to the Spring of 1977, rock and roll fans were introduced to three new amazing rock groups. In the Fall of 1976, Heart released their first album, Dreamboat Annie, which included the huge hit “Magic Man.” During the Fall of 1976, we were also all blown away by a new band called Boston, who had lovingly given us one of the ultimate classic rock songs of all time called “More Than A Feeling.”

If that were not enough, just a few months later, in the Spring of 1977, another fabulous band released their first record, Foreigner, which spawned the jaw-dropping “Feels Like The First Time.” All these great new bands were launching their careers during a year in which we saw Led Zeppelin release Presence, Rush release 2112, Thin Lizzy issue Jailbreak , and The Eagles release Hotel California. I was in high school at the time, and I had no idea that I was living in a time that was celebrating some of the greatest rock and roll albums ever released.

What Heart, Boston, and Foreigner all had in common was that they were new bands releasing amazing albums with massive hits, sung by incredible, fresh voices with unbelievable ranges. Foreigner and especially Heart would continue on to have long and very successful careers. In the end, Boston was a disappointment, but that’s another story. This article takes a closer look at the music of the band Foreigner. Foreigner’s above-mentioned debut album was released in 1976.

The band returned quickly with a fantastic sophomore album in 1978 entitled Double Vision. For the next decade, the band continued to release strong albums, always filled with great songs and mega-hits. Eventually, the sound of the 90s alternative, dark Nirvana/Pearl Jam era took its toll on classic ’70s and ’80s pop-rock bands. Lead singer Lou Gramm left the band, returned, and then left again. In 2017 and beyond, the band Foreigner continued to tour often as a headliner with other 70’s and 80’s bands such as Cheap Trick and Whitesnake.

Our Top 10 Foreigner Songs list looks back at a band that delivered some of the best material ever, that merged pop and rock genres into a sound loved by everyone.

# 10 – Until The End Of Time

“Until The End of Time” is the most recent Foreigner song to make our top 10 Foreigner songs list. The song was released on the Mr. Moonlight album in 1994. The Mr. Moonlight album is the last Foreigner album to feature Lou Gramm on lead Vocals. The band also did not record another record until the release of 2009’s Can’t Slow Down. That album featured a new singer, Kelly Hansen, who had been the band’s voice in concert since Lou Gramm left.

# 9 – Head Games

The hard-driving, forceful song “Head Games” was the title track of the band’s third album, which was released in 1979. The album’s first single, “Dirty White Boy,” reached the number 12 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. However, we chose the album’s second single and title track for our top 10 Foreigner songs list. “Head Games” is a powerhouse song with a driving beat that bleeds intensity.

# 8 – Fool For You Anyway

The great grooving ballad “Fool For You Anyway” is the only song on this top 10 Foreigner song list to have never been released as a single. However, a great song is a great song, and all of Foreigner’s early albums were loaded with great tracks that never saw release as singles. This one has always been one of our favorites. It was released on the band’s debut album in 1976. There is a bit of an Eagles feel to this one.

# 7 – Waiting For A Girl Like You

After releasing three albums loaded with huge hit singles, the band continued on with its string of hits with the release of “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” This one is fueled by a great keyboard line played at the song’s intro and between verses. The heartwarming song was issued on the band’s fourth album, appropriately titled Foreigner 4. The album was released in 1981.

# 6 – Urgent

No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner

Continuing with the Foreigner 4 album, we turn to another huge smash off the album entitled “Urgent.” This great track has a rowdy, bouncy feel that is highly addictive. The Foreigner 4 album spawned three big singles. The album also featured guest appearances by Thomas Dolby, Mark Rivera of the Billy Joel band, and Bob Mayo of the Peter Frampton band.

# 5 – Double Vision

The excellent album Double Vision was the brilliant follow-up to Foreigner’s debut album. With its slick guitar riff, the opening track has always been one of our favorite Foreigner songs. Double Vision was the second single released from the album and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. We knew Foreigner would not be a one-hit album band when we heard this one. They were the real deal!

# 4 – Cold As Ice

The opening piano hook of “Cold As Ice” will always go down as one of the signature riffs in classic rock history. The song was the second single released from Foreigner’s debut album. It was the perfect follow-up to “Feel’s Like The First Time.” It was dynamically and melodically the complete opposite of the first single and served the album well as the second track.

# 3 – Hot Blooded

The great track “Hot Blooded” served as the first single from Foreigner’s second album. Listen to that driving beat, that smoking bass line, and grooving drums. Mick Jones’ guitar licks are just astonishing, crossing the genres of pure rock and roll and pop music in such perfect fashion. This was a monster hit during the summer of 78.

# 2 – I Want To Know What Love Is

Some Foreigner fans did not care much for the ballad “I Want To Know What Love Is.” That’s sad because in the end, the song really serves as the band’s masterpiece. There is a reason the song became the band’s only number-one hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It’s not our favorite Foreigner song, but there is no denying its brilliance. The song’s production is simply stunning.

# 1 – Feels Like The First Time

There is no denying that these top 10 lists we publish are written from our subjective point of view. If we were basing it on sales or chart success, “I Want To Know What Love Is” would have been the number one song on our top 10 Foreigner songs list. However, our favorite Foreigner song is the first one we ever heard. It’s probably just a sentimental choice. Nonetheless every time we hear this song, it still feels…….