Foreigner

4

Foreigner's Definitive Album And Definitive Rock And Roll

Review Score:

(10/10)
Up until this album, Foreigner had been scoring big on many classic rock tracks (you know them) during their first four years of existence. But it was not until "4" that they put out what is absolutely their best album. Pared down to a quartet with guitarist/keyboardist Mick Jones, vocalist Lou Gramm, bassist Rick Wills, drummer Dennis Elliot (augmented by new-wave keyboard whiz, Thomas Dolby, who does a great job by the way), "4" not only represents their fourth album, but their beginning as a quartet.

"4" is what real straight-up Rock And Roll is all about, period. There is not a single bad track on this album. This collection has it all at every speed: hard rock, mid-tempo, an even a good ballad.

The first two tracks kick off the album in a full-rocking mode, the party anthem "Nightlife" and the quintessential hard-rock classic "Juke Box Hero". Much further down the CD are two other killers, "I'm Gonna Win" and "Woman in Black".

The mid-tempo songs are quite lively as well, "Break It Up", the cool and sophisticated "Girl On The Moon", the catchy "Luanne" and the Junior Walker saxaphone-laden hit "Urgent". "Don't Let Go" closes the album on a very upbeat note.

If a rock band is going to do a token ballad for an album, "Waiting For A Girl Like You" is a good example of how it should be done, smooth and not sappy. In turn, it was a big hit, reaching #2 (for 10 weeks in a row !). An unsual chart feat, thanks mostly to Olivia Newton-John's #1 "Physical". What a crime !

When "4" was released in '81, I was 14 and I played this album constantly. My high opinion of this work obvisouly remains unchanged to this day, "4" still holds up today to many Rock And Roll fans.

Regardless of how old you are or what era of rock you prefer, this is a must have album.

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