Agent Provocateur [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Foreigner

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000002J5Z
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,310 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A perfect blend of classic rock and pop rock elements, July 8, 2003

By	M. B. Link "wildfirelink" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Agent Provocateur(1984). Foreigner's fifth studio album.

After the band's pinnacle release of the "4" album in 1981, Foreigner decided to implement more keyboards into their traditional classic rock sound, and came off with Agent Provocateur three years later. While not the huge success that "4" was, it did spawn the band a couple of chart topping classics in the form of "That Was Yesterday" and the famous ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is". The rest of the album measures up very nicely as well. Most fans tend to only look at the softer Foreigner material from the 80's, but the period did also sport numerous rockers. Foreigner is generally a band which critics love to hate, but why is this album still loved by many fans? Let's see:

1) Tooth And Nail- Excellent mid-paced rocker which kicks off the album. Comparable to some of the band's earlier material. 9/10

2) That Was Yesterday- The album's sleeper hit, a very melodic mid-paced semi-ballad, which contains a strong synth melody. Excellent. 10/10

3) I Want To Know What Love Is- Foreigner's very first #1 single. A slow ballad which builds up the background vocals as the chorus draws in. Nicely done. 10/10

4) Growing Up The Hard Way- One of my two favorite rockers off the album. Mostly a synth/rock number, but it's still very underrated in Foreigner's catalogue. 10/10

5) Reaction To Action- My other favorite rocker here. The keyboards take backseat to an all out classic electric guitar anthem. Also very underrated. 10/10

6) Stranger In My Own House- Here's where the album takes a slight downhill turn. This song is slower, but still rocking, similar to what the band Loverboy would do. 8/10

7) Love In Vain- Another mid-paced keyboard driven tune, almost like the track "Growing Up The Hard Way". Very catchy. 9/10

8) Down On Love- This track is more of an optimistic ballad, which stands out a little from some of Foreigner's sad ballads. Not bad. 8/10

9) Two Different Worlds- Yet another ballad, but more mellow like "I Want To Know What Love Is". Good, but not outstanding. 8/10

10) She's Too Tough- The album closes with a faster pop rock track which also sounds like a Loverboy song. Upbeat and catchy. 9/10

Overall, Agent Provocateur is a noteworthy Foreigner album, which gets 4.5 stars. It may not be as hard rocking as some of their earlier 70's albums, but it is still a strong collection of rockers and ballads which offer a bit of variety throughout the disc. If you're just a casual fan getting into Foreigner, I recommend listening to "4" first, and then proceeding onto this album and the others. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Also, check out their 1987 album, Inside Information.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of best from foreigner, January 10, 2007

By	Axel Gonzalez "axelprebovalencia" (ohio,cleveland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

do you want to know what love is, well this is the cd you need.
like the music from this group, this is one of the best that's why you don't find it no where, no even in the stores any more. must if you like this group and must have for your collection.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Foreigner Keep On Rockin', May 28, 2003

By	Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

After the massive success of 1981's "4" and it's subsequent tour, Foreigner took a couple of years off before returning in 1984 with "Agent Provocateur." Although it didn't do the business that "4" did (and how could it have?), "Agent Provocateur" was still a big hit album for the band, and it finally gave them their long sought-after #1 single in the form of "I Want To Know What Love Is." With the exception of that beautiful ballad plus a few others, "Provocateur" has an even more rocking feel to it than it's legendary predecessor, with Mick Jones' scorching guitar and Lou Gramm's full-throttle lead vocals at the forefront. Ah, but Foreigner wouldn't be Foreigner without their trademark keyboards or the band's fine sense of melody, which "Provocateur" has both of in great abundance, too. Once again, Foreigner rock the house in great style on songs like "Tooth And Nail," "Growing Up The Hard Way," "Reaction To Action," "Stranger In My Own House," and "She's Too Tough." And the softer, keyboard-led stuff is wonderful too---"I Want To Know What Love Is" is an instant Foreigner classic, and "That Was Yesterday" (a Top 20 hit), "A Love In Vain," "Down On Love," and "Two Different Worlds" are also great songs. Powerful rockers and ballads throughout, excellent production work, and electrifying performances from the band, not only Jones & Gramm but also bassist Rick Wills and drummer Dennis Elliott. From end to end, "Agent Provocateur" is a solid Foreigner album.