Customer Reviews

Foreigner in a Strange Land

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is yet another packaging of songs that were recorded by Lou Gramm in the very early 70's - even prior to his stint in Black Sheep in 1974. It was recorded under the band name Poor Heart. In the late 80's, to capitalize on Lou's solo releases, people who had ahold of the master tapes from the Poor Heart sessions released it as Poor Heart featuring Lou Gramm. These recordings from that release keep resurfacing again and again under many different titles - always the same songs. It's not a bad CD - but just realize that it is not new recordings, regardless of what the release date says.

I believe this is another copy of songs Lou did in his pre-Foreigner days. I don't believe this is a new recording. Don't get me wrong, it's a decent recording, but it's by no means new.

No, this isn't a new Lou Gramm album. It seems unfair to hit it with a 1-star rating based on that assumption. It's a collection of songs recorded by the band Poor Heart, which Lou sang for back in 1970 before his run with Black Sheep and of course Foreigner. The recordings are...I don't want to say bootlegs, but they're not officially licensed, nor does Gramm get any money from their sale. It's similar to the early Jon Bon Jovi "Power Station" recordings that surface from time to time.

This batch of songs has also been released as Foreigner In His Own Land, Mystic Foreigner and The Best of the Early Years (I'm sure there are others). I suppose you could make the case for avoiding this collection on principle, but I was curious enough to hear the songs so I gave Foreigner In a Strange Land a try. It didn't hurt that I found it in a cutout bin. The sound quality of these songs is quite poor, and they don't really give you any indication of how powerful a vocalist Gramm would become. It's bluesy, almost folksy post-hippie music that doesn't really rock, but it's still interesting for what it is.

If you're looking for something that sounds even remotely like Lou Gramm's solo albums or his work in Foreigner, you'll want to steer clear of this one. If you're curious about Lou's roots and want to hear these rough recordings, by all means give this CD a try.

It's been awhile since we've seen anything new, but the wait was worth it. Once again he has shown us another side to his voice and depth as a vocalist.I did not find it a disappointment.Since I look forward to each release like a child at christmas,it was worth opening this package.