Jukebox Heroes: The Foreigner Anthology

Foreigner

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 15, 2000
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00004UEIU
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,076 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Feels Like the First Time

2. Long, Long Way from Home

3. Cold as Ice

4. Headknocker

5. Starrider

6. At War With the World

7. Double Vision

8. Blue Morning, Blue Day

9. Hot Blooded

10. I Have Waited So Long

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. I Want to Know What Love Is

2. Down on Love

3. Street Thunder

4. Reaction to Action

5. That Was Yesterday

6. Ready or Not

7. Midnight Blue

8. Heart Turns to Stone

9. I Don't Want to Live Without You

10. Say You Will

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

From the late '70s to the late '80s, Foreigner put together a string of commercial hit singles and albums, and they're all here on this Rhino Records compilation. Such platinum hits as "Double Vision," "Cold as Ice," "Feels like the First Time," and the one and only "Hot Blooded" are but 4 of the 39 songs featured on this anthology. In addition, several Spooky Tooth (Mick Jones and Gary Wright) songs are included, as well as some solo material from Lou Gramm.

Hardworking, journeyman British guitarist Mick Jones and American vocalist Lou Gramm hit upon a formula for success and proceeded to churn out hit after hit. The precedent for the group's sound had been set previously by such British blues/rock bands as Led Zeppelin and Free. Simple, riff-oriented melodies sung with gruff sincerity and swagger (suggestive of the great American black soul singers), matched up with a sledgehammer rock beat and short, to-the-point, electric guitar solos, were just what teens from that period wanted to hear. Fellow British cohorts Bad Company also were mining the same vein (although with less success): sexy love songs sung with some grit, merging British pop sensibilities with a hint of black sensuality. Of course, the plodding predictability of these songs became their downfall, too, as Foreigner were one of several hit machines from that period tagged as "corporate rock," which helped foster the punk and New Wave "revolutions."

Although it's easy in hindsight to deride groups like Foreigner, it's crucial to judge them on their own terms. Mick Jones just wanted "to fuse an attention to melody with some hefty rock stuff, hoping it would stand up next to a Zeppelin or Traffic or a Free record and hold its own. That's the standard I have to reach." From that standpoint, they succeeded and more, as their lifelong fans undoubtedly would agree. --Wally Shoup

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Why do they always figure out new ways to rip us off?, August 15, 2000

By	birddogger5150 (Roseville, MN USA) - See all my reviews

Literally from the very first noises out of this CD it pisses you off. The version of "Feels Like The First Time" included here starts off with the synth bubbling underneath the guitar, instead of with just the lone guitar part eventually segueing into the synth/guitar part (which is a much better version). In addition, the song is SEVERELY edited. The second song, "Long Long Way From Home" is also the 45 version and not the full length album version. I have a feeling all of these are going to be that way.

If you're a true Foreigner fan, you've already got everything on here. There's no previously unreleased tracks. You do get some nice solo tracks from Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, and a couple from Spooky Tooth (Mick's old band), but no rarities or anything like that. Just some slick packaging, remastering, and the requisite liner notes. If you're a casual fan, this is a good starting point. Overall, a good compilation, but I really wish they had full-length versions of these songs.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Anthology For Casual Fans, March 14, 2003

By	Rachel Lai "jvrlai" (London, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

If you're a Foreigner purist, what are you doing with this 2-disc set? Put it back on the shelf and pick up all their digitally remastered albums instead. This isn't the collection for you.

If you're someone who's new to the band, and wants only the hits, some truly excellent album tracks, and some superb solo material from band members, this is the one to get.

Disc One contains most of the hits (including personal favourites "Feels Like The First Time", "Cold As Ice", "Hot Blooded", "Urgent", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", and "Juke Box Hero"), all presented in chronological order (I wish all compilations would do that), so you can clearly hear the band's musical and artistic progression. Very nice, but where's "Girl On The Moon" from 4? That is perhaps the only startling omission.

One note: Only the first pressing had the two tracks from Spooky Tooth (the track listing Amazon provides); all subsequent pressings substitute "Night Life", another track from 4, in place of track 20, "All Sewn Up", which is bumped to track 21 ("Hoofer" is deleted entirely). Since the Spooky Tooth material didn't really appeal to me at all, this was a welcome change.

Disc Two is not as strong as the first (to be expected), though it does feature the haunting "I Want To Know What Love Is" (their only #1 hit, sadly) and the rocking "Reaction To Action". I was very pleased to see some of Lou Gramm's and Mick Jones's solo material made it onto this disc, with "Midnight Blue" being the standout -- it's the perfect song for driving late at night. Many might not appreciate Foreigner's later material, but it still constitutes part of their history, and as such belongs on this set.

As usual, Rhino's remastering job is impeccable. I found myself discovering new sonic elements in each song. The liner notes are also superb, but do not contain the updated track listing.

Approximately 10 of the songs are in their single versions, which means they're edited (9 songs) or remixed (one song). Somehow, I wish Rhino had expanded this set to 3 discs to accomodate the full-length album versions, but this is acceptable.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Foreigner's best retrospective on disc(s), August 8, 2006

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

THE BAND: Lou Gramm (lead vocals, percussion), Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards, bass, vocals), Dennis Elliott (drums), Ian McDonald (keyboards), Al Greenwood (keyboards), Ed Gagliardi (bass), Rick Wills (bass), Jeff Jacobs (keyboards on "Mr. Moonlight" only), Bruce Turgon (bass on "Mr. Moonlight" only), Johnny Edwards (vocals on "Unusual Heat" only).

THE DISCS: (2000) 39 tracks on 2 discs clocking in at approximately 154 total minutes (77:23 on disc-1, 76:13 on disc-2). Included with the discs is a 46-page booklet containing numerous band photos, extensive history of the band, all studio album cover artwork, song titles/credits, and what songs came from which albums. Label - Rhino.

ALBUM REPRESENTATION: "Foreigner" (6 songs), "Double Vision" (4), "Head Games" (4), "Four" (5), "Agent Provocateur" (5), "Inside Information" (4), "Unusual Heat" (1), "The Very Best...And Beyond" (1), "Mr. Moonlight" (2), Spooky Tooth (2), Lou Gramm solo (3), Mick Jones solo (2).

COMMENTS: "Anthology: Jukebox Heroes" is my pick of the bunch for best Foreigner compilation. You'll have several choices to make before settling on this one... "Complete Greatest Hits" (2002: 20 songs), "The Essentials" (2005: 12 songs), "The Very Best... And Beyond" (1992: 17 songs), "Records" (1982: 10 songs), and Rhino Records double dipping with a 2nd Foreigner compilation "The Definitive Collection" (2006: 30 songs). "Anthology" offers the most songs, as well as giving you a taste of the band before it became Foreigner (aka "Spooky Tooth"), as well as solo works from Lou Gramm and Mick Jones. The standards are ALL here - "Feels Like The First Time", "At War With The World", "Cold As Ice", "Long, Long Way From Home", "Hot Blooded", "Double Vision", "Head Games", "Rev On The Red Line", "Dirty White Boy", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Urgent", "Break It Up", "Juke Box Hero", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "That Was Yesterday", etc. As well as some choice deeper album cuts that had minor success - "Headknocker", "Starrider", "Blue Morning, Blue Day", "Women", "Night Life", and "Heart Turns To Stone". All compilations will have minor things wrong (and this "Anthology" is no exception). Here's my opinion on the faults - 1. too many edited or remixed songs (ten); 2. questionable tracks included like "Luanne", "Street Thunder", a total of six songs from Spooky Tooth, Mick Jones solo, Lou Gramm solo (one from each would have been my choice); 3. questionable omissions - no "Spellbinder", "Seventeen", "Love Has Taken Its Toll", "Lonely Children", "Blinded By Science" or "Girl On The Moon"; and 4. five (a few too many) tracks from "Agent Provocateur". Ultimately, the faults are minor. And, with the massive booklet that comes with the disc and it's 39 tracks, this "Anthology" is hands down the most complete retrospective of Foreigner... period (5 stars).