Foreigner’s second album ‘Double Vision’ would go on to become the most successful rock album in America during 1978, no small feat considering some of the biggest shakers of the era were in operation during that year.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Foreigner
ALBUM: Double Vision
LABEL: Atlantic
SERIAL: SD 19999
YEAR: 1978
CD REISSUE: 1996, Atlantic, 82797-2, remastered
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Lou Gramm – vocals * Mick Jones – guitars * Ian McDonald – guitars, keyboards, saxes, flutes * Al Greenwood – keyboards * Ed Gagliardi – bass * Dennis Elliott – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Back Where You Belong * 02 Blue Morning Blue Day * 03 Double Vision * 04 Hot Blooded * 05 I Have Waited So Long * 06 Lonely * 07 Love Has Taken It’s Toll * 08 Spellbinder * 09 Tramotane (Instr) * 10 You’re All I Am
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
How many times have we seen instances where the ‘second album syndrome’ has kicked in, and delivered a swift blow to aspiring hopes and ambitions? Not in the case of Foreigner. Despite the bland record cover, this album capitalised on the efforts of that great debut album the year before.
It confirmed among the rock radio audience that disco was on the way out, and hard rock was on the way in. It was 1978 after all, and the Village People were still prancing around in Indian and Gay Biker costumes.
The Songs
Of course the album yielded two huge hits for the band, both are regulars on the Classic Rock circuit: ‘Hot Blooded’ and the title track ‘Double Vision’. Any self-respecting fan of AOR will know these two like the back of their hand.
The album also graced a few other gems which long time Foreigner fans talk about with endearment, namely, the very English sounding pop rock of ‘Blue Morning Blue Day’, the moody near Floydian delivery of ‘Spellbinder’ and the very Bad Company sounding ‘Love Has Taken Its Toll’, despite that brief sax solo.
A rarity it ended being, but ‘Tramotane’ is the first and last instrumental track Foreigner ever did, while the acoustic ballad ‘I Have Waited So Long’ is a ballad that could’ve featured quite easily on an Alan Parsons Project album.
In Summary
‘Double Vision’ would go on to become the most successful rock album in America during 1978. No small feat considering some of the biggest shakers of the era were in operation during that year, including Aerosmith, Rainbow, Queen, Styx and Boston.
The following year cemented their claim as jukebox heroes for the decade with ‘Head Games’, but during the heyday of the 80’s, their star would shine further with the release of classic albums ‘4’ and ‘Agent Provocateur’.
Video
Double Vision
Hot Blooded
Entire Album (Select Tracks)
