Theme:URGENT.
Disc:“4”.
Year:1981.
It is this as could be many others, the string of memorable songs that Foreigner have been leaving behind is truly amazing. Perhaps “Urgent” has a special meaning, one of the great moments of their most recognized album, without being one of their most exploited ballads, which keeps the rock parameters without rejecting experimentation.
There is no doubt that “4” was “the album”. With that album the band exploded definitively. Its title has two meanings, it was the fourth album of their production, and the line-up had remained a quartet after the departure of saxophonist Ian McDonald and keyboardist Alan Greenwood.
Robert John “Mutt” Lange repeated as producer the fantastic work he had done with AC/DC and would repeat shortly after with Def Leppard, proving to be a true magician when it comes to making the most of the possibilities of sound, both in terms of brilliance and power and commercial hook, to a rock band.
Foreigner took advantage, combining their excellent songwriting momentum with a demodelling tandem. Their commercial ability was more than proven with “Urgent”, which helped the album's first single to reach the top of the charts as well. This is one of those tunes that everyone can relate to, with that funky aftertaste and the unforgettable sax parts by Motown star Junior Walker.
The band found out by chance during one of the breaks in the recording of the album that the legendary black musician was playing a few blocks away from their New York studio. They did not hesitate for a second to approach him to propose their participation in the song with a result for history; Foreigner immediately became the absolute kings of Rock FM or, as the song that closed the album said, “Jukebox heroes”. A delight.
Hello my people, first of all thank you for reading my blog, and that you like this musical content, and secondly, I hope you like this little editorial of this band and its theme which is a musical legend among the rock industry. A thousand blessings and see you in a new post with more of the legendary rock songs.
