Ranking the Studio Albums: Foreigner (w/Martin Popoff) 

I have always liked the "4" album cover. Simple but a great idea.

Agent Provocateur is when Mick and Lou were dueling it out in where they wanted the band to be. Lou wanted more uptempo rockers and Mick was dabbling with the keyboards and was more focused on softer ballads. In fact Pete, it is worth noting on the album Inside Information Mick was very excited about the song I Don’t Want To Live Without You. When he introduced the song to Lou, Lou said he thought the song stunk. Lou actually said he purposely tried to sabotage the song when he sang it because he had so much disdain for it.

As debut albums go, Foreigner’s is right up there with some other classics like The Cars and Boston. After the first one it was downhill from there. Oh there we’re good songs, but the debut is flawless!

9 - Unusual Heat 8 - Can't Slow Down 7 - Mr. Moonlight 6 - Inside Information 5 - Agent Provocateur 4 - Head Games 3 - 4 2 - Double Vision 1 - Foreigner (1977) * I really like 2 of the new songs on "The Very Best Of...And Beyond" "Prisoner Of Love" and "Soul Doctor" * I've seen them live a few times. '85 was a great show.'95 I was standing in the front row and it was an outdoor show and they kicked ass. I remember my ears ringing for a couple days

Those first 4 lps were killer! Double Vision, Hot Blooded, Feels Like The First Time, Dirty White Boy, Woman In Black, and the list goes on and on.

Arguably top 5 best 4 album run in music by any band. Great idea for a list Pete. Bands with best 4 album runs. Could be first 4 or anywhere in releases. Bonus for first 4. Thumbs up to get him to do it.

Star rider...(Rider,RIDER!!!) TAKE ME TO THE STARS... Love that tasty jam🍻✌️

Great show agree with Pete the debut is my number 1. “At War With World “ is a hidden gem very heavy awesome tune.

LOVE Martins description of POP music!!! Awesome!!

What a GREAT show and thank you gentlemen. As a drummer Dennis Elliott inspired me greatly. So tough but you guys nailed it. My top Nine. 9- Can't slow down, BORING. 8- Unusual Heat, a few good songs. 7- Inside Information, Pete nailed it. Ditto comments. 6- Mr. Moonlight, some good tunes. 5- Agent Provocateur, Last Great record. 4- Head Games, so good and heavy. 3- Double Vision, can it get any better? 2- Yes Foreigner, simply one the greatest debuts ever. What a great top to bottom album. 1- FOUR, so heavy from top to bottom and maybe is was just that time of my life but I just think this was their best album. Thank you Martin and Pete, today is my wife's birthday and this is her third favorite band so again. THANK YOU.

The solo in "Hot Blooded is a landmark.

My favorites are the first 3 too. Old school! I agree with you Pete... The first record is my favorite too. It's the album I grew up with as a kid in the 70's.

Martin, it's called Hybrid Picking (use pick and fingers)! Like on AC/DC's "For Those About To Rock" and Van Halen's "Little Guitars" electric section.

Been looking forward to this, thanks to both Pete and Martin. One of my favourite bands, their first four albums are all favourites of mine. The others I find less consistent, but all have some enjoyable moments for me, just less than on the first 4 1 Foreigner 2 Four 3 Headgames 4 Double Vision 5 Inside Information 6 Unusual Heat 7 Agent Provocateur 8 Can't Slow Down 9 Mr Moonlight. Always found them a terrific live band, whenever I've seen them with whichever line up.

Love the Pardo/Popoff shows!!! The first 5 are masterpieces! Unusual Heat I like to think of a Mick Jones solo album, tho his solo album sounds nothing like it

Fantastic group. Fantastic evaluation.

When I looked over the entire Foreigner catalog, I've come to realize that my Top 9 Foreigner albums are actually in the order that they were released, with Foreigner being #1 and Can't Slow Down my #9.

Can't believe those guys made me listen to those old Foreigner albums ¡ I'm someone who only listen to whole albums, but with Foreigner I alwas have been a Juke Box Hero / Urgent kind of guy.

Thanks for doing this one Pete, another great show. Have you ever considered ranking the albums of Tygers of Pan Tang? I'm sure that would make an intereting show👍

Hi Martin - I think in regards to the licks on Urgent or Tooth and Nail, you're thinking about For Those About to Rock... it's just a muted picking technique that allows the player to emphasize which parts of the notes or chords he/she wants to emphasize. The overall effect is that it sounds like the volume is coming in and out.

AT War WITH the WORLD 🌎/ is my favorite FOREIGNER song/ but to bring up great memories growing up / in 1988 there was the neighborhood bar that had a jukebox and me and my buddies packed a bundle of JACK $$$$ into selection 245 DIRTY WHITE BOY( 1979)- still after 41 years pumps me up 💯! Tremendous show PETE/ MARTIN!!

Very enjoyable and educational video guys....I only own Double Vision which I love (the cover too!)....but I will check out some others now!

Cheeeeaaaappp Triiiiiccck , ranking the albums.

While I've drifted away from Foreigner as I got older, I'll always have fond memories of the band. They were a big part of my early musical development and definitely part of my high school soundtrack ('78-'82). I wore the grooves out on their first few albums.

My 5 favorites 5. Argent Provocateur 4. 4 3. Head Games 2. Double Vision 1. Foreigner

"Can't Slow Down" is an amazing and brillant album. One of their best !

Double vision was the description of my teenage years!!!!

Best line I have heard in a long time. When I listen to pop music I feel my brains are leaking out of my ears unto the table. Way to go Martin!!!

I saw the original members back in the 70’s and they rocked and the first album is still my favourite

Love this band was looking for him to do this glad i found it

Pete, if you see this comment, if don;t have it, check out their Classic Hits Live Album, there is a "loose" song on there you'd be pleased with I believe, "Love Maker" is the track, a cover tune.

1- 4(Perfect AOR Album) 2- Foreigner 3- Double Vision 4- Head Games 5- Inside Information 6- Agent Provocateur 7- Mr. Moonlight 8- Can't Slow Down 9- Unusual Heat HM: Lou Gramm - Long Hard Look

Foreigner is like Boston, I rank the albums in the same order they came out. and completely disregard "Unusual Heat". Something that Pete and Martin didn't mention is the Shadow King (1991) album (sometimes called The Lost Foreigner Album) that featured Lou Gramm and Bruce Turgon of Foreigner with Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard/Whitesnake/Dio) on lead Guitar. Very solid album but hard to find.

Thanks Pete for all of these videos, we love it !

FINALLY!!! Here are my rankings: 1. Head Games (1979) 2. Self Titled Debut (1977) 3. Double Visions (1978) 4. 4 (1981) 5. Agent Provocateur (1984) 6. Inside Information (1987) 7. Mr. Moonlight (1994) 8. Unusual Heat (1991) 9. Can't Slow Down (2009)

Pete and Martin gravitating towards the rockers and disliking the ballads. Now, THERES a surprise!😁 Love these guys. Their musical knowledge is astounding!

My favorite Foreigner albums in order: 1. Head Games 2. 4 3. Double Vision 4. Inside Information 5. Can't Slow Down 6. Foreigner 7. Unusual Heat 8. Agent Provocateur 9. Mr. Moonlight

Thank you for ranking the studio albums: Foreigner (w/Martin Popoff)🎤🎸🎵🥁

Why all the hate against Unsual Heat? It rocks really hard and Johnny is a killer singer

Man, one of my top favorite prog/hard/pop rock bands of all time. A lot of ramarkable hits, and other extraordinary ballads (or as you said, mellow songs). Reason why they sold over 50M albums all over the world. By the way, Lou Gramm is a brillant singer, but Mick Jones and even Kelly Hansen are great too. My 5 top favorite albums are: Foreigner (debut), Head Games, Double Vision, Foreigner 4, and Agent Provocateur.

Their first four (my top four) are pretty untouchable, in my opinion. My numbers 2, 3, & 4 could all flip around at any time. 9) Unusual Heat 8) Can't Slow Down (I've always liked Kelly Hansen.) 7) Mr. Moonlight 6) Agent Provocateur (Some good stuff, but some songs I never need to hear again, too.) 5) Inside Information (Not great, but I have some history with this album.) 4) Head Games 3) 4 2) Double Vision 1) Foreigner Thanks, Pete & Martin!

I was born in the late 70's , so I did not get to really see Foreigner rise as huge band. Their first song that I really remember as a kid is Head Games , and it has always been my favorite song from them. I do remember when I Want To Know What Love Is came out back in the mid 80's and it was huge. I never got to see Foreigner with Lou Graham as their lead singer. I did get to see Foreigner with Kelly Hansen back in 2007 with Styx and Def Leppard, and I admit that I really enjoyed their set big time. Kelly Hansen really is the perfect replacement for Lou Graham, and it is very scary how close he sounds to him. I remember that Jason Bonham was their drummer when I got to see them, and they included the Led Zeppelin song Whole Lotta Love on their Jukebox Hero song which was very awesome. Thanks to this video, you guys really got me back into Foreigner. I have already ordered a greatest hits album, and two live albums. The only two albums I already had by them are their live album Extended Versions which is a great live album with Kelly Hansen as the lead singer, and an old greatest hits album called Records. It really is amazing how many huge hits Foreigner had in a very short amount of time from 1977- 1984, and a few more after. It is also really amazing that Foreigner can still play to a huge crowd with no original members in the band for the most part. One of the live albums I just recently ordered is Double Vision 40th anniversary which has the classic lineup performing with the current lineup which I thought was brilliant. Thanks for doing this video. It really did get me back into Foreigner big time.

Top 5 ... 5 ) Agent Provacateur 4 ) 4 3 ) Head Games 2 ) Double Vision 1 ) Foreigner

Double Vision was my choice for fave album of the year 1978. Probably one of my favorites of all time. Definitely top twenty. Perfect record. BTW, I absolutely love Starrider. Might be my favorite on the debut.

Mr Moonlight is a really st ong album. Great vocal,great guitar, great playing all over

I love Inside Information!

"Head Games" and UFO's "Force it" are two of my favorite album covers.

My favourite album is Double vision,always thought they knew how to appeal to a broader public than most rock bands without losing their credentials and as someone who likes keyboard orientated A.O.R/Melodic rock i think Break it up/A love in vain are just absolute class

70's foreigner is great!! To me what makes the first Foreigner the best and yes, better than Double Vision is that the songs that were not hits on the first album is stronger than the non hits on Double Vision. My ranking is this: 1) Foreigner 2) Double Vision 3) Head Games 4) 4

The musical knowledge of these two men combines is immense and truly awe inspiring! Personally, I'm neither a Hard Rock guy nor a Prog Rock guy. Im more of a 60s Pop and 70s Soft Rock guy but I love Pete Pardos channel because I'm considering diving into the genre he promotes.

My top Foreigner albums: 1. Foreigner S/T ( Their Proggiest and Best album) 2. Double Vision ( Equally as Masterful as the first but heavier in spots) 3. Head Games ( A couple of weak tracks but still very strong release) 4. Foreigner 4. ( One of the best Mainstream Pop Hard Rock albums of all time but still a tad weaker than previous records) 5. Agent Provacateur ( Each release became weaker and weaker as by the trend here but still a good album ) 6. Mr Moonlight ( Underrated album a little darker release with a few mediocre tracks but still decent album) 7. Inside Information ( A weak album with a couple of hit songs on it so basically mostly filler) 8. Unusual Heat ( Same as Inside Information without the hits a couple of good tracks like a Hair Metal Bad Company sounds like a good comparison) 9. Cant Slow Down ( A grower of an album with a couple of good tracks but yes Its like Foreigner doing Foreigner Lite) I would say 1977-1983 was prime Foreigner and after that they lost it over time piece by piece.

Best Foreigner album - Long Hard Look - Lou Gramm, no just kidding (but a great album). My fave has always been Agent Provocateur. Tie between the first four albums and then Inside Information. Have not heard the other albums.

their first 6 albums are pretty much neck and neck for me. 4 was pure AOR, agent and inside were more mature sounding. the debut was incredible.

I saw Foreigner live back about 1985-ish,.. so long ago. I'm glad I went, I had good seats, they performed really well and rocked the house. Great times I'll always remember. Need to check out all their albums again.

Mine would actually go right in order (although the top 3 are neck and neck and neck): 1) Foreigner (Debut) 2) Double Vision 3)Head Games 4) 4 5) Agent Provocateur This is a very nostalgic band for me... at the time they filled a particular niche in my listening world. All the ballads drove me away after AP.

My two cents: 1) Kelly Hansen used to sing at Hurricane (with Doug Aldrich), who really sounded like Foreigner going metal. 2) Lou Gramm's Ready or Not is much better than many Foreigner records 3) One of the major bands Joey Ramone hated 4) 1-4 2-Double Vision 3-Foreigner 4-Head Games 5-Agent Provocateur 6-Inside Information.

Great video guys! I saw Foreigner back in '85 in Toronto, they were quite good! The opening act was Joe Walsh, I'm betting they didn't treat him poorly. Here's my ranking .... 1 Foreigner 2 Head Games 3 Double Vision 4 4 5 Agent Provocateur 6 Inside Information 7 Mr. Moonlight 8 Unusual Heat Didn't rank 'Can't Slow Down ' as I don't know it well enough.

9 - Unusual Heat 8 - Can't Slow Down 7 - Mr. Moonlght 6 - Inside Information 5 - Agent Provacuter 4 - Head Games 3 - 4 2 - Double Vision 1 - Foreigner 1st lp

I don't really know the Foreigner catalog other than the first 4 somewhat, but love when Pete and Martin discuss so I am watching.

Great job guys…so glad to see Mr. Moonlight get its due…I know both your feelings on the mellowy stuff but “I keep hoping” is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Also with you both being hard rockers, I’m shocked there weren’t more props for “I’m gonna win” from the 4 album. That may be the greatest workout song next to Eye of the Tiger. Also, I know they’re only cuts released on compilation albums, but it’s too bad Soul Doctor and Prisoner of Love never made it to a studio album…those songs would fortify any album. Sorry I discovered your channel 4 years too late!

First Foreigner album is their best and an all time classic.

Thanks for this video, have only heard their hits. Will check em out in detail!

Drummer and founding member of Foreigner, Dennis Elliott was also member of an amazing British prog rock band called "If"! Worth to listen!

Top 5 Foreigner songs in order: 1. Hot Blooded 2. Cold As Ice 3. Break It Up 4. Double Vision 5. Do What You Like

1. Self-titled 2. Double Vision 3. Everything else

I've only listened to their first 6 albums and here is how I rank the albums 1. 4 2. Double Vision *3. Foreigner *4. Head Games 5. Inside Information 6. Agent Provocateur *I do admit I have a hard time choosing which of these two albums I like better, Foreigner's debut album is a slightly better album because it has more of their best songs such as "Cold As Ice", "Starrider", "The Damage Is Done" and "At War With The World", Head Games seems to be a bit more consistent although it doesn't have quite as many top tier tunes despite me loving the title track, "Love On The Telephone" and "Seventeen".

08. Inside Information 07. Shadow King 06. Agent Provocateur 05. Mr. Moonlight 04. Double Vision 03. Foreigner 02. 4 01. Head Games

That Was Yesterday has always been one of my top Foreigner songs. I like the deepness of the lyrics. Lou is great on it.

love this band cold as ice my top 5 song all time

Just do my top 5 since these are the ones I own: 1. 4 2. Double Vision 3. Foreigner 4. Head Games 5. Agent Provocateur

Unusual Heat rocks, good sunset strip LA hard rock

I love FOREIGNER, but strangely enough I seem to like the albums and songs nobody really loves. I really dig Mr. Moonlight, I thinks it’s probably their best. The softer stuff on their first three albums, and even some of those rockers, I hardly care for. A song I really can’t stand is Starrider. One of my favorites is Prisoner Of Love, from their Very Best And Beyond album. Too Late is a great one as well.

Great ranking from both of you. Both of you are very close but I’ve gotta go with Pete’s. Glad to see Mr. Moonlight get some love. I remember buying that one of release day being excited to see new Foreigner tunes and still love that one.

My top 7 from Foreigner(haven’t heard the last two): 7. Agent Provocateur 6. Unusual Heat 5. Inside Information 4. 4 3. Double Vision 2. Foreigner 1. Head Games Pete, after seeing this one, I’d love to see a ranking for Bad Company’s discography.

I'm glad to see Pete is very fond of the song "Say You Will", I think it's a great, underrated song

For me, it's 1) Head Games 2) Foreigner 3) Double Vision....I really liked 4 when I was a teenager when it came out, but it hasn't stood the test of time for me.

Feels like the First Time, Waiting For a Girl Like You, and I Want to Know What Love Is songs that sound like Lou Graham was saving himself for marriage. No other band has had so many songs about losing virginity

Can't really comment as I only have the 1st 4 Foreigner albums. They went a bit 'soft' and AOR with '4', and there they seemed to remain. I've just finished reading this month's Record Collector (UK magazine). For what it's worth, Martin's latest book, Anthem: Rush in the 70s get's a 5 outta 5 stars review. Make your books more readily avaible in the UK please Martin. Thanks

Foreigner's Behind The Music episode is a great education on the band's history. BTW, That Was Yesterday is one of my favorite tracks along with Lou Graham's Lost In The Shadows from The Lost Boys soundtrack.

Great ranking vid guys! I`ve only got the first seven though after this vid I must have a proper listen to Mr.Moonlight. My ranking is - 7)Inside Information 6)Agent Provocateur 5)Unusual Heat(wasn`t too keen when first came out but on listening to it again recently found it much stronger than I first thought!) 4)Double Vision 3)Head Games 2)Foreigner 1)4 (still love this, a great album to put on loud when you`re getting ready to go out on a Friday night!)

Head games my favorite album

Great band but a tribute band now

Great job guys. There’s the first 3 ones (Fantastic!) and there’s the rest! Just another great seventies act, going south in the eighties (and beyond).

9. Can't Slow Down (2009) 8. Unusual Heat (1991) 7. Agent Provocateur (1984) 6. Inside Information (1987) 5. Mr. Moonlight (1994) 4. Head Games (1979) 3. Double Vision (1978) 2. 4 (1981) 1. Foreigner (1977)

6. Inside information 5. Agent Provocateur 4. 4 3. Head Games 2. Foreigner 1. Double Vision

I love the first three albums. Then members were kicked out and I lost interest.

I seem to remember when I saw Foreigner on the Head Games tour that they stretched out Starrider to about 8 or 9 minutes. I think Ian McDonald had a long sax solo on it.

Love these album ranking Videos pete,Would really like to hear your Ranking of In flames & Blind Guardian

Double vision is my favorite love the sweatshirts on your store

HEAD GAMES Hard Rock Masterpiece

Their first 3 is the best. Check out former Foreigner members Ed Gagliardi(bass)and Al Greenwood(keyboards)band SPYS. Both albums they done is awesome !!

other than sometimesbypassing hot blooded and going right to Blue morning blue day through spellbinder I still love that album and truck to it all the time..have loved it since I was a kid I remember when it first came out on vinyl me and my friend both had it around 78 I had mine they were dressed in blue and he had a green colored jacket.

Hey Pete glad you picked the 1st the reason them guys stood all 6 in the trenchcoats were a reason and my dad bought a 1969 dodge superbee emareld green and that 1st 8 track was left in there and that is the one that put them boys on the map!

Mick and Lou in the R&R Songwriters HOF.

My mom loved I want to know what love is. Of course was of an earlier generation although she did like the Stones.

Isn't it strange for someone who hates pop music to rate Foreigner albums? "4" was one of the first albums I bought back when I was 10. I played it a lot, which wouldn't have been really necessary, as most of the songs were playing on the radio constantly all summer long. The album can't be too bad, because I still own it, and remember every single melody on it. My favourite song always was Girl On The Moon. The AC/DC song Popoff is looking for is called For Those About To Rock, I suppose.

Tramontane was used as the theme song for a nationwide FM radio show back in the 80s. Does ANYONE remember what was that show?

Foreigner was a great band!

I have always liked Foreigner, and I agree, I think they took a lot from Bad Company. Like from the beginning. Not a bad thing in my book.

Foreigner is a great band. I have to go with Foreigner 4 as the best. It's got all the hard edge of the early Foreigner with a modern feel.