i remember hearing "a new song" by a band called foreigner called cold as ice on a little tiny am\fm radio i got for christmas, i was 13 years old when it came out and me and a couple friends were riding bikes and skateboarding around the neighborhood on our christmas presents
That is a tough one. There are so many. I guess I'd go with two Rainbow vocalists, Graham Bonnet and Joe Lynn Turner. So powerful, so soulful. Graham did some great work with The Michael Schenker Group as well.
How about Robin Zander of Cheap Trick? Incredible range of nuance from buttery smooth to raspy growl. Zander and his band have paid their dues and don't really get the recognition they deserve.
Lou lives only a few miles from me in Rochester New York. I have met him several times. Very humble nice guy. I gave him 10 albums by Foreigner and solo albums for him to sign and he signed every single one! Really nice guy
Lou Gramm was a household name in the 1980s, and rightfully so. It’s so weird that his name doesn’t come up much with all the renewed RU-vid interest in 70s/80s rock. Absolute monster of a vocalist!
I saw Foreigner/ Double Vision Tour a few years back when Kelly Hansen was the lead singer. What we didn't know as fans that night was we were about to be surprised by a cameo appearance by Lou Gramm. He's so loved by us die hard fans that when he walked out on stage, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. I loved Lou and was heartbroken by his diagnosis of a brain tumor. "I want to know what love is" was his gem! Thank you Professor for honoring Lou....so deserving!!
I was in the car with my aunt and uncle and the song Urgent was on the radio, they started singing along and I was blown away...omg my aunt and uncle are so cool! A great memory in my life.
I think not only was Lou Gramm underated, but Foreigner was as well. I guess people don't really realize how many hits they had. Definitely one of my favorite bands of the 80's. Love Foreigner.
I love Lou whether he is singing with Black Sheep, Foreigner, Shadow King or the Lou Gramm Band. I listen to his songs daily. Almost every single song on any CD is just great. I am amazed at his vocals every time I listen to his voice. My favorite singer/songwriter of all time! Thanks for doing this video.
Funny… in recent months I’ve started seeing these acoustic things where Lou Gramm is just absolutely smoking it… no fx, no tricks… just straight up ability and craftsmanship. He is really remarkable and blows most people anywhere out of the water. Congrats to Lou Gramm on a great career… really well done 🤘
That Was Yesterday, you can hear the mourning in his voice, the hope that the one that got away still has "yesterday" somewhere in her heart. Man, that was the best song he ever sang, IMO.
Lou Gramm elevates every song he sings. He turns a good song into a great song, and a great song into a classic. My fav deep cut from him is Girl On The Moon from Foreigner 4...what a song!
Foreigner is such a part of my history. Hearing Juke Box Hero as a kid transported me into this vicarious life of making music. This was so provocative to me that I eventually did pick up an old guitar and play, and play, and play. Just a few years back I introduced this song to my son and I saw the same “stars in his eyes” that the song gave me. Thanks Adam.
Adam---Perhaps the most refreshing quality of ALL of your productions is the sincere love and respect you have for those who with their incredible talent, whether vocally or instrumentally, created the musical memories which we have all carried with us throughout our entire lives. Thanks, Professor!
My absolute favorite episode of yours, Adam. As soon as I read the title, I thought - it has to be Lou. Most people are religious about one singer / band. I’ve been in awe of Foreigner since I was a young teen. Thanks so much for covering my favorite singer.
I read the tag line and immediately thought of Lou Gramm. I squealed like a schoolgirl when I found out that’s exactly who this was about. Silly, but Gramm was just that, a huge talent that arguably didn’t get credit for his epic voice. Keep doing what you do Professor. Good stuff.
@@Undertaker67203 We got sick of it when I was in High School and it came out. One of the guys was so irritated by it that he would yell it in the halls once in a while. LOL!
Right on, Professor! Another brilliant tribute and lesson in rock greatness. Foreigner still gets the full album play in my house. Lou's contributions and impact is hard to scale and as you say, "Lou can go toe to toe with any of them."
Saw Lou Gramm perform with Foreigner in his first concert after his surgery to remove the brain tumor he had- The Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, CA, and it holds only about 500 people.. unbelievable show, and it was amazing how he had not lost any of his skills! One of the best singers anywhere as his voice is unmistakable.
My Top 5-ver: 1. Juke Box Hero 2. Double Vision 3. Cold As Ice 4. Urgent 5. Waiting For A Girl Like You Honorable Mentions: Say You Will, Hot Blooded, Heart Turns To Stone, I Want To Know What Love Is
The 80s was my "coming of age" decade. When "I Want to Know What Love Is" came out, nothing could surpass it and it was to become my #1 song of all time. Thirty-seven years later, it still is my #1 and it will be my #1 in another 37 years.
Great job Profesor! Lou is so underrated and a true rock legend! He makes Rochester, NY and Gates-Chili Highschool proud! Jukebox Hero is one of the best ever. I can’t hear it and not crank it up and start singing.
Yes! Love his voice! My favorite song he sings that just gets me going is “Dirty White Boy.” He has a voice that can be soft, almost quiet like and then, he can wail it out with true conviction that makes you sit up and listen. I love that! ❤️💜💚
@@ProfessorofRock Off the top of my head. Ronnie James Dio, Brian Ferry, Mike Patton, Geddy Lee, Jeff Lynn, Robin Zander, Burton Cummings, Glenn Huges, Brad Delp to name a few.
Russell Mael ...maybe Sparks doesn't qualify as classic rock , but Russell is without a doubt my pick for the greatest of the great singers . He can sing in ,like , 15 octaves ... of course Graham is pretty awesome himself
I was into all kinds of music in the 80’s but mostly rock and metal. Lou Gramms solo album was probably the only album I bought from all of the “solo” albums that everyone did. Midnight Blue was a great song. The whole album was good.
Lou Gramm is one of my top 5 singers in the history of rock. Such power, complete control, always made daring choices with his voice. He was really a soul singer that brought that to hard rock. Midnight Blue was brilliant, but I didn't know REM took a run at it. Stipe shouldn't have even tried, that's out of his league. Great episode.
Professor, I totally agree with you. Lou Gramm is extremely underrated and underappreciated. I grew up with Foreigner's music. They are one of my all-time favorite rock bands.
My parents didn't introduce me to these songs. I'm 57...I am the parent who introduced my kids to Foreigner, and all that other great '70's and '80's rock. 🎤🎶🎶🎸
I have a dream. Hoping for the day Lou might decide to teach. He set the bar so high. Just trying to sing those songs will make you a better vocalist. Incredibly skilled singer of an extremely high calibur.
"Woman in Black" from Foreigner 4 is my particular favorite. Yeah, people can say what they will about the songs, it's a matter of taste. But Lou Gramm was a world class rock singer by any standard.
Lou Gramm is one of my favorite male vocalists to me he is the American Paul Rodgers and his work with foreigner, the short lived supergroup shadow king and solo career is amazing so my fiver for Lou is can't wait, once upon a time, stranger in my own house, lover come back and dirty white boy and so much more
Absolutely! I've always loved (and envied) his force-of-nature voice! I believe that 'Waiting For A Girl' is the most sensual and honest rock ballad written/recorded. Sung it in private with tears in my eyes at one point in my life. But, then again when my daughter was born much later in my life... Alright, TMI!
I saw Lou Gramm fronting Foreigner after his brain tumor surgery. He sounded exactly as he always had. Foreigner opened for Journey featuring Steve Augeri in his early days with Journey in 1998 or 1999. It was an amazing show. It was my first concert at an amphitheater. A major stormed rolled into Little Rock. When Lou sang "He heard one guitar," lightning streaked throughout the sky as the cymbals were hit. They ended with "I Want to Know What Love Is." Rain was pouring off the front of the amphitheater top. Mick was out front shaking hands with everyone while singing and getting drenched. I'll never forget that concert.
Sadly, one of the worst concerts I ever attended was Foreigner in Binghamton NY. Lou was sooooo out of it he wondered off stage during a jam and didn't reappear for quite some time while his band mates tried to cover for him. When he returned, he was so off the beat and unable to perform it was painful to watch. Glad he has conquered his demons and recovered his health.
I love Foreigner❤ Lou Gramm is definitely a powerhouse of a vocalist🎤 Until the End of Time is the best..That Was Yesterday I grew up listening to Foreigner with my parents..
Lou Gramm is such a great vocalist. Those Foreigner songs were huge and still are! I have special place in my heart for those two solo singles. I can play Midnight Blue and Just Between You and Me over and over. Just ask my wife. 😆 Another great video, Adam. Thanks!
Paul Rodgers of Bad Company!! He was the Voice of Free. The Firm. Even Queen after Freddie Mercury!! The Voice that is still one of the best to ever come out of England!!
So glad you made a video on this subject. Foreigner is my all time favorite band and I feel like in this Era they do not get the credit that they deserve. I always say Foreigner is the most underrated rated rock band of all time.
I saw Lou and his [post-Foreigner] band in Decatur, Illinois 11 years ago. Such a talent. Where do I begin with my favorite Foreigner songs? “Rev on the Red Line,” “Break it Up,” “That Was Yesterday” and “Until the End of Time” for sure.
I'll never forget at the age of 12 or so I went to a local fair. It was a small Canadian town and I had never of Foreigner yet. But one of the rides had a set of Peavey Sp-2 speakers (15" speaker with a big horn) and they were blasting it out. I heard the sound from far off and started moving towards it and as I got closer the sound just BLEW MY HEAD OFF. It was pumping into my chest with the pain of "You''re As Cold As Ice" You're Willing to Sacrifice our Love!" I was off my rocker to say the least. I stayed there listening for as long as my group of friend would allow me until they finally dragged me away to go do something much less exciting or interesting. I was already hooked on Rock before that but that brought me to totally new heights!!
Got to agree. He is amazing. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this history!!! Had to pause it each time you mentioned a song to go back and experience it again before continuing...can't thank you enough for this channel!
I absolutely love Foreigner...u r right....probably one of the most underrated bands of all time...and yet what a powerhouse catalog of songs....thanks for recognizing them...from one music lover (and child of the 80s!) to another! Blessings to u! P.s. listening to my Foreigner playlist all day today!!
Thank you for giving him the recognition he has always deserved. Too bad they couldn't stick with the name Trigger cause his voice definitely triggers some deep emotions.
Adam, Adam, Adam... This is where you shine. Interviews with artists combined with informed opinions. Lou Gramm is one of my favorite singers and Foreigner was the first band where I drove the decision to see the band (Foreigner/Billy Squier in 1981). While I think your top 5 is strong, mine is different with a heavier focus on album tracks or lower charting singles. In no particular order: Women Long, Long Way from Home Rev on the Red Line Night Life Tooth and Nail.
This is my favorite video of yours. I appreciate you giving a legendary band their due. They were one of the first rock groups I fell in love with and I still know many of their songs by heart. My five: Cold As Ice, Break It Up, Fool For You Anyway, Love Has Taken It’s Toll, and Blue Morning, Blue Day.
Until the End of Time was a special song for Lou, because he had not explored his low registers as much, and with the pressures of having to keep up with the vocals he'd already made that had such high and resounding notes, Until the End of Time stands up with the rest of his work even though he wasn't pushing the stars out of his voice. An absolute gem of a hit in the twilight of his career. The ballads of Lou Gramm are possibly the best ever in classic rock.
this came up when i searched to see if you had covered John Waite. 😅Title is also fitting! love your videos, after losing my dad, who i loved talking music with, i truly appreciate the opportunity to invite you into my living room everyday and talk music.
