HNE Recordings Ltd has just released "Questions And Answers: The Atlantic Anthology 1987-1989", a new three-CD collection from iconic FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm.
Gramm had been recording with Rochester, New York-based band BLACK SHEEP since the early 1970s. Releasing two LPs for Capitol, Gramm met his future bandmate and songwriting partner Mick Jones in 1975 when BLACK SHEEP opened for SPOOKY TOOTH in Rochester. Jones was looking for a singer for his new band in 1976, and BLACK SHEEP having split at the end of 1975, Lou was free to audition for Mick's new group, FOREIGNER. Releasing their self-titled album on Atlantic Records in 1977, and featuring solid gold rock classics as "Cold As Ice" and "Feels Like The First Time", FOREIGNER were an instant worldwide smash. Going from strength to strength, the band hit a commercial peak in 1984 with the "Agent Provocateur" album and the chart-topping power ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is".
Perhaps choosing to return to a simpler rock format, Gramm released his debut solo album, "Ready Or Not", in 1987. Produced by Pat Moran with Gramm, it featured the hits "Midnight Blue" and "Ready Or Not" among a collection of songs that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a FOREIGNER record. Having come from a very musical family, "Ready Or Not" is very much a family affair, featuring contributions from Lou's brother Ben Jr. on drums and his father Ben Sr. on trumpet. The core of the band was Lou's former BLACK SHEEP bassist Ben Turgon, who make a significant songwriting contribution to the album, plus guitar hero Nils Logfren. Lou also found time in 1987 to record a track for the soundtrack of teen horror flick "The Lost Boys".
After returning to FOREIGNER for 1987's "Inside Information", Lou released his second solo album, "Long Hard Look", in 1989. Capitalizing on the success of his debut, it was produced by Peter Wolf (famed for his production and arrangement work for Frank Zappa, HEART and Kenny Loggins), "Long Hard Look" built on the foundations set by Lou's debut. "Just Between You And Me" was another huge smash, making No. 6 in the U.S. Hot 100, followed by the single "True Blue Love". The album concludes with a cover of THE SMALL FACES' "Tin Soldier".
Although Gramm only recorded two solo albums for Atlantic, a third disc gathers together some of his Atlantic-era rarities, including two versions of "Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys)" from the aforementioned soundtrack. "Ready Or Not" is represented by a "Rock Remix", an "Extended Dance Remix" and an "Instrumental Remix". Hit single "Midnight Blue" was issued in various formats, including a very collectible transparent blue 12-inch single, which featured an "Extended Remix" of the track. A single edit of "True Blue Love" has been selected from "Long Hard Look". To promote Lou's 1987 debut, Atlantic Records released the very rare and highly collectible LP, "Questions And Answers", a promotional album distributed to radio stations featuring Lou interviewed by Dan Neer as he discusses the genesis of the "Ready Or Not" record, and his career to date, in 1987.
Track listing:
Disc One: Ready Or Not (1987)
01. Ready Or Not
02. Heartache
03. Midnight Blue
04. Time
05. If I Don't Have You
06. She's Got To Know
07. Arrow Thru Your Heart
08. Until I Make You Mine
09. Chain Of Love
10. Lover Come Back
Disc Two: Long Hard Look (1989)
01. Angel With A Dirty Face
02. Just Between You And Me
03. Broken Dreams
04. True Blue Love
05. I'll Come Running
06. Hangin' On My Hip
07. Warmest Rising Sun
08. Day One
09. I'll Know When It's Over
10. Tin Soldier
Disc Three: Single Versions / Questions And Answers (1987-89)
01. Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys) (Vocal Edit)
02. Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys) (Vocal Lp Version)
03. Ready Or Not (Rock Remix)
04. Ready Or Not (Extended Dance Mix)
05. Ready Or Not (Instrumental Remix)
06. Midnight Blue (Extended Remix)
07. True Blue Love (Edit)
08. Questions And Answers (Unbanded – Promo Interview Album)
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
i'm in
i'm in
Yeah me to!!
This is kinda a forget project band he was in with Vivan Campbell.
Shadow King is a supergroup featuring ex-Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm and ex-Dio (and current Def Leppard) guitarist Vivian Campbell alongside bassist and longtime Gramm collaborator Bruce Turgon and drummer Kevin Valentine.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
i'm in
Yeah me to!!
This is kinda a forget project band he was in with Vivan Campbell.
Shadow King is a supergroup featuring ex-Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm and ex-Dio (and current Def Leppard) guitarist Vivian Campbell alongside bassist and longtime Gramm collaborator Bruce Turgon and drummer Kevin Valentine.
i have that album too. pretty good but imo slightly below his solo stuff up to that point
If you don't have any of this, I would highly recommend getting it. His two solo albums are awesome. I actually have them on cassette. 😀 On the other hand, I have all of this, including the Lost Boys soundtrack on CD so I don't know if I particularly need it, unless I want to hear the other versions of stuff I have. Still, it's a great compilation. He is second to Paul Rodgers as my favorite rock vocalist, probably 1A & 1B.
Regarding Shadow King, I dunno if I would necessarily consider them to be a supergroup. When this came out the only person I had heard of at the time was Lou. I would think the layperson may have thought the same. BUT I liked it a lot. As Matt said, probably a tad below his solo stuff but really damn good. I think the songs were stronger on the two solo releases.
During that time, I would think of a band like The Damn Yankees as more of a supergroup. 😊
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
@lee I think you are right Lee. Damn Yankees probably made supergroup status but didn't maintain it. Neither did the Allman Brothers Band. They made supergroup status in 1973 with an album that sold millions of copies and stayed at number 1 out of 200 positions for 5 weeks. When Gregg Allman would talk about that year (1973) he would say he was caught off guard and not ready for that kind of thing. Also Gregg predicted Brothers and Sisters would be a retreat for the ABB and not sell nearly as well as Eat A Peach and At Fillmore East. It also bothered Gregg that his brother and Berry were not there for that kind of success. Gregg was already focusing on his solo album and tour and it just seems the entire Allman Brothers Band just allowed off stage issues to let supergroup status slip away. It was well on the way gone by 1975 and over in 1976. While very popular and did well with live shows especially in the eastern United States and New York City in years to come, the ABB never became a supergroup again.
Real supergroups to me are bands that have million selling albums and sell out tours around the world and maintain that status for years and decades.
Groups like Van Halen, Def Leppard, AC-DC, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and solo artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney and several others.
Perhaps Gregg Allman didn't want to be that big. It does have it's problems and hassles that much smaller acts don't have to wrestle with.
@lee I think you are right Lee. Damn Yankees probably made supergroup status but didn't maintain it. Neither did the Allman Brothers Band. They made supergroup status in 1973 with an album that sold millions of copies and stayed at number 1 out of 200 positions for 5 weeks. When Gregg Allman would talk about that year (1973) he would say he was caught off guard and not ready for that kind of thing. Also Gregg predicted Brothers and Sisters would be a retreat for the ABB and not sell nearly as well as Eat A Peach and At Fillmore East. It also bothered Gregg that his brother and Berry were not there for that kind of success. Gregg was already focusing on his solo album and tour and it just seems the entire Allman Brothers Band just allowed off stage issues to let supergroup status slip away. It was well on the way gone by 1975 and over in 1976. While very popular and did well with live shows especially in the eastern United States and New York City in years to come, the ABB never became a supergroup again.
Real supergroups to me are bands that have million selling albums and sell out tours around the world and maintain that status for years and decades.
Groups like Van Halen, Def Leppard, AC-DC, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and solo artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney and several others.
Perhaps Gregg Allman didn't want to be that big. It does have it's problems and hassles that much smaller acts don't have to wrestle with.
a supergroup is a term given to a band compromised of well known musicians from other bands. like the firm, damn yankees, crosby still nash and young , etc. has nothing to do with sales
@lee I think you are right Lee. Damn Yankees probably made supergroup status but didn't maintain it. Neither did the Allman Brothers Band. They made supergroup status in 1973 with an album that sold millions of copies and stayed at number 1 out of 200 positions for 5 weeks. When Gregg Allman would talk about that year (1973) he would say he was caught off guard and not ready for that kind of thing. Also Gregg predicted Brothers and Sisters would be a retreat for the ABB and not sell nearly as well as Eat A Peach and At Fillmore East. It also bothered Gregg that his brother and Berry were not there for that kind of success. Gregg was already focusing on his solo album and tour and it just seems the entire Allman Brothers Band just allowed off stage issues to let supergroup status slip away. It was well on the way gone by 1975 and over in 1976. While very popular and did well with live shows especially in the eastern United States and New York City in years to come, the ABB never became a supergroup again.
Real supergroups to me are bands that have million selling albums and sell out tours around the world and maintain that status for years and decades.
Groups like Van Halen, Def Leppard, AC-DC, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles and solo artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney and several others.
Perhaps Gregg Allman didn't want to be that big. It does have it's problems and hassles that much smaller acts don't have to wrestle with.
a supergroup is a term given to a band compromised of well known musicians from other bands. like the firm, damn yankees, crosby still nash and young , etc. has nothing to do with sales
Agreed. The ABB were a great band in their own right. Were they super? Sure but not a supergroup. The Law is another one with Paul Rodgers. I wish them, The Firm and Damn Yankees had put out more releases. Bad English is another one from that era. And I wish I had seen CSNY but I think that ship has sailed.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
@matt05 Thank you Matt05. I didn't know that. Like the Traveling Wilburys with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty would be a supergroup even if they didn't sell out large venues anywhere.
I hear or read the term supergroup and mega band used for the real big money makers such as The Eagles, Pink Floyd etc so that is why I made the mistake.
How do you.. or do you...distinguish between The Rolling Stones or Fleetwood Mac and Gov't Mule or The Allman Betts Band?
Gov't Mule is a big favorite of mine and I've seen them several times over the years but we all know the Mule doesn't sell albums and concert tickets like The Rolling Stones which is on a higher level than Gov't Mule even if the term "supergroup" doesn't apply to the Stones. Or String Cheese Incident compared to Pink Floyd? String Cheese is a popular and noted band but when compared to Pink Floyd how would you put it?
Or Derek Trucks compared to Eric Clapton. Derek is a huge favorite of mine but so far Derek isn't on the same level as Clapton. Clapton would sell out quickly a very large venue about anywhere in the world.
Would you say Derek isn't as well known or as famous as Clapton? Couldn't you say Clapton is a superstar and Derek isn't but probably has that potential?
I think Derek Trucks has the potential to be as famous as Clapton or Jimi Hendrix or Carlos Santana but in the world we have now, I'm wondering if it's possible for an extremely accomplished guitarist to become as famous as Clapton or Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen.
welcome. you were giving the definition for musical "superstars" vs a "supergroup" and you example of the wilburys is dead on. that was a supergroup
@lee Yes to Bad English Lee. When that group formed in the late 1980's I thought it would be as big as Journey had become earlier. I got to see Bad English once and it was a smooth and professional show. But they were done by 1992 or so. Very surprising.
Would have loved to see them live. I am kind of a sucker I guess for the vocals of the time. I liked John Waite in The Babys. I even liked groups like Cinderella & White Lion.
Sorry, kind of off topic I guess.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
I am kind of a sucker I guess for the vocals of the time. I liked John Waite in The Babys. I even liked groups like Cinderella & White Lion.
Sorry, kind of off topic I guess.
It happens to be on topic for me. I've been listening to solo artists of the early 70s and haven't found a single male vocalist who I would consider "great." There are a lot of crooners, but no one w/real power, inflection, pitch, and phrasing. Think that's why I ended up liking the "odd" voices like Gregg, Tom Waites, Joe Cocker, & Ray Charles. Except for Robert Plant, most of the ones in bands really needed the bands for support.
I don't think your examples are odd at all, they are just different. Joe Cocker and Gregg certainly didn't sing like the guys we've been discussing but were certainly great in their own right.
Back to Lou Gramm, I only saw him twice. Both with Foreigner. The second time was after he had a brain tumor and he looked really bad. They sounded okay I guess but I was in the third row and looking at him you could tell something wasn't right.
Foreigner now is a cover band to me. Once in a while they will get the originals together (I think they are all still around) for a one off show but now it is just Mick Jones. I think he's milking the name for all it is worth.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
I knew a few women who loved Steve Perry and owned several Journey albums but he was mid to late 1970's to late 80's. I think Perry has been invited to play on some Journey reunion tours but apparently isn't interested.
Sorry if I'm going too far away from Lou Gramm who of course was another great voice from that period in rock and roll.
And this old boy was a good singer to me but I never felt his singing could carry a band the entire show. Just certain songs. He was a unique singer,vsong writer and guitarist. NOBODY did those three things like him in his prime. He had his own sound and style.
I always wondered whether Perry was known as a "girl's singer" because of his voice or the tunes that were primarily love songs for lack of a better word. I never mind when a singer over 50 stops. Their voices, unless well trained or tended (no drugs/no smoking - ha!), change. I don't want to hear their changed sound nor do I want a "nostalgia" experience. I don't need to hear Perry live at 72.
And I've always personally categorized the voice of that last guy you mention as country.
And back to Lou Gramm...
You ever heard Lou sings this? I have once and it seemed to be easier to understand the lyrics than Robert Plant. I always thought Lou was one of rock's better singers.
Yeah if Duane had not invited Dickey to be in the Allman Brothers maybe he could of had some kind of success in country music. Dickey actually tried that in the 1980's for a period of time. Recorded a country album in Nashville that Gregg Allman said in an interview at the time it was going to be an outstanding album. Dickey went out with Waylen, Hank Jr. and played on a David Allen Coe album etc but Dickey's album never came out and he soon began playing clubs and bars doing ABB and Great Southern stuff going back to his old style. I saw him at a small club in North Carolina in 1985 with Matt on drums. Didn't recognize the other guitar player but he didn't play any leads. It was amazing to me Dickey was back at that level. But one of the guys said Dickey owned the big bus they had outside and the equipment and apparently was wealthy and doing it just to play.
I saw Dickey with Hank Jr. about 1983 and he had a nice haircut, leather jacket, new jeans, shirt and necktie shiny boots and didn't play his Goldtop at that show. He played a red Ibanez Artist guitar. He plays it on the motel room tracks on that 1982 Allman Brothers video release with the Mike Lawler-David Toler ( Toler instead of Jaimoe) lineup playing outside in Jacksonville, Florida.
Yeah the girls loved those power ballad type of songs with Journey. I liked them. If I recall correctly the band wanted to continue on when Perry had some sort of medical issue and they didn't want to wait for him to recover so they just moved on. Too bad.
He put out a solo album in 1994 and I went and saw him in downtown Detroit. The Fox Theatre I think. A lady from Canada, Sass Jordan opened. I think she had a radio hit at the time. He put on a good show, lots of Journey stuff.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
I always wondered whether Perry was known as a "girl's singer" because of his voice or the tunes that were primarily love songs for lack of a better word. I never mind when a singer over 50 stops. Their voices, unless well trained or tended (no drugs/no smoking - ha!), change. I don't want to hear their changed sound nor do I want a "nostalgia" experience. I don't need to hear Perry live at 72.
And I've always personally categorized the voice of that last guy you mention as country.
And back to Lou Gramm...
Mick Jones is country? Or are you talking about Dickey?
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Thanks for posting the Stairway to Heaven. I hadn't hear LG's version w/the slower tempo.
Think Dickey missed country stardom by starting in the mid-1980s instead of early 1970s, but that's still how I hear him.
Yeah the girls loved those power ballad type of songs with Journey. I liked them. If I recall correctly the band wanted to continue on when Perry had some sort of medical issue and they didn't want to wait for him to recover so they just moved on. Too bad.
He put out a solo album in 1994 and I went and saw him in downtown Detroit. The Fox Theatre I think. A lady from Canada, Sass Jordan opened. I think she had a radio hit at the time. He put on a good show, lots of Journey stuff.
Perry stuck w/Journey for about 5 years, but his mother was sick when they were doing the last album. It took a toll on the band trying to record w/o a lead singer who was back/forth visiting her. They disbanded.
I'd forgotten about his medical issue. That happened when they reunited in the 90s. He had some sort of degenerative bone disease that might have been helped w/surgery, but he was reluctant to have it. I do remember an ultimatum of either have it or they'd replace him. He said no & was replaced. He did some solo stuff & appeared on stage w/the band when they were inducted into the HOF but their then-lead singer sang.
Yeah the girls loved those power ballad type of songs with Journey. I liked them. If I recall correctly the band wanted to continue on when Perry had some sort of medical issue and they didn't want to wait for him to recover so they just moved on. Too bad.
He put out a solo album in 1994 and I went and saw him in downtown Detroit. The Fox Theatre I think. A lady from Canada, Sass Jordan opened. I think she had a radio hit at the time. He put on a good show, lots of Journey stuff.
Perry stuck w/Journey for about 5 years, but his mother was sick when they were doing the last album. It took a toll on the band trying to record w/o a lead singer who was back/forth visiting her. They disbanded.
I'd forgotten about his medical issue. That happened when they reunited in the 90s. He had some sort of degenerative bone disease that might have been helped w/surgery, but he was reluctant to have it. I do remember an ultimatum of either have it or they'd replace him. He said no & was replaced. He did some solo stuff & appeared on stage w/the band when they were inducted into the HOF but their then-lead singer sang.
Yeah I think you are right. They told him to have the procedure or they would carry on without him. I think the vocalist has to be the most difficult member of a band to replace but the guy Journey got sounds a lot like him. Speaking of Journey, they are playing here this summer at Lollapalooza. I have no idea why they would be on that lineup. There are two amphitheaters here they could sell a lot of tix to based on their name alone.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
And I've always personally categorized the voice of that last guy you mention as country.
And back to Lou Gramm...
Mick Jones is country? Or are you talking about Dickey?
I was talking about Dickey.
@lee https://images.app.goo.gl/wtsmTR8cceT9ymeN8
Steve Perry today.
It says Steve initially left Journey to go solo but his albums and shows didn't do well so he quit all together for years. Gained 60 pounds and just sat on his butt in his hometown.
Then Journey offered to have him back in the mid 90's but he needed hip replacement surgery which he was afraid to get so the band said get it or we will hire a new singer. And they did.
He eventually had successful hip surgery but claims he would never work with Journey again.
As of that 2018 writing Steve had never married but was in love with a breast cancer survivor he saw on TV. He was able to meet her and they had a relationship but the cancer returned and she died in 2012.
It's interesting Journey became a huge band with million selling albums when Perry joined and one would be tempted to assume Perry was why that huge success happened and apparently he did too. But when he went solo it flopped so he quit singing for years.
The music business is so unpredictable!
Hit "watch on YouTube" at the bottom and you should see it.
Nice interview with Lou done 7 years ago. He and Jones had not spoken in 10 years.
Lou said in another interview l read last night, Lou said he became unhappy with the direction Foreigner had begun to take and when you get out of sync with the other guys in a band it's best to move on.
Some think Lou is the best front man for a rock band in the last 50 years I read.
