Day 383: Jukebox Hero, Foreigner

Roderick Benson — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 23:00:16 +0000

I remember when Foreigner 4 was released. I was 15 at the time. My friend Robert really liked the album and this was one of the hits on this album that was played regularly on Sydney radio stations. Sadly this live version is not nearly as good as the album version with some quite “on the vocal chords” singing (don’t try this sort of thing at home). This song also brings back a memory of me visiting the UK where I stayed with my Aunty and Uncle in their little place in Peckham. Their house was located over the top of my Uncle’s service station as my Uncle was a car mechanic. Unbeknown to me, this would be the last time I would see my cousin Michael as tragically he was killed in a car accident in 1988. This was doubly tragic because my Uncle John had a very, very good and close relationship with my cousin Michael and after my cousin’s death John was never really the same again.

Day 370: Cold as Ice, Foreigner

Roderick Benson — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 00:00:42 +0000

I am always surprised that even after a full year citing songs for Covid Island Discs I suddenly discover absolute classic rock tunes which I have yet to cite. The band Foreigner certainly deserves its place in Covid Island Discs and have produced some really great hits over the years. This one is probably their most famous and certainly suits my musical tastes because it is so intense musically. The anger in this song reminds me a lot of the Queen hit “Death on Two Legs”.

Another great thing about this song is the piano riff which is so distinctive and probably what most people remember about this hit

Foreigner – Think Bensonium

Day 383: Jukebox Hero, Foreigner

Day 370: Cold as Ice, Foreigner