FOREIGNER Double Vision - 2012 US Hybrid Sacd CD release of classic 1978 sophomore album from the AOR gods
Format: CD (SACD) Condition: New Year of Release: 2011 Cat. No.: 02051 Label: Mobile Fidelity
So much for sophomore jinxes that almost always go hand-in-hand with groups that explode onto the scene. Overflowing with first-rate songwriting, lascivious hooks, and sing-a-long choruses, Foreigner’s 'Double Vision' lays waste to conventional sophomore-release wisdom and went on to actually exceed the popularity of the band’s blockbuster debut. More than seven million copies and two Top Five singles later, the 1978 set still rocks with definite purpose.
Half-speed mastered from the original master tapes, Mobile Fidelity’s collectible audiophile SACD of this longtime favorite classic-rock staple bursts with tremendous dynamics, soaring vocal timbres, bottom-end punch, and newfound instrumental separation. Sure, you may have heard songs such as “Double Vision” and “Hot Blooded” countless times, but trust us, you’ve never really heard them (outside of an arena setting, stadium amplifiers blaring) like this. You may just find yourself investing in a new power amp to get every last degree of detail that’s been uncovered!
Synonymous with AOR (album-oriented rock), Foreigner essentially perfects the style throughout this concise, focused, down-and-dirty ten-song set. The key to any memorable '70s rock record is a catchy single, and the quintet has several lying in the waiting. The title track, inspired by New York Rangers goalie John Davidson getting whacked in the head by a hockey puck, spills over with double-entendre meaning, tough-cut riffs, and a rotating groove, not to mention a mystical keyboard refrain. Equally memorable, and a permanent part of any radio station’s rotation, “Hot Blooded” is the ideal come-on, the group’s open-ended rhythm and dance-inspiring beats pouring with promise, salaciousness, and a**-kicking sexuality. A terrific power ballad infused with woe and longing, “Blue Morning, Blue Day” features insistent harmonies and piano notes that grab you by the collar and doesn’t let go.
Of course, great songs alone don’t make for great records. The band’s chemistry and performance needs to be on par with that of the material. And what else can be said of leather-lunged vocalist Lou Gramm and guitar-hero Mick Jones save for the fact the pair combine for a legendary one-two punch, leading their mates through sensational melodies and swaggering leads. Seldom has the balance between tough and polished, light and heavy, fun and reserved been better established and maintained.
Ready to rock out? Wait until you hear Mobile Fidelity’s analog remaster. It’ll bring back (double) visions of hot stage lights, dry-ice fog, feel-good times, and amplifiers cranked to 10—only this time, the experience will take place inside the confines of your own home. Check it and see!
TRACK LISTING:
1. Hot Blooded 2. Blue Morning, Blue Day 3. You're All I Am 4. Back Where You Belong 5. Love Has Taken Its Toll 6. Double Vision 7. Tramontane 8. I Have Waited So Long 9. Lonely Children 10. Spellbinder
SACD releases are 24-karat gold CDs remastered from first generation masters. This process utilizes 20-bit technology and Sony's "Super Bit Mapping" system.
