Feels Like the First Time

When Mick Jones was putting together what would become Foreigner, he came across several songs he had written on his own. One of them, which he felt marked a new beginning in his life, was "Feels Like the First Time". He composed it with a major change in mind, after leaving behind a previous marriage, returning to England, and then traveling to the United States. For him, that experience of starting over, meeting someone, and getting married again, was captured in this song.

This piece was key in the formation of the band. Lou Gramm sang "Feels Like the First Time" along with three other songs during his audition to be the lead vocalist for Foreigner. In fact, those same recordings served as a demo to secure the record deal. Listening to it, one perceives a direct rock energy, with powerful guitars and an intense yet controlled voice. The vocal arrangements and keyboard work give it a touch that made it accessible for the charts, without losing its strength. The track, released in 1977, reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The recording of this song was done in 1976, and it was included on the band's self-titled debut album, Foreigner, released that same year.