Fool for You Anyway

The song *Fool for You Anyway* by Foreigner, with its 4:17 runtime, is an example of how musical ideas can take shape before the band formally exists. Guitarist and co-founder Mick Jones had already composed several pieces that would end up being part of the self-titled debut album. In fact, singer Lou Gramm performed three of them —*Feels Like the First Time*, *Woman, Oh Woman*, and *At War with the World*— during his audition to join the project.

Once the band was established, Gramm and Jones collaborated on other compositions, including *Long, Long Way from Home*, which also featured Ian McDonald, and *Cold as Ice*. The recording of this first work by Foreigner involved several engineers such as Jimmy Douglass, Michael Getlin, Kevin Herron, Gary Lyons, and Randy Mason. The mixing was handled by Douglass, Mick Jones, and Ian McDonald, while production was the responsibility of Mick Jones, Gary Lyons, Ian McDonald, and John Sinclair. This album, released on March 8, 1977, through Atlantic, spawned three successful singles: *Feels Like the First Time*, *Cold as Ice*, and *Long, Long Way from Home*. Additionally, the record includes tracks like *Headknocker* and *Starrider*, the latter being notable for featuring a rare lead vocal performance by guitarist Mick Jones. The band, formed in 1976 by American Lou Gramm and experienced English musicians Mick Jones and Ian McDonald (who was previously part of King Crimson), has sold millions of albums worldwide.