Agent Provocateur [Remaster] (CD - 1984)

Additional personnel: Mark Rivera (saxophone); Bob Mayo (piano, synthesizers); Wally Badarou, Jack Waldman, Brian Eddolls, Larry Fast, Dave LeBolt (synthesizers); Ian Lloyd, Jennifer Holliday, Tom Bailey, New Jersey Mass Choir (background vocals).

Digitally remastered by Ted Jensen.

It took Foreigner three years to release a follow-up to its 1981 blockbuster, 4. Perhaps that wait wasn't long enough, because Agent Provocateur is a prime example of the best and worst traits of AOR: a handful of remarkable songs padded by toothless filler. Despite contributing a few killer riffs to Foreigner's '70s canon, guitarist/keyboardist Mick Jones isn't known for his six-string abilities. His biggest strength is his knack for melody as a songwriter, keyboardist, and producer, and all these qualities are evident on Agent Provocateur. Of course, vocalist/songwriter Lou Gramm is indispensable as the band's golden-throated frontman. Jones largely guided things behind the studio console, but a co-producer usually helped, such as Alex Sadkin on this album. "I Want to Know What Love Is" became Foreigner's first and only number one single, and it's not hard to see why. Its dreamy, hypnotic feel is due in part to Gramm's soulful lead vocals and the New Jersey Mass Choir's background vocals. Jennifer Holliday and the Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey help out as well. "That Was Yesterday," a terrific hit single, features a catchy chorus and a nifty synthesizer lick. "Reaction to Action" and "Down on Love" were both minor hits, but there's a huge difference in quality between the two; the former is the epitome of bland, formulaic AOR, while the latter includes a pleasant chorus and a warm keyboard melody. "A Love in Vain" and "Growing Up the Hard Way" have a few good moments too. ~ Bret Adams

Synthesizers were pushed more up front for Foreigner's 1984 release, AGENT PROVOCATEUR, and it scored the band another monster hit. Just about every radio-oriented rock band of the mid-80's took the synth plunge at one point or another (with varying degrees of success), but Foreigner did not foresake their talent for penning anthemic love songs and rockers. This was proven by one of their biggest all-time hits, the ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is," which also turned out to be one of the year's top singles as well, while "Love in Vain" and "That was Yesterday" proved that the boys could still rock with the best of them. minimize