Inside Information

by Bret AdamsForeigner was arguably the finest band of AOR's late-'70s and early-'80s heyday. Unfortunately, after a decade of monstrous success and raking in truckloads of cash for themselves and Atlantic Records, 1987's Inside Information showed that the songwriting gas tank of guitarist/keyboardist Mick Jones and vocalist Lou Gramm was running low. Impeccable studio craftsmanship can't compensate for the lack of quality songs. There are a few solid tracks, but the album only sold a million copies -- paltry when compared to previous releases -- and it currently ranks as Foreigner's last major commercial success. The proceedings start promisingly enough with "Heart Turns to Stone," an energetic rock number that became a minor hit. "Say You Will" was Foreigner's last great Top Ten single. It's loaded with killer vocal and keyboard hooks. The bloodless, pleasantly tepid ballad "I Don't Want to Live Without You" actually made the Top Five; it has neither the passion of "Waiting for a Girl Like You" nor the soul of "I Want to Know What Love Is." "Inside Information" experiments a little with odd rhythms. "The Beat of My Heart" is notable only for the Spanish guitar intro by guest Hugh McCracken. The gritty "Face to Face" is an excellent album track. "Out of the Blue" is the only song written by the entire band -- Jones, Gramm, bassist Rick Wills, and drummer Dennis Elliott -- and that does give it a slightly more organic feel.