More Information
Around 1985, Lou Gramm, the soulful lead vocalist for the multi-platinum rock group Foreigner, began to seriously consider and pursue the idea of releasing a solo album. Gramm had under his belt almost 15 years worth of vocalist and songwriting experience in Foreigner and his original band, Black Sheep - but he felt the time was right to turn his creative sights in a new direction. He wanted the freedom and control to take his ideas where he wanted to go, and he felt he could best do that outside the constraints of Foreigner.
The idea for doing a solo project had actually been percolating several years earlier, but the demands and obligations to the recording and touring with Foreigner took precedence.
Still, Gramm didn't give up on the idea, which was further enhanced in yearly reunions with best friend and former Black Sheep bandmate, Bruce Turgon. Gramm had founded the Rochester band, which disbanded in 1976 due to mismanagement, ill luck and an equipment accident. There was an extremely strong writing and creative chemistry between Gramm and Turgon, and even after each went their separate career ways, they remained in touch and continually swapped musical ideas. When the pull of doing a solo album became too strong to ignore, Gramm called on Turgon for his involvement and input. In 1986, they began writing and recording ideas for his first solo release, Ready Or Not.
Gramm enlisted producer Pat Moran (who was known for his recent work with vocalist Robert Plant's solo projects) for the record. Turgon was already involved, contributing writing, arranging, bass, guitars and keyboards into the production. The remainder of the core-recording band included Phil Ashley on keyboards and programming and brother Ben Grammatico on drums. That left the lead guitar position - which was filled by Nils Lofgren, a fellow musician whose work Gramm had always admired. Nils, at the time Bruce Springsteen's guitarist, agreed to contribute to the Ready Or Not album. Eventually, it became a complete family and friends' affair, with a whole roster of additional musicians contributing their efforts. Of particular note was Lou's father, Ben Grammatico, Sr. and Lou's other brother, Richard Grammatico, contributing performances on horns and guitar, respectively. Former bandmate reunions occurred too, with the appearance of ex-Black Sheep member Don Mancuso on guitar and Foreigner touring member Mark Rivera on sax and vocals.
The album of 10 songs (eight of which were co-written with Turgon) was a foray into a much rougher and less polished rock and roll style than Gramm was used to seeing while in Foreigner. He was after an attempt to capture more of a loose and live sound to the songs. Gramm had been frustrated with the long production program that Foreigner often put its songs through as well as what he felt was an inequality in the acceptance of his song and melody writing ideas. A couple of the finished songs on Ready Or Not had been offered to Foreigner as ideas, but were turned down. In the early spring of 1987, his effort was released on the Atlantic Records label. There was skepticism and not much support on the part of the Foreigner bandmates, who feared if the release did badly it would impact upon future Foreigner projects. However, the music buying public was very receptive to Gramm's effort, as Ready Or Not became a Top Twenty album on the charts and had hits in the singles "Midnight Blue", "Ready or Not" and "Heartache". During the week of April 18, 1987 "Midnight Blue" was both the Billboard #5 Hot 100 Single and the #1 AOR track, and "Ready Or Not" was the #30 AOR track. The album went gold in several countries and was just shy of reaching gold in the US.
Gramm received a lot of MTV exposure as well, particularly for the video for "Midnight Blue". Quite ironic, considering that Foreigner was one of the last of the biggest bands to embrace the music video format, having only just released their first 2 videos ever on 1984's Agent Provocateur album. Also, Gramm was approached to contribute a song to the movie soundtrack for the teen vampire thriller The Lost Boys. A song that has originally been written for the Ready Or Not album (but didn't make the final album cut) was taken and the lyrics adjusted a little to fit the movie's theme. "Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys)" was produced by Pat Moran and Gramm. It was recorded with Turgon (bass, all guitars), Ben Grammatico (drums), and Phil Ashley (keyboards). The soundtrack album eventually hit gold in the US. Gramm also recorded a video for the single, which also added to his solo career exposure with heavy airplay on MTV and the resulting popularity of the film at the box office that summer.
In the summer of 1987, Atlantic Records scheduled Gramm for a 30 date solo tour in support of Ready Or Not. The touring line up consisted of Gramm, Turgon on bass, Ben Gramm on drums, Ashley on keyboards, and Bob Messano on guitar. In between the release of Ready Or Not and the supporting tour, Gramm was working double time - in the studio on Foreigner's new album, Inside Information, and trying to prepare for his summer solo tour. Foreigner at this point was putting a lot of pressure on Gramm to abandon the tour to support Ready Or Not, and return to the studio to finish off Inside Information, so that they could tour in support of it. Gramm would not agree to this and was determined to tour to support his album pushing the release of Inside Information well into the fall of 1987. The tour commenced in Poughkeepsie, NY on June 25. Gramm returned to finish the remainder of the work needed on Foreigner's album and a world tour was scheduled for support of Inside Information, to commence after the album's late fall release. Tension had been mounting, however, between Gramm and Foreigner over his solo album, as Foreigner pressured him to keep his commitments to the band his first priority and put his solo career on the back burner. Rumors for months prior abounded in the press over a split between Gramm and Foreigner. It was after several appearances overseas in Japan on 1987's Inside Information tour that Gramm finally decided he could no longer tolerate the situation and the split was made. Foreigner canceled their planned 1988 US tour in support of the album and began to focus on whether or not to continue with a new singer. (They did…with their 1991 Unusual Heat release).
Free from the pressures of the group, Gramm could now concentrate on working on his second release. Gramm and Turgon had already been writing for the second album as early as late 1987, with more writing occurring in the beginning of 1988 after Gramm officially split from Foreigner. Peter Wolf, a producer known for his work with such artists as Starship (especially their 1985 multi platinum Knee Deep In The Hoopla), Heart, Wang Chung, and the Commodores, was called in to be the producer of Long Hard Look. Peter also contributed writing collaboration with Gramm as well as instrumental and keyboard work for the album. Long Hard Look resulted in a virtual smorgasbord of musicians appearing on almost every song. (The extensive album liner credits attest to this). Some of the more notable appearances, in addition to Gramm, Wolf, Turgon and Ben Gramm were guitarists Peter Maunu, Dann Huff, Vivian Campbell, Nils Lofgren, backing vocals by Ina Wolf, and keyboards by Phil Ashley. This producer change resulted in the recording of 1989's Long Hard Look to be a bit different and gave it a more "polished" sound to it as compared to the "rough around the edges" style that pervaded Ready Or Not. The album was released in late fall 1989 to high anticipation and heavy record label promotion. Long Hard Look charted well and generated the singles "Just Between You and Me", "Angel With A Dirty Face" and "True Blue Love".
Once again MTV promoted the album with heavy video rotation of two of the singles. More spotlight was also shed upon Gramm's career as the song 'Hangin' On My Hip' appeared on the soundtrack for the 1989 film, Navy Seals. In early 1990, Gramm began working out plans for a support tour, now that he no longer had obligations to Foreigner. Due to the fact of so many individual recording sessions overseen by Wolf, there was no defined touring 'band' evident for Long Hard Look as there had been for the previous release. Turgon himself, during the recording period, was involved in a touring stint for Steve Steven's Atomic Playboys. Nils Lofgren, who had recorded with Gramm on Ready Or Not, was unavailable to tour in support for this album. Eventually, a touring lineup of Gramm, Turgon, Ben Gramm, Scott McKinstry on guitar and Larry Oakes on keyboards and rhythm guitar was formed. Gramm went out as the support act on Steve Miller's 1990 summer shed tour. After two sold-out warm-up performances at clubs in Rochester, NY, the 46 date tour started June 1, 1990 in Bloomington, MN and ran through August of that year. At the close of 1990 and into 1991, Gramm began work on what was anticipated to be his third solo album, but eventually it became the 1991 self-titled release of Shadow King.
These two albums (and other projects later) showcased Gramm's success and ability as a solo performer. Gramm eventually returned to the Foreigner fold in 1992 and has been focusing on his work with the band. There may always be a possibility of future solo work from this talented musician, whose voice has inspired many - both fans and fellow musicians. Lou's solo work has provided us with some excellent rock n roll to listen to.
As the lyrics from "Midnight Blue" state: "Ain't got no regrets, and I ain't losing track of which way I'm going...ain't gonna double back." 
Email a friend
|
print page