Lou Gramm, the big voice behind Foreigner’s even bigger hits, has a new album due this March. Released is the title of this ten-track set that will be available in assorted formats, from digital to Dolby Atmos, to CD (via HNE Recordings/Cherry Red Records) and on vinyl (via Friday Music).
“My new album Released is a collection of unreleased songs that were recorded in the 1980s during the production of my three previous solo albums,” the singer revealed. “These are powerful, heartfelt songs with a great vintage sound taken right from my old multitrack tapes. This new album was a long time coming and it’s a real nostalgia trip.
“When I pulled these songs out of the vault, I knew I had to finish them for my fans around the world, so they can experience what I did when I first heard them after all these years. It means a lot to me to finally see this album released, to be taken back in time when I hear this music again, to remember working with all these great musicians, and to feel that my catalogue is now complete.”
Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Gramm emerged from a musical family and went on to form Black Sheep, whose two albums for Capitol Records have since become cult favourites. Also in that band was Bruce Turgon on bass, the pair continuing their collaboration to this day, writing solo hit singles for Gramm, forming Shadow King before Gramm rejoined Foreigner bringing Turgon along for that second ride.
Another Shadow King alumnus is featured on the album with guitarist Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard, Dio) playing on the opening track ‘Young Love’, plus bass player Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder) on ‘Long Gone’ and Lou’s brother Ben Gramm on drums, among others.
Produced by Gramm himself, the collection is said to feel “both timeless and deeply personal”, rooted in the era that made Gramm one of rock’s most recognisable voices.
It was a pivotal meeting with former Spooky Tooth guitarist Mick Jones in 1975 that led to the formation of Foreigner the following year, launching a career that produced a run of multi-platinum albums and hit singles. Foreigner went on to be the first band since The Beatles to see their first eight singles reach the US Top 20. Solo success also followed concurrently for Gramm with ‘Midnight Blue’ a hit single from his 1987 album Ready Or Not, and ‘Just Between You And Me’ from 1989’s Long Hard Look.
In 1998 Gramm was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and underwent surgery. It was successfully removed but side effects caused some weight gain while impacting on his stamina and voice. Despite this, he continued to perform with Foreigner then formed the Lou Gramm Band and in recent years has zig-zagged back for some high-profile appearances with Foreigner, not least when they were inducted into America’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
Released constitutes Gramm’s fourth solo album and features the tracks ‘Young Love’, ‘Lightning Strikes’, ‘Walk The Walk’, ‘Long Gone’, ‘Heart And Soul’, ‘Long Hard Look’, ‘True Blue Love (Unplugged)’, ‘Deeper Side of Love’, ‘Time Heals The Pain’ and ‘Word Gets Around’.
For those looking for that classic AOR sound with a big, powerful voice, this could be the one, and for Lou Gramm a powerful sense of rediscovery and completion. Despite which, he’s already got plans to tour in support of Released.
