Hot Blooded

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This article is about the song. For the biological term, see Warm-blooded. For horses, see hot blooded (horse).
"Hot Blooded"
Foreigner - Hot Blooded b-w Tramontane (1978).JPG
Single by Foreigner
from the album Double Vision
B-side"Tramontane"
ReleasedJune 1978 (1978-06)
Recorded1977–1978
GenreHard rock, power pop
Length3:03 (single)
4:28 (album)
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Lou Gramm, Mick Jones
Producer(s)Ian McDonald, Keith Olsen, Mick Jones
Foreigner singles chronology
"Long, Long Way From Home"
(1977) 		"Hot Blooded"
(1978) 		"Double Vision"
(1978)
Music video
"Hot Blooded" on YouTube

"Hot Blooded" is a song by the British-American rock band Foreigner, from their second studio album Double Vision. It was released as a single in June 1978 and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that September.[1] The single was also certified Platinum (one million units sold) by the Recording Industry Association of America. It is also the theme song to the truTV scripted series Tacoma FD.

Background[edit]

Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm has stated:[2]

We used to work at Mick's apartment and he would just keep playing one guitar riff after another. Just playing whatever came into his mind. When he started playing that riff, I remember saying, “Wait! Stop! What’s that?” Mick said it was just another riff. So, I started singing along to it. We eventually got the idea of what the chorus would be and then started working on the verse lyrics. Once they were put together it naturally led to the “Hot Blooded” verbal line. I remember we were jumping off the walls when we cracked the title of the song.

Lyrics and music[edit]

Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn explained the lyrics of "Hot Blooded" as being "a macho-ish reflection of a rock star's seductive intent."[3] According to lead singer and co-author Lou Gramm the song is "a bit tongue-in-cheek, but really, it is a problem meeting ladies on the road. You see somebody in the audience you want to meet, but after the show, by the time you're through doing interviews and getting cleaned up, there's nobody around. You find yourself wandering around a city alone with nothing to do."[4]

The Record critic Rick Atkinson described "Hot Blooded" as using a common rock and roll opening and chord progression but that "a carefully placed guitar line here and a fast burst of keyboards there leaves the whole melange with a new feel."[5] St. Joseph News-Press critic Conrad Bibens described "Hot Blooded" as a "Free soundalike that lets [lead singer Lou] Gramm sing in the gruff manner of Paul Rodgers."[6]

Reception[edit]

Billboard Magazine described "Hot Blooded" as " a high energy rocker that boils with a feverent energy."[7] Billboard compared the "powerhouse" guitar playing and the vocals with Bad Company but said that it still retains Foreigner's own identifiable sound.[7] Music critic Maury Dean stated that "Lou Gramm's craggy tenor spins around the note, rocking dynamite rhythms in note-bending ecstasy."[8] Hilburn described '"Hot Blooded" as touching on "the snarl of Bad Company, the wryness of Rod Stewart and the sensualness of the Rolling Stones" but complains that song lacks authenticity.[3] According to Atkinson, the musicianship and arrangement make "Hot Blooded" superior to any previous song using this chord combination.[5] San Pedro News-Pilot critic Joseph Bensoua said it has "just the right hooks, phrasing and simple lyrics needed for controlled rock 'n' roll."[9]

Personnel[edit]

Chart history[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Foreigner Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  2. ^ Woods, James (July 16, 2018). "Interview: Lou Gramm discusses Foreigner reunion at Sturgis to celebrate 40th anniversary of 'Double Vision'". AXS. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  3. ^ a b Hilburn, Robert (June 24, 1978). "Foreigner's Album Plays It Safe". Los Angeles Times. p. 43. Retrieved 2020-06-26 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Van Matre, Lynn (November 14, 1978). "Foreigner isn't a stranger at the top of the charts". Detroit Free Press. p. 5B. Retrieved 2020-06-26 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Atkinson, Rick (July 23, 1978). "Cashing in on a musical formula". The Record. p. E-14. Retrieved 2020-06-26 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Bibens, Conrad (July 8, 1978). "Foreigner's second not quite as good". St. Joseph News-Press. p. 12. Retrieved 2020-06-26 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. June 24, 1978. p. 106. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  8. ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 349. ISBN 0875862071.
  9. ^ Bensoua, Joseph (August 4, 1978). "Thin Lizzy is on top at last". San Pedro News-Pilot. p. E9. Retrieved 2020-06-26 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Foreigner singles". The Official Chart Company. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  11. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  12. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 2, 1978". Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  13. ^ "Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  14. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  15. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1978". Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
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