Juke Box Hero – Foreigner | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#26); 1982
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Foreigner’s first three albums were all massive hits; peaking in the Top 5, selling in the millions, and spinning off smash singles. Still, founding members Lou Gramm and Mick Jones felt that 1979’s Head Games failed to explore any new musical territory.
Thus, for the fourth LP, the sextet was cut down to a quartet, and newly-hired Robert John “Mutt” Lange was guiding the action from the producer’s chair. Eight long months of studio sessions later, 4 was ready for release.
July 4th weekend, 1981 found America rockin’ to the wailin’ sax of Motown’s Jr. Walker as Urgent blasted out of speakers everywhere. Rock radio rapidly latched onto Juke Box Hero – Gramm and Jones’ ode to a guitar star gottabe – as the other standout track on 4.
Hero stayed on the rock chart for 34 weeks, all through Waiting For A Girl Like You‘s reign on the Top 40, and into 1982, when it was finally released as the third single from 4.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Robert John “Mutt” Lange
Lyrics Written by:
- Lou Gramm
- Mick Jones
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).