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Hot Blooded

This article is about the song. For the biological term, see Warm-blooded. For horses, see Hot-blooded horse. For the 2022 South Korean film, see Hot Blooded (film).

"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.[2] 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.

"Hot Blooded"
Single by Foreigner
from the album Double Vision
B-side"Tramontane"
ReleasedJune 1978 (US)
October 13, 1978 (UK)[1]
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

Background

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Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm has stated:[3]

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

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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."[4] 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."[5]

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."[6] 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."[7] Stereo Review critic Joel Vance stated that it "begins with a familiar chug-chug guitar figure like the one used in 1969 on "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'," a bubblegum hit with rhythm-and-blues overtones, and both songs are about a fellow in search of fleshy fluff."[8]

Reception

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Billboard described "Hot Blooded" as "a high energy rocker that boils with a feverent energy."[9] It compared the "powerhouse" guitar playing and the vocals with Bad Company, but said the song retains Foreigner's own identifiable sound.[9] Cash Box called it "driving, unadorned rock 'n' roll," saying that "the vocal arrangement is crisp and insistent" and the "guitars provide sinister, hard-edged power."[10] Record World said that it "should continue [the] AOR and pop impact" Foreigner had with their debut album.[11] Music critic Maury Dean stated that "Lou Gramm's craggy tenor spins around the note, rocking dynamite rhythms in note-bending ecstasy."[12]

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 complained the song lacked authenticity.[4] According to Atkinson, the musicianship and arrangement make "Hot Blooded" superior to any previous song using this chord combination.[6] San Pedro News-Pilot critic Joseph Bensoua said it has "just the right hooks, phrasing and simple lyrics needed for controlled rock 'n' roll."[13]

In a negative review of Double Vision, Robert Christgau wrote, "I like rock and roll so much that I catch myself getting off on 'Hot Blooded,' a typical piece of cock-rock nookie-hating carried along on a riff-with-chord-change that's pure (gad) second-generation Bad Company."[14] Billboard reviewer Gary Graff rated "Hot Blooded" Foreigner's 4th greatest song.[15] Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as Foreigner's 3rd best song, particularly praising the "smoking bass line and grooving drums" and "Mick Jones’ guitar licks."[16]

"That's a great fuckin' driving song…" enthused Slipknot front-man Corey Taylor. "I got that on Complete Greatest Hits, because I'm not gonna surf through all the filler to get to the songs I like."[17]

Personnel

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Chart history

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References

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  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 70.
  2. ^ a b "Foreigner Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Vance, Joel (October 1978). "Double Vision". Stereo Review. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
  9. ^ a b "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. June 24, 1978. p. 106. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  10. ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 24, 1978. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  11. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. June 24, 1978. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  12. ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 349. ISBN 0875862071.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Christgau, Robert (2022-06-20). "Consumer Guide '70s: F". Robert Christgau.
  15. ^ Graff, Gary (October 11, 2017). "Foreigner's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  16. ^ Kachejian, Brian (6 August 2022). "Top 10 Foreigner Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
  17. ^ "iPod Roulette". Classic Rock. No. 129. March 2009. p. 20.
  18. ^ "Foreigner singles". The Official Chart Company. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  19. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  20. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 2, 1978". Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  21. ^ "Top 200 Singles of '78 – Volume 30, No. 14, December 30 1978". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  22. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  23. ^ "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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