Blue Morning, Blue Day

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with some righteous trivia about "Blue Morning, Blue Day" by Foreigner from their killer 1978 album Double Vision. This track, written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, was the third single off the album, hitting #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #45 in the UK. Lou Gramm spilled in an interview that the song’s about a young musician burning the candle at both ends, wrestling with his demons and wandering the streets at night. The “blue” in the title is a metaphor for misery, painting a gritty picture of a dude caught in a mental trap of his own making, as Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome put it. Mick Jones has called it one of his top 11 Foreigner tunes, digging its dark, tense vibe that shaped the band’s direction.

The song’s got a raw edge, with Billboard hyping its “tasty guitar work” and “punchy arrangement,” while Cash Box raved about the “majestic guitar lines” and “slapping drum beat.” It even got a cool release on clear blue vinyl and popped up as downloadable content for the Rock Band game series. On X, Foreigner posted in 2019 about the 40th anniversary of Double Vision, celebrating with a concert film called Foreigner - Double Vision: Then and Now. Fans on Reddit’s 70s music community geek out over the track, with one user calling it their favorite Foreigner jam, and a live video from the original lineup still gets love for its pure energy.

Foreigner came together in 1976 in New York City, sparked by British guitarist Mick Jones, who’d rocked with Spooky Tooth, and ex-King Crimson multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald. They teamed up with American vocalist Lou Gramm, formerly of Black Sheep, plus drummer Dennis Elliott, keyboardist Al Greenwood, and bassist Ed Gagliardi. The name “Foreigner” was a nod to the band’s half-British, half-American lineup—Jones, Elliott, and McDonald were Brits, while Gramm, Greenwood, and Gagliardi were Yanks. Mick and Lou clicked fast, cranking out hits like “Cold as Ice” early on. They signed with Atlantic Records, and their 1977 self-titled debut went five-times platinum, setting the stage for Double Vision’s seven-million-plus sales in the US alone.

Keep up with Foreigner on their official website, where you can snag tour dates and merch. They’re active on Facebook, Instagram, and X, sharing throwbacks and live show hype. Fans can connect on the Foreigner Fans Facebook group, a spot for Zoo Freaks to swap stories and geek out over the band’s catalog. For more fan vibes, check out Foreigner’s official fan club for exclusive content and community love.