MICK JONES (FOREIGNER) : MICK JONES [ATLANTIC - DEU 1989] LP

Mick Jones  "Mick Jones"  LP

(Atlantic)  1989  made in germany

cat. num. 781 991-1

#rock  #foreigner

Mick Jones 1989 self-titled solo album is a carefully hand-crafted collection of upbeat pop rock songs and relaxing adult contemporary music, a radical departure from his more formulized work with Lou Graham and their harder edged rock band, Foreigner. The music on this solo album is very well-written and features tight musicianship, solid vocals and catchy lyrics.
The opening track, Just Wanna Hold provides a strong beginning to the album. Reportedly the song charted at #16 on Billboards Top 100 and was co-written by Mott the Hoople guitarist Ian Hunter and Mick Jagger under the pen-name M. Phillips. The song features additional vocals and piano by Billy Joel. Just Wanna Hold flows nicely into Save Me Tonight is an upbeat pop tune with a strong melody. Save Me Tonight like the rest of the disc, is exclusively written by Mick with a little help from Joe Brooks on this track as well song #6 & 8. That’s the Way My Love seems crafted for adult contemporary radio or would fit nicely in the background at a relaxing over-40 dinner party – a beautiful tune featuring Carly Simon on background vocals. The Wrong Side of the Law has a haunting beginning and develops into an upbeat rock song featuring excellent melodic guitar solos by Hugh McCracken & Mick himself as well as powerful vocals – crank the stereo! Wheels Turning is a true rocker that will blow the bass on your speaker – it kicks so get up and dance! The albums 6th track, Everything That Comes Around, is a Foreigner-like power ballad reminiscent of their mega-hit I Want to Know What Love Is – a beautiful ballad to listen to with your better-half over a glass of wine – The latter song blends nicely into You Are My Best Friend, another slow starting power ballad with a terrific guitar riff, great guitar solos, powerful vocals & a strong finish. Danielle is a terrific power-pop song with nice harmony vocals for the chorus & a great song to play as a slow song at the end of good evening of fun over a glass of port. Write Tonight starts with a strong bass line, beautiful harmony vocals again featuring Carly Simon, terrific saxophone by Lenny Pickettt & horns plus a beat that begs you to get up and dance again. Johnny, the last song, is a short little melodic ditty lasting a whopping 1:43 – Too bad it this relaxed song was not a little longer – the beer must have been cold in the fridge so they cut the song short lol.  
Overall, a great disc that should be listened to regularly – If you love pop-rock and like the band Foreigner, this will be an instant hit on the first listen! And it gets even better on the second and third time around.