Maps of Music

Can't Slow Down (2009)

Where the lyrics of Can't Slow Down take you, and where it was really made.

Foreigner's ninth album is the only one to feature singer Kelly Hansen, and in the US it was first sold exclusively through Wal-Mart.

Key places

Recorded at The Benjamin Hotel, New York City (2009)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — Discogs credits The Benjamin Hotel as one of this album's recording locations. The marker sits at New York City centre, so the exact room is not pinned here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Poppy Studio, Burbank (2009)

Recording site The Enterprise (Burbank) — Poppy Studio is credited as one of this album's recording locations. The marker shows Burbank city centre, not the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Can't Slow Down is the ninth studio album by British-American rock band Foreigner.
• Released on 29 September 2009.
• The only studio album with lead singer Kelly Hansen.
• The first album with bassist Jeff Pilson.
• The group's first new studio album since 1994's Mr. Moonlight.
• In the US, first available exclusively through Wal-Mart retailers.

Background

• “Too Late” had earlier appeared on the 2008 compilation No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner.
• Core lineup: Kelly Hansen, Mick Jones, Michael Bluestein, Thom Gimbel, Jeff Pilson, Brian Tichy.
• Additional musicians: Marti Frederiksen, Russ Irwin, Ryan Brown, Jason Paige, Suzie McNeil.

Recording

• Marti Frederiksen and Mick Jones produced tracks 1–12.
• Mark Ronson, Mick Jones' stepson, produced track 13.
• Recording credited to Marti Frederiksen; additional and vocal engineering by Jason Paige.
• Discogs lists these recording locations: The Benjamin Hotel in New York, Poppy Studios, and Dunham Sound Studios.
• Jason Bonham played drums on “Too Late”; Ryan Brown played drums on “Lonely”.
• Mixing by Anthony Focx and Marti Frederiksen; editing and mastering by Anthony Focx.

Cover

• Art direction by Hackmart, Inc.; photography by Bill Bernstein.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

Disc 3

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Foreigner is a British-American rock band formed in New York City in 1976.
• Mick Jones led the band from the start; the original lineup included Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliott, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi.
• The name came from the band's mix of British and American members: at least three members were foreigners in any country they played.
• The band's debut album came out in March 1977 and reached No. 4 in the US.

Members

• Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards, vocals) is the founder and only constant member.
• Lou Gramm (vocals) was an original member who left in 1990, rejoined in 1992, and left again in 2003.
• Gagliardi was replaced by Rick Wills in 1979; Greenwood and McDonald were dismissed in 1980.
• Kelly Hansen became lead singer in 2005; Luis Maldonado took over lead vocals in 2025.

Career

• Foreigner is one of the best-selling bands of all time, with worldwide sales exceeding 80 million records.
• The 1981 album 4 was its first and only US No. 1 album.
• The 1984 single "I Want to Know What Love Is" topped the charts in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
• The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released on 29 September 2009.
• In the US, first available exclusively through Wal-Mart retailers, so its earliest American sales ran through a single retail chain.

Reappraisal

• Awarded a gold certification by the Independent Music Companies Association in 2010.
• The certification indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe.
• The Independent Music Companies Association is an organisation of independent music companies.

Records

• Debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200.
• The first single, “When It Comes to Love”, reached the top 20 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
• The second single, “In Pieces”, also reached the top 20 on the same chart.
• Both of the album's first two singles charted in the top 20 of that chart.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• “Too Late” was featured on the 2008 compilation No End in Sight before appearing on this album.
• Mark Ronson, Mick Jones' stepson, co-produced the album with Marti Frederiksen.
• Jason Bonham played drums on “Too Late”.
• Ryan Brown played drums on “Lonely”.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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