Maps of Music

Classic Hits Live (1993)

Where the lyrics of Classic Hits Live take you, and where it was really made.

Despite the 'Best of' title, this album is not one show: its tracks come from eight concerts and a radio broadcast, spanning 1977 to 1985.

Key places

Philadelphia show at The Spectrum (1979)

Live show The Spectrum — Tracks 1 and 5 were recorded at The Spectrum in Philadelphia on 22 October 1979. The pin uses building-level coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Richmond show at the Coliseum (1979)

Live show Richmond Coliseum — Track 3 was recorded at the Richmond Coliseum on 7 September 1979. The pin uses building-level coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Syracuse show at the Memorial Auditorium (1979)

Live show Upstate Medical University Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial — Tracks 2, 4 and 14 were recorded in Syracuse on 28 October 1979, at the Memorial Auditorium named in the Discogs notes. The pin uses building-level coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Anaheim Stadium concert (1982)

Live show Angel Stadium of Anaheim — Track 11 was recorded at Anaheim Stadium on 17 July 1982. The pin uses building-level coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Atlanta show at the Omni (1985)

Live show Omni Coliseum — Tracks 9 and 13 were recorded at the Omni in Atlanta on 25 March 1985. The pin uses building-level coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Washington show at The Bayou (1985)

Live show The Bayou — Track 8 was recorded at The Bayou in Washington on 14 May 1985. The pin uses building-level coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Chicago radio broadcast (1977)

Recording site Q101 Studios — Tracks 6 and 12 come from a WKQX Chicago radio broadcast on 1 July 1977. The Chicago recording place is registered as Q101 Studios. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Classic Hits Live, also listed as Best of Live: Foreigner's first live album
• Released in 1993; contains live versions of many well-known Foreigner songs
• Tracks taken from various concerts between 1977 and 1985
• Personnel: Lou Gramm (lead vocals, percussion), Mick Jones (guitar, piano, backing vocals), Ed Gagliardi and Rick Wills (bass, backing vocals), Ian McDonald (saxophone, keyboards, guitars, backing vocals), Al Greenwood (keyboards, synthesizers), Dennis Elliott (drums)

Background

• Built from earlier concert recordings rather than from a single show
• Concert dates in the Discogs notes run from 1 July 1977 to 14 May 1985
• Discogs lists singles from this release, one of them Germany only

Recording

• Radio broadcast by WKQX Chicago, 1 July 1977: tracks 6 and 12
• Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, 7 September 1979: track 3
• The Spectrum, Philadelphia, 22 October 1979: tracks 1 and 5
• Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, 27 October 1979: track 7
• Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, 28 October 1979: tracks 2, 4 and 14
• Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, 17 July 1982: track 11
• Dortmund, Germany, 15 July 1983: track 10
• The Omni, Atlanta, 25 March 1985: tracks 9 and 13
• The Bayou, Washington, 14 May 1985: track 8
• Mixed at Right Track Studios, NYC; mastered at Sterling Sound, NYC
• Frank Filipetti credited as co-producer, engineer and mixer; Ted Jensen as mastering engineer

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

Tracklist

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

Reappraisal

• Ultimate Classic Rock included the album in its 2019 list of live albums by rock legends
• The list is titled "Most Awesome Live Albums from Every Rock Legend"
• The album is also known under the alternate title Classic Hits Live
• The French and Japanese Wikipedia articles both describe it as Foreigner's first live album

Records

• First live album by Foreigner, released in 1993
• Discogs lists singles from this release, one of them noted as Germany only
• Frank Filipetti is credited as co-producer, engineer and mixer
• Mixed at Right Track Studios in New York and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Discogs lists singles from this release, with one entry marked Germany only
• The album is also known as Classic Hits Live, the title used by the French and Japanese articles
• Frank Filipetti is credited as co-producer, engineer and mixer
• Jay Militscher is credited as assistant mixer
• Ian McDonald plays saxophone, keyboards and guitars and also sings backing vocals

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

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