Artist
Foreigner
Crate Digger's Guide
- Studio Medium:
- Foreigner primarily used analog multi-track magnetic tape during their peak recording era in the late 1970s and 1980s.
- Pressing Plants:
- Core records were primarily pressed at facilities like RCA and Columbia Records pressing plants.
- Lacquer Cut:
- Their recordings feature a wide dynamic range, which can lead to inner-groove distortion if not cut properly, affecting playback fidelity.
- Matrix Runout:
- Collectors often look for the 'RL' etching in the runout groove, indicating a Robert Ludwig cut, for authentic 1st pressings.
Vinyl Collector Intelligence
- Grail Pressing:
- Dating back to 1977, the original Atlantic pressing stands as the definitive vinyl grail for Foreigner collectors.
- Best Reissue:
- For an accessible alternative, the 2011 Friday Music 180g remaster of 'Foreigner' delivers exceptional pressing precision.
- Mastering & Translation:
- The dense multitrack vocal harmonies and electronic sub-bass frequencies characteristic of Foreigner's production demand a stable microlinear stylus to prevent high-frequency sibilance.
- Shelf Alternatives:
- Crate companions that natively share this specific vinyl profile include Journey (Columbia) and Styx (A&M).
