Foreigner have unearthed a previously unreleased song called “Turning Back the Time,” which serves the title of an upcoming greatest-hits collection. The track dates back to the 1990s, and features the band’s classic singer Lou Gramm on vocals.
The Turning Back the Time best-of collection, set to arrive October 4th via Rhino (pre-order here), contains 18 songs in total, including classics like “Cold as Ice,” “Hot Blooded,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” and “Jukebox Heroes,” among others.
The song “Turning Back the Time” was initially recorded as a demo in 1996 after guitarist Mick Jones and songwriter Marti Frederiksen had collaborated on songs for the 1998 movie Strange Fruit. The two decided to continue to write and record new tunes for Foreigner, with the band’s then-singer Gramm handling vocals.
According to Jones, “Turning Back the Time” isn’t the only unreleased song featuring Gramm, who parted ways with the group in 2003.
“There are a number of songs that Lou Gramm and I wrote together that have never seen the light of day,” Jones told Billboard. “‘Turning Back the Time’ was co-written with Marti Frederiksen. Marti and I recently revisited and reworked the song. Because of the time that had passed we were able to go back to it with a fresh perspective.”
Jones went on to mention the band’s forthcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction as a key inspiration for unveiling the song at this time.
“The sentiment of the song spoke to us now more than ever and with the upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction we thought it an ideal time to let the world hear it,” he added.
While Gramm’s original vocals remain in place on “Turning Back the Time,” the instrumentals were finished earlier this year by Jones and Frederiksen, along with Frederiksen’s son Evan on drums.
Foreigner, who’ve featured lead singer Kelly Hanson since 2005, are in the midst of an ongoing farewell tour that kicked off last year. The classic rockers are currently co-headlining summer shows with Styx, and will follow that up with their own leg of headlining gigs in the fall. Pick up tickets here.
While Jones is still an official member of the band, he has stepped back from touring as he battles Parkinson’s disease. Separately, Gramm, who plays shows with his solo band, announced his impending retirement from touring earlier this year.
Foreigner will be inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 19th in Cleveland alongside Ozzy Osbourne, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, and more.
Listen to the previously unreleased Foreigner song “Turning Back the Time” below, and see the tracklist for the greatest-hits collection of the same name. Pre-order Turning Back the Time on vinyl or CD at this location.
Turning Back the Time Artwork:
Turning Back the Time Tracklist:
01. Feels Like The First Time
02. Cold As Ice
03. Long, Long Way From Home
04. Hot Blooded
05. Double Vision
06. Dirty White Boy
07. Head Games
08. Urgent
09. Waiting For A Girl Like You
10. Juke Box Hero
11. Girl On The Moon
12. I Want To Know What Love Is
13. That Was Yesterday
14. Say You Will
15. Can’t Slow Down
16. When It Comes To Love
17. The Flame Still Burns
18. Turning Back The Time