Foreigner (1977) Cold As Ice

This sophomore hit from the hard rock band's 77 self titled debut album, it is completely analogous from the album its on and the band's career, it's anchored by a striking piano beat and soaring call and response harmonies, musical qualities far removed from Mick Jones/ Lou Gramm's heavy vocals and guitar based power ballad sound which was more tight, stripped back and full of machismo. But Cold as Ice, an oft sampled track, is still their most memorable from the flurries of Al Greenwood's synth over that iconic piano march full of syncopated rhythm and shifting dynamics,layering of vocals it still has more light and shade than then their subsequent career. They were elements of the symphonic grandeur of prog and occasional folk, jazz and pop passages. The cascading harmonies and the upbeat pop ballad nature were what made the song stand out even if it was a misnomer of sorts of what the band specialised in. The lilting melody of the song is beautiful with it's layered backing vocals and thick guitar and synth lines full of a big colourful 70s production but the contrasting stops show a band that could handle changing tempos if not diverse ideas.