WCSX Classic Cuts : Urgent
WCSX Classic Cuts
Foreigner: “Urgent”
The Hook: A legendary saxophonist playing in town provides the key to unlocking a “puzzling instrumental.”
Album: 4
Year: 1981
Writer: Mick Jones
Stats: Peaked at number-four for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped their new Top Rock Tracks chart…also for four weeks.
Background: Guitarist Mick Jones tells us that “Urgent” began it’s life as “this puzzling instrumental” they didn’t really know what to do with. He picks up the story and explains how a Motown saxophone legend help solve the puzzle.
Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones on how a Motown saxophone legend provided him with the key to key to unlocking the puzzling instrumental he had that would become “Urgent.” OC:…into place. :27
“We put the track down and I was sitting there reading The Village Voice, I think it was. Thumbing through as the track was playing in the background I saw this ad for Junior Walker playing the Lone Star Café. And at that moment I kind of focused in on what the song was all about. And actually that night went down to see Junior Walker and I pulled him down to the studio. It was in a way giving back to him as it was a tribute to how much he’s affected a good deal of guitar players, apart from sax players – his approach. And then just everything fell into place.”
