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Foreigner “Starrider”

Foreigner Courtesy of www.foreigneronline.com

“Starrider”

The year was 1977 and Foreigner had just started to hit the main stream with the release of their self titled first record “Foreigner”. We got the chance to see them live in the summer of 1977 as the opening band of a Colorado Sunday at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO. At the time they were getting much radio play for their billboard hit Feels Like the First Time and their second single Cold as Ice was just beginning to take off.

But when you go to see a concert that has a likes of Atlanta Rhythm Section, Dickey Betts, The Outlaws, The Marshall Tucker Band and the Souths greatest band of all Lynyrd Skynyrd all in their prime playing at it, along with another new up and comer band named Heart you can forgive us for not remembering much about Foreigner’s set list.

The one song however that did stick in our heads was the fourth single from the record that didn’t get much air play “Starrider”. Written by founding members Mick Jones and Al Greenwood, Starrider doesn’t have the same type of sound that made Foreigner famous. It instead showcases more of the keyboards from Al Greenwood. Throw in a little guitar work by Mick towards the end of the song and some great drumming by original drummer Dennis Elliott and there you have it. Not owning a album to look upon to confirm but we think that it is Mick Jones doing the singing instead of Lou Gramm. You can not catch that very specific sound that Lou has in this song.

Video courtesy of syblpfan

13 thoughts on “Foreigner “Starrider””

  1. I still love this song! When I wrote my review of it (above) in 2018, that was right after I had first heard it. I never knew of this song until I heard it played on Coast to Coast AM on the radio. It still stirs my soul.

    Since then I have discovered a couple other space-type songs:

    The theme from the movie , “Gravity” is quite spacey and mixes in a little “Great Gig in the Sky” style vocal solo.

    Another one is the theme from the movie, “Communion”. Much slower spacey sound but with less emphasis on space, and more emphasis on mystery and fear and a sort of relief after a great torment. Eric Clapton somehow captures all of the emotions in this alien abduction ordeal using no vocals or lyrics at all.

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    • Thanks I’ll check these out. Here are a few others that are my faves: Starship Trooper, Space Oddity, Moonage Daydream, Solar Fire, and I’ll probably think of some others in the future.

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  2. I thought I saw Foreigner in 1976, but I looked it up and it was September 16, 1977 at the Spectrum in South Philly (Philadelphia). It was a co-bill with Rick Derringer and Derringer went on first. There is a live version of this song Starrider from 2005 and the guitar break sounded like it was from the early 1970s, including the vintage British stack sound from late 60s / early 70s. I recently saw them in Atlantic City on October 11, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHqmbgRMh0Q

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  3. Hi. Love finding this. Just one thing. “Starrider” was never released as a single – in any market. However, it got tons of play as a suggested track on AOR (Album-oriented Rock) stations.

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  4. Pingback: Download Foreigner Star Rider Audio Music On Gofreshnow

      • Really interesting post. And just to add to this: Lou Gramm has just one line on this tune, repeated twice, but he makes the best of it! Amazing, soulful vocal, particularly the second time. I love the trippy mood of the whole song, but Lou’s vocals are my favorite part.

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  6. This song is a great spacey-type song; sort of like a Emerson Lake and Palmer, or maybe even a peppier, Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here album(which is the best of this kind). I think those other bands had influence over Foreigner and Starrider.
    It is really powerful and arresting. It soars and stirs the spirit. Very good song. I wish I had created it and sang it myself.
    Listen to it again, you will hear one voice in the beginning and a different voice at the end.
    It is Mick in the beginning and I believe that Lou comes in at the end of the song and assumes the singing duties at a point where they really need strong upper register vocal power….and boy does he deliver!
    He nails those high notes with ease a virility, and sends the Starrider into the heavens.
    ( I love that harpsichord too. What a great touch)

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    • very prog rock sound but brilliant ….. Mick has a wistful voice that suits the song …. love it #Starrider @ForeignerMusic 💖 with #LouGramm

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    • Recall Ian McDonald (King Crimson) was in the original Foreigner line up and there are interviews where he states that he should have received partial writing credit for this song as well. I feel like his fingerprints are all over this song given the progginess.

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