Take Five: Standout Tracks from Foghat

It’s inconceivable to imagine the ‘70s rock era without thinking of Foghat. Neither the biggest commercial success nor the most celebrated critics’ darling, Foghat nonetheless made a significant mark on the era’s rock scene. The London-formed, U.S.-based boogie rockers – three founding members of whom were formerly in Savoy Brown – scored a long line of Gold albums, even racking up a Platinum record and a double-Platinum for a live set. While they only cracked the U.S. Top 40 five times – they were always more of an “album band” – Foghat was a ubiquitous part of the 1970s. Anyone who witnessed a rock cover band performance between the early ‘70s and the early ‘80s will have heard a steady diet of Foghat tunes.

Led by drummer and founding member Roger Earl, the group proudly continues to this day; their latest studio album, 2023’s Sonic Mojo sailed to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Blues album chart. On the 50th anniversary of release of the band’s biggest studio album Fool for the City, here are five standout tracks from Foghat.

“I Just Want to Make Love to You” from Foghat (1972)
On their debut album, Foghat offered up a mix of original songs – mostly composed by lead singer and guitarist “Lonesome” Dave Peverett – and well-loved rock and blues chestnuts. The latter category provided the band’s first hit, a powerful reading of the 1954 Willie Dixon classic, “I Just Want to Make Love to You.” The Rolling Stones and others had already covered the song, but Foghat effectively made the tune their own (while maintaining its original feel) with their version. Released as a single, it did well, but found new life yet again in a Top 40 live version from 1977’s blockbuster Foghat Live.

“Slow Ride” from Fool for the City (1975)
Foghat’s second LP (again titled Foghat but featuring a memorable cover photo depicting a rock and a roll (get it?) didn’t chart. But their third and fourth studio LPs – Energized and Rock and Roll Outlaws grew their audience and earned the band Gold records. And things truly took off with album number five, 1975’s Fool for the City. Dave Peverett had already proven himself a skilled songwriter, and the deep groove of “Slow Ride” gave Foghat its most celebrated song. Virtually defining classic rock ‘70s style, “Slow Ride” climbed to the No. 20 spot on Billboard’s singles chart.

“Fool for the City” from Fool for the City (1975)
Fool for the City spawned a second hit single; its title track was a faster, more highly-charged tune than the lumbering “Slow Ride.” And “Fool for the City” — another gem from the pen of Lonesome Dave – would quickly become a staple of FM radio. It did reasonably well as a single, too, making it all the way to No. 45.

“Somebody’s Been Sleepin’ in My Bed” from Boogie Motel (1979)
By the end of the ‘70s, popular tastes were beginning to change. But Foghat persevered with the style that had brought them success. The band was also successful at bridging the gap between musical styles. “Somebody’s Been Sleepin’ in My Bed” was written by former Chairmen of the Board singer General Johnson and first waxed in 1970 by soul outfit 100 Proof (Aged in Soul). With superbly wry and on-target lyrics, the original recording was a Top Ten hit on both pop and r&b singles charts. Foghat’s rocked-up reading isn’t quite as good (and didn’t chart), but if its only success was to turn rock audiences on to a great soul tune, it deserves classification as a success.

“Live Now – Pay Later” from Girls to Chat & Boys to Bounce (1981)
It might have been reasonable to assume that by 1981 – dawn of the MTV era – Foghat was past its sell-by date. But that clearly wasn’t the case. Even though the band wouldn’t land any singles on the primary pop chart post 1980, their albums continued to include well-crafted rocking, blues-influenced tunes. Dave Peverett was still cranking out original songs for Girls to Chat & Boys to Bounce, and while the album only made it to the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100, its swaggering single “Live Now – Pay Later” charted at No. 15 on the Mainstream Rock chart.