POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Foreigner Reunion: A Heavy Dose of History

If you want imagination, daring improvisation or provocative messages in rock music, the last place to look was Monday’s Universal Amphitheatre concert by Foreigner, the hugely successful arena-rock band that was in its prime in the late ‘70s through the mid-’80s. Foreigner didn’t doctor its oldies with too many frills, and kept new material at a minimum.

This was a momentous occasion for Foreigner fans. Fueled by a successful greatest-hits collection, this tour marks the reunion of the founding members, lead guitarist Mick Jones and lead singer Lou Gramm, who’s in a league with Journey’s Steve Perry and Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers as an arena-rock vocalist.

But strip the rock trappings from the average Foreigner song and you’ll uncover a tune that might be sung by Andy Williams. That’s partly what endears the group to classic-rock fans. Foreigner oldies such as “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “Feels Like the First Time” and “I Want to Know What Love Is” are soft-centered and lyrical, complete with hummable melodies and schmaltzy messages.

Played skillfully and enthusiastically, the oldies were close to the recorded versions on Monday, right on target for a nostalgia-eager crowd that just wanted a heavy dose of history.