Agent Provocateur (album)
Agent Provocateur is the fifth studio album by the British-American rock band Foreigner, released on December 7, 1984. The album was the band's first and only number one album in the United Kingdom, and it reached the top 5 in the United States. Although album sales were lower than their previous work in the U.S., it contains the band's biggest hit single, "I Want to Know What Love Is", which is their only #1 single in the UK and the U.S., staying at the top spot for three and two weeks respectively. The follow-up single, "That Was Yesterday", also proved to be a sizeable hit, peaking at #12 in the U.S. The album was certified Platinum in the UK by the BPI, and triple Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA.
Track listing
Personnel
- Lou Gramm – lead vocals, percussion
- Mick Jones – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, bass
- Rick Wills – bass, backing vocals
- Dennis Elliott – drums
- Wally Badarou – analog and digital synthesizers
- Tom Bailey – synthesizers on "I Want to Know What Love Is"
- Brian Eddolls – synthesizer
- Larry Fast – synthesizer
- Don Harper – backing vocals on "I Want to Know What Love Is"
- Jennifer Holliday – backing vocals and arrangement on "I Want to Know What Love Is"
- Dave Lebolt – synthesizer
- Ian Lloyd – backing vocals
- Bob Mayo – synthesizer, piano, backing vocals
- New Jersey Mass Choir of the GMWA – backing vocals on "I Want to Know What Love Is"
- Mark Rivera – saxophone, backing vocals
- Jack Waldman – synthesizer
- Thompson Twins – backing vocals
Production
- Producers – Mick Jones and Alex Sadkin
- *Trevor Horn originally worked as producer on the album, before leaving the project
- Chief Engineer – Frank Filipetti
- Additional Engineers – Josh Abbey, Larry Alexander, Jason Corsaro, Joe Ferla and Howie Lindeman.
- Assistant Engineers – Bobby Cohen, Tim Crich and Scott Mabuchi.
- Original Mastering and Digital Remastering – Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound, NYC.
- Art Direction and Design – Bob Defrin
- Management – Bud Prager, E.S.P. Management Ltd.
Critical reception
Charts and certifications
Charts
Album| Chart | Peak position |
| Australian Albums Chart | 2 |
| Austrian Top 75 Albums | 10 |
| Canadian Top 100 Albums | 3 |
| French Top Albums | 15 |
| German Albums Chart | 1 |
| Netherlands Top 100 Albums | 12 |
| New Zealand Top 40 Albums | 4 |
| Norwegian Top 40 Albums | 1 |
| Swedish Top 60 Albums | 1 |
| Swiss Top 100 Albums | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart | 1 |
| US Billboard 200 | 4 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 49 |
Singles and other charting songs
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
| 1984 | "I Want To Know What Love Is" | Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| 1984 | "I Want To Know What Love Is" | Mainstream Rock Chart | 1 |
| 1984 | "I Want To Know What Love Is" | Adult Contemporary | 3 |
| 1984 | "I Want To Know What Love Is" | Hot R&B/Hip Hop | 85 |
| 1985 | "That Was Yesterday" | Billboard Hot 100 | 12 |
| 1985 | "That Was Yesterday" | Mainstream Rock Chart | 4 |
| 1985 | "That Was Yesterday" | Adult Contemporary | 24 |
| 1985 | "Reaction to Action" | Billboard Hot 100 | 54 |
| 1985 | "Reaction to Action" | Modern Rock Chart | 44 |
| 1985 | "Down On Love" | Billboard Hot 100 | 54 |
| 1985 | "Tooth and Nail" | Mainstream Rock Chart | 47 |