Comprised of veteran players, both American and British from several rock bands of the early '70s like Spooky Tooth , Foreigner not only became one of the success stories of the late '70s, but, rightly or wrongly, helped the term "corporate rock" enter the lexicon of music fans. Their first two albums produced a string of Top Ten singles, but their third album, 1979's Head Games, failed to generate the same commercial success.

They were determined to return to glory with their next release, the appropriately titled 4 in 1981. Heralding the album's arrival was the first single, "Urgent," which hit radio airwaves in the summer of 1981. With a throbbing, stutter-step melody, Lou Gramm's insistent vocal, and an immediate chorus, the ode to impatience quickly caught the attention of listeners. Making it additionally irresistible was some smoking saxophone courtesy of the legendary Junior Walker and keyboards by a then-unknown Thomas Dolby.

The combination of elements proved a winning formula. By mid-July, "Urgent" was entrenched in the US Top 40 and was headed toward topping the album rock charts where the band had been a fixture since their debut. In September, "Urgent" climbed into the Top Ten, Foreigner's fifth song to do so on the pop charts, making it their biggest hit in three years.

"Urgent" would spend two months in the Top Ten, peaking at #4 for a month in late September and early October. With its crossover success on album rock stations and even enough airplay to make it a minor hit in clubs, the song's momentum pushed Foreigner's 4 to the top of the album charts for ten weeks - their first #1 album. "Urgent" would be the first salvo in five hit singles from 4 that would keep the album on the charts for the next year and make it their most successful release.

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