Fore!
Fore! is the fourth studio album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released on August 20, 1986, by Chrysalis Records.[1] The album consists of ten tracks produced by the band itself, blending rock, pop, and new wave elements with themes of love, relationships, and everyday life.[1] Achieving significant commercial success, Fore! topped the US Billboard 200 chart and produced five top-ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100, a record for the band at the time.[2] Among these were the two number-one hits "Stuck with You," which held the top spot for three weeks, and "Jacob's Ladder."[1][2] Other notable singles included "Doing It All for My Baby" (peaking at number six), "Hip to Be Square" (number three), and "I Know What I Like" (number nine), the latter featuring backing vocals from San Francisco 49ers players Dwight Clark, Riki Ellison, Ronnie Lott, and Joe Montana.[1] The album's tracklist features: Fore! solidified Huey Lewis and the News' status as one of the leading acts of 1980s rock, contributing to their reputation for catchy, radio-friendly hits during the era of MTV and pop-rock dominance.[2]Background
Development
Following the massive success of their 1983 album Sports, which achieved seven-times platinum status and spawned four Top 10 singles, Huey Lewis and the News faced significant pressure to deliver a worthy follow-up. By the fall of 1985, after three years of intensive touring, the band reconvened to write new material, but the process proved challenging. They initially composed six songs over three weeks, only to discard them as "terrible," leading to a six-month period of creative struggle as they grappled with replicating their prior hits on demand.[3][4] A breakthrough came with "Stuck with You," co-written by guitarist Chris Hayes and [Huey Lewis](/page/Huey Lewis). Hayes composed the music in just three hours at the urging of the band's manager, while Lewis added lyrics in 15 minutes, drawing inspiration from his personal life and growing family contentment. This success shifted the album's momentum, emphasizing a more natural creative flow rather than forced output. Other tracks reflected similar personal themes, such as "Doing It All for My Baby," while "Jacob's Ladder" was co-written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John, originally intended for Hornsby's own band but gifted to Lewis and the News. "Hip to Be Square" originated as a lighthearted joke by Lewis, highlighting the band's playful side amid the commercial expectations.[3][4][5] The band self-produced Fore!. Johnny Colla served as musical director, guiding the process, while the Tower of Power horn section contributed to two tracks for added R&B flair. Backing vocals on "I Know What I Like" and "Hip to Be Square" featured San Francisco 49ers players including Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Dwight Clark, and Riki Ellison, coached by Colla to capture a rowdy, team-spirited energy reflective of the band's Bay Area roots. Despite considerations of a stylistic shift—later explored on their 1988 album Small World—the group opted to refine their established rock-soul formula to meet audience expectations.[3][5][6]Recording
The recording of Fore! took place primarily in 1985 and 1986, following the band's extensive touring in support of their previous album Sports.[7][3] Huey Lewis and the News self-produced the album, marking their second consecutive self-production after Sports, with the band exerting meticulous control over every aspect to meet heightened expectations from their rising fame.[7][8] This approach stemmed from the pressure of delivering a follow-up to their multi-platinum success, as Lewis later reflected: "We had never released a record to any expectations before... There was a certain amount of pressure that was new to us."[3] Principal recording occurred at Studio D in Sausalito, California, with additional sessions at The Plant Studios in Sausalito and Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.[7][9] Engineers Jim Gaines and Robert Missbach handled the tracking, while Phil Kaffel contributed additional engineering support.[7] The band initially faced creative hurdles, writing and discarding six subpar songs in just three weeks after their tour, before settling on the final 10 tracks.[3] To balance the demands, sessions incorporated family considerations, allowing members like Lewis to commute from nearby homes.[3] Mixing was conducted at The Power Station in New York City by the band themselves under tight deadlines, which Lewis described as producing the album "tits-out," emphasizing their intense focus on avoiding any "bad moments" on tape, though it resulted in some imperfections like prominent drum echoes.[7][8] Notably, the track "Naturally" was added late in the process; co-written by Lewis and guitarist Johnny Colla, it was recorded in a separate room at The Power Station using a click track while the band mixed other songs, capturing its raw energy in one take.[3] Guest contributions enhanced select tracks during recording. The Tower of Power horn section—featuring Stephen "Doc" Kupka on baritone saxophone, Emilio Castillo and Richard Elliot on tenor saxophone, and Lee Thornburg and Greg Adams on trumpet—provided arrangements and performances for "Jacob's Ladder" and "Naturally," infusing them with a soulful R&B flair.[7] Additionally, players from the San Francisco 49ers contributed gang vocals to "Hip to Be Square" and "I Know What I Like," adding a local, spirited camaraderie reflective of the band's Bay Area roots.[3] Mastering was completed at Masterdisk in New York.[7]Composition
Music
Fore! is the fourth studio album by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, characterized primarily by its pop rock sound, blending elements of album rock, contemporary pop/rock, and bar band aesthetics.[10] The album maintains the band's signature energetic, radio-friendly style, drawing from pub rock roots with polished production that emphasizes catchy hooks and rhythmic drive.[11] Influences include classic R&B, doo-wop, and throwback rock, evident in the album's harmonious vocal layers and horn-infused arrangements, which evoke mid-20th-century soul while updating it for 1980s audiences.[5] The band's instrumentation features a tight rhythm section, with Mario Cipollina on bass providing mellow, throbbing lines, Bill Gibson on drums delivering propulsive beats, and Chris Hayes on electric guitar contributing melodic riffs and bobs.[5] Keyboardist Sean Hopper adds synthesizer elements, such as the bridge in "Stuck with You," enhancing the modern pop sheen. Huey Lewis's gravelly, emotive lead vocals contrast with the group's backing harmonies, often incorporating gang vocals for a communal feel, as heard on tracks like "I Know What I Like" with contributions from San Francisco 49ers players.[3] Guest appearances by the Tower of Power horn section on songs like "Doing It All for My Baby" introduce peppery flourishes and R&B swagger, amplifying the album's breezy, dive-bar energy.[5] Musically, Fore! showcases a front-loaded structure with hit-oriented tracks that prioritize accessibility and emotional resonance. "Stuck with You" exemplifies a modernized doo-wop approach, featuring light ringing synths and shimmering textures for a plush, romantic vibe that propelled it to No. 1.[5] Similarly, "Jacob's Ladder" builds a billowing churn around a shouted chorus and bass throb, reflecting the band's blue-eyed soul leanings.[3] "Hip to Be Square" combines long-sustain synths, horns, and a chugging rhythm for an upbeat, anthemic quality, while "Naturally" highlights a cappella-inspired vocal interplay rooted in doo-wop traditions.[5] Overall, the album's production, handled by the band itself, achieves a crisp, professional sheen that balances quirky songcraft with robust, hook-driven pop, solidifying their evolution from bar band roots to mainstream rock staples.[10]Lyrics
The lyrics of Fore!, the fourth studio album by Huey Lewis and the News, blend themes of romantic commitment, social conformity, and critiques of exploitative institutions, often delivered with the band's signature wit and accessibility. Huey Lewis, the primary lyricist for several tracks, emphasized relatable, everyday experiences in his writing, drawing from personal life while incorporating humor and irony to avoid overly sentimental tones. This approach reflects the band's evolution toward more mature, reflective content compared to their earlier work, balancing pop appeal with subtle commentary on 1980s American culture.[12] A central theme is enduring relationships beyond initial passion, exemplified in the lead single "Stuck with You," co-written by Lewis and Chris Hayes. The song portrays marital inertia as a positive force, with lyrics like "I've got this feeling most people never know" celebrating contentment in long-term love rather than fiery romance. Lewis described it as inspired by real-life dynamics but not strictly autobiographical, noting the muse behind it "didn’t really like the song all that much," underscoring the band's lighthearted detachment from literal interpretation.[13] Social satire emerges prominently in "Hip to Be Square," penned by Lewis alongside drummer Bill Gibson and keyboardist Sean Hopper. The track humorously embraces conformity as trendy, with lines such as "Tell me what you want, and I'll give you what you need" poking fun at the band's clean-cut image and the era's yuppie ethos. Lewis clarified its tongue-in-cheek nature, stating, "Everyone thinks I'm the boy next door... But look at my parents, and look where I come from. I'm a beatnik kid," highlighting a contrast between perceived squareness and his nonconformist roots. This self-aware commentary on aging rockers adapting to mainstream success resonated widely, though its ironic tone later gained notoriety through its use in American Psycho.[14][12] Critique of religious exploitation anchors "Jacob's Ladder," the album's third number-one single, written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John. Drawing from biblical imagery in Genesis—where Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven with ascending angels—the lyrics depict a fan dancer fleeing a "fat man selling salvation in his hand," symbolizing manipulative televangelists preying on the vulnerable. John Hornsby explained it as a narrative of personal aspiration thwarted by false prophets, while Lewis praised its gothic Southern vibe, saying, "I loved the lyric, 'cause they get it... That’s where that evangelical craziness really lives." The song's moral undertone critiques media-driven faith without overt preachiness, aligning with the album's broader avoidance of heavy-handed messaging.[15][16] Romantic devotion drives "Doing It All for My Baby," a soul-inflected track written by external songwriters Michael Duke and Philip Cody. Its lyrics chronicle a day centered on a partner, from morning affection to evening fulfillment, evoking uncomplicated joy in monogamy. Cody revealed it stemmed from his early days living with future wife Barbara, recounting "a day in my life where everything that happens revolves around her," infusing the song with authentic optimism that the band amplified through their energetic delivery.[17] Other tracks like "I Know What I Like" reinforce themes of simple pleasures and self-awareness in love, with Lewis's straightforward phrasing—"Round and round and round she goes / And where she stops, nobody knows"—mirroring the album's overall ethos of embracing life's rhythms without overcomplication. Collectively, Fore!'s lyrics prioritize emotional honesty and cultural observation, contributing to its commercial resonance by connecting universal experiences through clever, non-didactic storytelling.[12]Release
Promotion
The promotion of Fore! centered on leveraging the band's established popularity from their previous album Sports and the Back to the Future soundtrack, with a focus on radio airplay, music videos, and live performances to drive sales. Released on August 20, 1986, by Chrysalis Records, the album was supported by an aggressive singles strategy, beginning with "Stuck with You," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and featured a music video directed by Edd Griles that aired heavily on MTV, portraying the band in a lighthearted, romantic narrative to appeal to the network's young audience.[1][18] Subsequent singles like "Hip to Be Square," "Doing It All for My Baby," "Jacob's Ladder," and "I Know What I Like" followed, each accompanied by MTV-friendly videos that emphasized the band's energetic pop-rock style and humorous visuals, contributing to Fore! becoming the first album by a group to yield five top-ten Billboard Hot 100 singles. These videos, including one for "Doing It All for My Baby" that showcased playful choreography, solidified Huey Lewis and the News as MTV staples, boosting visibility amid the channel's growing influence in the mid-1980s music market.[5][19] To complement the singles rollout, the band embarked on the extensive Fore! World Tour from late 1986 through 1987, performing in arenas across North America, Europe, and beyond, often incorporating Tower of Power's horn section for enhanced live energy and featuring setlists heavy on Fore! tracks like "Jacob's Ladder" and "Hip to Be Square." Promotional tie-ins included backing vocals on "I Know What I Like" and "Hip to Be Square" by San Francisco 49ers players such as Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott, capitalizing on the band's Bay Area roots to generate local media buzz and NFL crossover appeal. This multifaceted approach, combining visual media, radio dominance, and high-profile touring, propelled Fore! to number one on the Billboard 200.[3][20]Singles
The album Fore! yielded five consecutive top-ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a significant achievement for Huey Lewis and the News and helping propel the record to triple platinum status in the United States. These releases spanned from mid-1986 to mid-1987, showcasing the band's blend of rock, pop, and new wave influences while capitalizing on their momentum from the previous album Sports. The lead single, "Stuck with You," was released on July 21, 1986, and became the band's second number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top position for three weeks. Co-written by Huey Lewis and guitarist Chris Hayes, the upbeat track about romantic commitment also reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, one of the group's strongest performances there.[1][21] "Hip to Be Square," issued in October 1986, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 12 weeks on the chart.[21] Penned by Lewis, Bill Gibson, and Sean Hopper, the song's energetic horns and satirical lyrics on social conformity exemplified the album's polished production. It also climbed to number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.[21] The third single, "Jacob's Ladder," released on January 5, 1987, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for one week and became the band's third overall number-one hit. Written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John Hornsby specifically for Lewis, the track drew inspiration from biblical imagery and rural life, incorporating gospel-tinged elements that highlighted the band's versatility. It reached number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart as well.[22][21] "I Know What I Like," the fourth single released in April 1987, peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Co-written by Hayes and Lewis, it featured backing vocals from San Francisco 49ers players including Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Dwight Clark, and Riki Ellison, adding a local Bay Area flavor reflective of the band's roots. The song also hit number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[1][21] Closing out the singles run, "Doing It All for My Baby" was released on June 29, 1987, and reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Written by Mike Duke and emphasizing themes of devotion, it marked the fifth top-ten entry from Fore!, underscoring the album's sustained radio and commercial appeal.[1][21]Commercial performance
Chart performance
Fore! debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 42 in September 1986 before ascending to the top spot, where it spent one week at number one and remained on the chart for a total of 61 weeks, including 26 weeks in the top 10.[23] The album's strong performance was bolstered by the successive release of multiple top-ten singles, contributing to its sustained chart presence.[24] Internationally, Fore! also achieved significant success across various markets. It peaked at number one in New Zealand for one week and charted for 18 weeks overall.[25] In Australia, the album reached number three.[26] On the UK Albums Chart, it entered at number 40 in September 1986, climbed to a peak of number eight (spending three weeks in the top 10), and totaled 52 weeks on the chart.[27] In continental Europe, Fore! peaked at number four in Switzerland (17 weeks), number five in Germany (30 weeks), and number 22 in Austria (four weeks).[28]| Country | Peak Position | Weeks on Chart | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (Billboard 200) | 1 | 61 | [23] |
| Australia | 3 | N/A | [26] |
| Switzerland | 4 | 17 | [28] |
| Germany | 5 | 30 | [28] |
| United Kingdom | 8 | 52 | [27] |
| New Zealand | 1 | 18 | [25] |
| Austria | 22 | 4 | [28] |
Sales and certifications
Fore! was a major commercial success, particularly in North America and Europe. In the United States, the album has sold more than three million copies and was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1988, denoting shipments of three million units.[29] Internationally, the album received multiple certifications reflecting strong sales in key markets. It was certified three-times platinum by Music Canada in 1986 for 300,000 units shipped. In the United Kingdom, it earned a double platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), equivalent to 600,000 units. The album also achieved gold status in Germany from the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI), representing 250,000 units.| Country | Certifying body | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Music Canada | 3× Platinum | 300,000[30] |
| Germany | BVMI | Gold | 250,000 |
| United Kingdom | BPI | 2× Platinum | 600,000 |
| United States | RIAA | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000[29] |
Reception
Critical response
Upon its release in 1986, Fore! was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics, who commended the album's polished production, tight musicianship, and string of infectious pop-rock singles that built on the band's established formula from Sports. Reviewers highlighted the album's ability to deliver accessible, high-energy tracks while incorporating subtle variations, such as R&B-inflected covers and gospel-tinged rockers, though some noted it leaned more toward formulaic consistency than bold innovation. The record's commercial momentum, with five Top 10 hits, often amplified its critical profile, positioning Huey Lewis and the News as a reliable purveyors of mainstream rock appeal.[31] Robert Christgau, writing for The Village Voice, awarded the album a B- grade, praising the band's improved tightness and Lewis's songcraft but critiquing the predictable grooves and sentiments that reflected a "yuppie dilemma" of seeking coolness without radicalism. He observed that "he can still put together a good song, and the band is tighter than ever, but the pleasure is all in the grooves, which are as predictable as the sentiments." This assessment captured a common thread in contemporary coverage: appreciation for the album's craftsmanship tempered by its lack of edge compared to edgier contemporaries.[31] In retrospective analyses, Fore! has been viewed more favorably as a pinnacle of the band's catalog, with critics emphasizing its role in solidifying their pop-rock legacy through versatile songwriting and ensemble contributions. AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the News as turning out "hard-driving covers and originals in a workmanlike fashion, never deviating from their appealingly blue-collar rock & roll, and that's what makes Fore! such an agreeable record," rating it three out of five stars for its solid, unpretentious execution. Similarly, a 2025 retrospective in Best Classic Bands lauded it as the group's "most accomplished album," crediting its ambition to broaden their sound amid weaker moments on the second side, while countering detractors who dismissed the band as an "overrated bar band" by underscoring its enduring fan appeal and hit-driven quality.[32][5]Commercial analysis
Fore! represented a pivotal moment in Huey Lewis and the News' career, solidifying their status as one of the 1980s' premier pop-rock acts following the massive breakthrough of their previous album, Sports. Released in 1986, it capitalized on the band's rising popularity, particularly after the global exposure from "The Power of Love" in the Back to the Future soundtrack, which heightened expectations for commercial viability. The album's self-production by the band marked a shift from external oversight, allowing greater creative control but also introducing pressures to deliver radio-friendly hits without alienating their rock roots. This strategic focus on accessible, upbeat tracks contributed to its strong market performance, though it fell short of matching Sports' unprecedented sales momentum.[3][8] Commercially, Fore! achieved triple-platinum certification in the United States, selling over three million copies, which underscored the band's ability to sustain high demand in a competitive mid-1980s landscape dominated by synth-pop and hair metal. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, a feat that mirrored Sports and highlighted effective promotion through multiple singles that dominated airplay. The album generated five Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles, including two number-one hits—"Stuck With You" and "Jacob's Ladder"—demonstrating a deliberate emphasis on hit-driven sequencing, with four of the first five tracks becoming major successes. This singles strategy, informed by collaborations with outside songwriters like Bruce Hornsby, amplified crossover appeal to both mainstream pop and adult contemporary audiences, boosting overall album sales through sustained radio and MTV exposure.[5][8] Despite its triumphs, Fore! faced internal and external pressures that shaped its commercial trajectory. Huey Lewis later reflected on the "worry about every note" during recording, driven by the fear that Sports was a fluke, leading to meticulous production choices like prominent drum echoes that some viewed as overpolished. While it outperformed many contemporaries in chart longevity—spending weeks in the Top 10—it did not replicate Sports' seven-million-plus sales, signaling a plateau in explosive growth amid shifting musical tastes toward more electronic sounds. Nonetheless, the album's success reinforced the band's touring draw and licensing opportunities, cementing their economic viability through the late 1980s. Guitarist Johnny Colla noted the immediate commercial resonance of tracks like "Stuck With You," which helped mitigate risks in an era where follow-up albums often underperformed.[3][8]Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jacob's Ladder" | Bruce Hornsby, John Hornsby | 3:28 |
| 2. | "Stuck with You" | Chris Hayes, Huey Lewis | 4:28 |
| 3. | "Whole Lotta Lovin'" | Johnny Colla, Huey Lewis | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Doing It All for My Baby" | Huey Lewis, Mike Duke | 3:41 |
| 5. | "Hip to Be Square" | Bill Gibson, Sean Hopper, Huey Lewis | 4:03 |
| 6. | "I Know What I Like" | Huey Lewis, Mike Duke | 4:00 |
| 7. | "I Never Walk Alone" | Johnny Colla, Huey Lewis | 3:41 |
| 8. | "Forest for the Trees" | Huey Lewis | 3:21 |
| 9. | "Naturally" | Huey Lewis | 2:53 |
| 10. | "Simple as That" | Alex Dixon, Huey Lewis | 4:26 |
Personnel
Huey Lewis and the News
- Huey Lewis – vocals, harmonica[7]
- Chris Hayes – guitar, backing vocals[7]
- Johnny Colla – guitar, saxophone, backing vocals[7]
- Mario Cipollina – bass guitar[7]
- Bill Gibson – drums, percussion, backing vocals[7]
- Sean Hopper – keyboards, backing vocals[7]
Additional musicians
- Tower of Power horn section – horns ("Whole Lotta Lovin'", "Simple as That")
- Dwight Clark, Riki Ellison, Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana – backing vocals ("I Know What I Like")[34]