This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Foghat's "Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool)"

By the end of the '70s British blues-rock band Foghat had fallen hard from favor among music fans, the band's arena rock suffering noticeably in comparison to punk rock's raw urgency. Even so, the group managed to take this underrated track to No. 23 on the pop charts in the early part of 1980. In contrast to the electric guitar-heavy sound that had earned Foghat a considerable mid-'70s following among mainstream rock fans, "Third Time Lucky" works sublimely as gentle, convincing folk-rock supported ably by some nifty slide guitar. Even better, frontman "Lonesome Dave" Peverett's vocal performance, lyrics and solid sense of melody shine here with a welcome earnestness that's nothing like the bravado of the band's more well-known numbers "Slow Ride" and "I Just Want to Make Love to You." A great late-career remnant from a band that otherwise enjoyed few highlights during the '80s.

• Sample or download "Third Time Lucky" here.
• Compare prices on Foghat CDs here.
• Foghat Official Website

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Rhino