Foghat relocated to the United States after signing a deal with Bearsville Records. Its debut album, Foghat (1972), was produced by Dave Edmunds and featured a cover of Willie Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love to You", which received considerable airplay, especially on FM stations. The album also included a remake of Savoy Brown's bluesy ode to the road "Leavin' Again (Again!)", and "Sarah Lee", a classic blues burner featuring Price's slide guitar solo. The band's second self-titled album went gold. It was also known as Rock and Roll for its cover photo of a rock and a bread roll. Energized (1974) came out, followed by Rock and Roll Outlaws (1974) and Fool for the City (1975). In 1974, Stevens left the band due to its relentless touring schedule and was temporarily replaced by producer Nick Jameson for the recording of Fool for the City. During the next year, Jameson was replaced by Craig MacGregor, and the group released Night Shift (1976), a live album (1977) and Stone Blue (1978), each attaining gold status in record sales. Fool for the City spawned the hit single "Slow Ride" (which reached No. 20 in the United States and No. 14 in Canada), but the greatest sales figures were reached by Foghat Live, which went double platinum. More hits followed: "Drivin' Wheel", "I Just Want to Make Love to You" (from the live album), "Stone Blue" and "Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool)". Price left the band in November 1980, unhappy with the group's still constant touring and the shift away from the hard boogie sound toward a more new wave-influenced pop direction. By February 1981, after months of auditions, he was replaced by Erik Cartwright.
1980s
After 1978, Foghat's record sales began to slip, and its last album for the Bearsville label, Zig-Zag Walk (1983), only briefly touched the charts at number 192. MacGregor quit in 1982, and Jameson returned to play on In the Mood for Something Rude and Zig-Zag Walk before being replaced by Kenny Aaronson (1983) and then Rob Alter (1983-1984). MacGregor returned in 1984.
The band briefly disbanded in 1984 after Peverett left and returned to England. Earl, along with MacGregor and Cartwright, reformed with a new singer/guitarist, Eric (E.J.) Burgeson, and continued touring as Foghat into the early 1990s. MacGregor (1986-1987, 1991), Cartwright's brother Brett Cartwright (1987, 1988–1989) and Jeff Howell (1987-1988, 1989–1991) alternated on bass during that period, while Phil Nudelman (1989-1990) and Billy Davis (1990-1993) took over for Burgeson. Dave Crigger joined on bass in 1991–1993.
1990s
Peverett had returned to the United States by 1990 and formed his own version of the band, Lonesome Dave's Foghat, which featured Bryan Bassett (ex-Wild Cherry), Stephen Dees (bass) and Eddie Zyne (drums). Dees and Zyne had played with Hall & Oates, among others. Former Molly Hatchet bassist Riff West replaced Dees in 1991, and Price made several guest appearances.
In 1993, the original line-up reunited at the urging of producer Rick Rubin. Although Rubin ultimately proved to be unavailable to produce their comeback project, the group went ahead and released a studio album titled Return of the Boogie Men (1994) and the Road Cases live album (1998). Its final album of the decade, King Biscuit Flower Hour (taken from the syndicated radio show of the same name), was released in May 1999 and consisted of live recordings from 1974 and 1976.
After being back together for six years, the original line-up once again ended after Price decided to retire from touring for good. Bassett (who had been playing with Molly Hatchet), from Lonesome Dave's Foghat, was brought in on guitar.
2000s
The 2000s saw the deaths of founding members Peverett and Price. Peverett died on 7 February 2000, aged 56, from complications from kidney cancer. Charlie Huhn (formerly of Humble Pie, Ted Nugent, and Victory) was brought in to replace him on lead vocals and guitar. This line-up of Earl, Stevens, Bassett, Huhn and Steve "ih" Farrell on backing vocals and hand percussion recorded the album Family Joules (2003). Price died on 22 March 2005, aged 57, due to a fall resulting from a heart attack. Later that year, original bassist Stevens left the band and was replaced by former bassist MacGregor.
2010s
The 2010 version of Foghat consisted of Earl, MacGregor, Huhn and Bassett. Former Rainbow and Black Sabbath drummer Bobby Rondinelli had temporarily replaced Earl for a summer 2010 concert, while Earl was recovering from surgery. At another Foghat concert that summer, after Earl had returned to the band, bassist Jeff Howell temporarily replaced an ill MacGregor. Foghat's next album, Last Train Home (released 15 June 2010), was the culmination of a dream shared by Earl and Peverett. It contained some of their favorite blues songs, three originals ("Born for the Road", "Last Train Home" and "495 Boogie"), and two songs by special guest performer and longtime friend Eddie Kirkland, who was 86 years old at the time. He had played with Foghat as a guest in 1977 at Foghat's "Tribute to the Blues" show at New York City's Palladium, and remained a good friend of the band until he was killed in a car accident on 27 February 2011.
Also performing on Last Train Home were Howell (bass), Colin Earl (piano) and Lefty Lefkowitz (harmonica). According to Earl, the album was "a testimony to Lonesome Dave. We always planned to do this. I am so fortunate to have partners in band members Charlie Huhn and Bryan Bassett who share the same passion for the blues. It was not hard work putting this album together; playing this kind of music is joyous. We had a blast!" The band released a DVD in December 2013 called Live in St. Pete.
On 10 November 2015, Foghat announced that they would start work on a new studio album, completely fan-funded through PledgeMusic. The album, titled Under the Influence, was released on 24 June 2016. The album went on to chart of Billboard and debuted at No. 17 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums, and peaked at No. 40 on the Independent Album charts.
The band went on to release another live album, Live at the Belly Up in June 2017. On 9 July 2017, Erik Cartwright, who played lead guitar from 1981 to 1984, died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, from a heart attack. He was 66 years old.
Longtime bassist MacGregor was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in 2015. The cancer was first detected at an earlier stage in 2012, but MacGregor was not informed until 2015. Following this incident, he became a proponent of a bill that would require physicians to communicate test results with patients promptly. Although still officially a member of Foghat, the effects of chemotherapy made him unable to play music. former Pat Travers bassist Rodney O'Quinn filled in for him on tours. MacGregor died on 9 February 2018.
Matt Barranti substituted on guitar for Bryan Bassett for a gig at Palace Theater in Greensburg, Pennsylvania on 11 February 2017.
2020s
The lineup of Earl, Bassett, Huhn and O'Quinn would go on to record a live record in November 2019 called 8 Days on the Road. The album was released in July 2021. In January 2022, lead singer Charlie Huhn retired. Scott Holt, formerly a guitarist for Buddy Guy, became the new lead singer and guitarist. Holt had previously lent his vocals for Under the Influence and was lead vocalist in Foghat side project Earl & the Agitators. In August 2023, Foghat announced plans to release their 17th studio album, Sonic Mojo, with first single being “Drivin' On,” co-written by Kim Simmonds from Savoy Brown in November 2023.
Members
Current
Roger Earl – drums (1971–1984, 1993–present)
Bryan Bassett – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals (1999–present)
Rodney O'Quinn – bass guitar, backing vocals (2015–present)
Scott Holt – lead vocals, lead guitar (2022–present)
Former
Dave Peverett – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1971–1984, 1993–2000; died 2000)
Rod Price – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals (1971–1980, 1993–1999; died 2005)
Tony Stevens – bass guitar, backing vocals (1971–1975, 1993–2005)
Nick Jameson – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1975–1976, 1982–1983)
Craig MacGregor – bass guitar, backing vocals (1976–1982, 1984, 2005–2015; died 2018)
Erik Cartwright – lead guitar, backing vocals (1981–1984; died 2017)
Kenny Aaronson – bass guitar (1983)
Rob Alter – bass guitar (1983–1984)
Charlie Huhn – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2000–2022)
Studio albums
Foghat (1972)
Foghat (1973)
Energized (1974)
Rock and Roll Outlaws (1974)
Fool for the City (1975)
Night Shift (1976)
Stone Blue (1978)
Boogie Motel (1979)
Tight Shoes (1980)
Girls to Chat & Boys to Bounce (1981)
In the Mood for Something Rude (1982)
Zig-Zag Walk (1983)
Return of the Boogie Men (1994)
Family Joules (2003)
Last Train Home (2010)
Under the Influence (2016)
Sonic Mojo (2023)
Terraplane Blues
Foghat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, I feel so lonesome, you'll hear me when I moan
Who been drivin' my Terraplane for you since I been gone
I'd said I'll flash your lights, mama, and the horn won't even blow
I even flash my lights, mama, and this horn won't even blow
I got a short in this connection, way way down below
All in a bad condition, I gotta have the batteries charged
I'm cryin', please, plea-hease don't do me wrong
Who been drivin' my Terraplane
Mr. Highway man, please don't block the road
Mr. Highway man, please, don't block the road
She ran a cold one hundred, booked and I got to go
I'll get deep down in this connection, keep on tanglin' with your wires
And when I mash down on your starter, your spark plug will give me fire
I'm crying please, please don't do me wrong
Who been drivin' my Terraplane
I said who? yeah
Keep on tanglin' with your wires
Who!
The lyrics of Foghat's song "Terraplane Blues" narrate an agonizing story about a man who feels alone and disconnected from his loved one. The first verse sets up the mood of the song by stating how lonesome he feels and how his voice reflects his emotional state. The second verse appears to detail his struggle with a mechanical issue with his car the 'Terraplane'. He attempts to flash the lights and honks the horn, but nothing seems to work because of a short circuit. His car's batteries are not working correctly, and he pleads with the unidentified person who has been driving his car, begging them not to have done him wrong. The third verse requests the Highway man, a common trope in Blues songs and a reference to the police, to not stop him from moving forward. He confesses he has to go because she ran a cold one hundred, a reference to his lover, and he is in a hurry.
The fourth verse states his determination to fix the problem with the Terraplane. He promises to mess with the wires and ignition connection intensely, which would help in starting and giving him the fire he needs to keep going. He ends the song on a poignant note, repeating the chorus and questioning who has been driving his Terraplane. The lyrics are full of Blues references and speak to the struggle of the working-class people of that time.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I feel so lonesome, you'll hear me when I moan
I feel incredibly lonely and my sadness is so deep that it can be heard when I express it through my voice and actions.
Yes, I feel so lonesome, you'll hear me when I moan
My loneliness is so intense that it consumes me and is hard to ignore or hide.
Who been drivin' my Terraplane for you since I been gone
I want to know who has been using my car while I was away and if it has been taken care of and maintained properly.
I'd said I'll flash your lights, mama, and the horn won't even blow
I tried to use my car's features to get someone's attention but they didn't work properly due to a mechanical problem.
I even flash my lights, mama, and this horn won't even blow
I attempted to signal someone using my car's headlights and horn, but they were not functioning due to a malfunction in the car's electrical system.
I got a short in this connection, way way down below
There is an issue in my car's electrical system and it is located deeply within the car's components.
The coils ain't even buzzin', the generator won't get that far
The essential components of the car's electrical system, such as the ignition coils and generator, are not functioning and preventing the car from starting.
All in a bad condition, I gotta have the batteries charged
The car's components are in poor condition and require maintenance, specifically the batteries need to be charged.
I'm cryin', please, plea-hease don't do me wrong
I am upset and pleading with the person responsible for using my car to take proper care of it and not cause any further damage.
Mr. Highway man, please don't block the road
I am asking a highway worker to not stop my vehicle from progressing on the road due to the urgency of my need to get where I am going.
She ran a cold one hundred, booked and I got to go
My car is capable of reaching high speeds and I need to get to my destination quickly.
I'll get deep down in this connection, keep on tanglin' with your wires
I will try to fix the electrical malfunction in my car by delving deeply into the car's components and dealing with tangled wires.
And when I mash down on your starter, your spark plug will give me fire
If I manage to start the car's engine, the spark plug will ignite the fuel mixture and start the combustion process.
Who been drivin' my Terraplane
Again, I am inquiring about who has been using my car and the condition they left it in.
I'm crying please, please don't do me wrong
I am emotionally distressed and pleading with the person who borrowed my car to take care of it and not cause further damage.
Who? yeah
I am asking again, who has been using my car while I have been away.
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROBERT LEROY JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Monfils
So sonic! I love the rhythm guitar's power chords and inverted power chord voicings. The slide guitar goes back and forth between minor and major modes and sweeps through the spectrum with such authority! He plays like a great harmonica player in the best of Southern blues tradition. Amazing! I miss these guys so much! R.I.P.
Robert Cole
sounds like a man who knows how it's done
santiagobenites
When I was 14 my favourite band was Foghat (and my first big arena concert!). I really liked them then, but I could never able to appreciate the absolutely awesome slide guitar work of Rod Price the way that I can now that I'm older. It's truly beautiful stuff!
Paul Miriani
Fight live might be the greatest live album ever recorded. 1977 and sounds like it was yesterday.
Rick Abbott
I recon Robert Johnston would love this version 👍I’ve been listening to this since I was 14 yrs old and I am now 60 best band ever/ Perth Western Australia 🎸
Cary West
I reckon you & l are on opposite sides of this big blue rock. I'm in Texas, used to listen to this 8-track tape cruising with a cousin around lake property neighborhood back then in the mid to late "70s. Drinking beer & smoking herb!
Just remembered, got to see Bon Scott with AC/DC in '78 in Houston,TX. They were badass, Angus was all over the stage. Went out in the audience on Bon"s shoulders. Knew Bon was born in Scotland but lived around Perth area.
G'day mi amigo! A little Tex-Mex for ya.
Concurseiro Beflissen
THIS VOICE, THIS SLIDE GUITAR... A CAR AND A BEER: AWESOME!
s l
been there and done that, but discovered foghat recently, in '79 the slide l listened to was Brother Duane & Betts.
Hawgley Ferguson
Many times my friend!
Darkside Johnny
A 68 Firebird and a joint!😁 (was me in summer of 1979)