Maps of Music

Head Games (1979)

Where the lyrics of Head Games take you, and where it was really made.

Head Games was the only Foreigner album co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker, the producer known for Queen's classic albums. It was recorded in New York and mixed in Los Angeles.

Key places

Where Head Games was recorded (1979)

Recording site Atlantic Studios (New York City) — The album was recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York. The point marks the studio location, not an exact room. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Additional recording and mixing in Los Angeles (1979)

Recording site Cherokee Studios — Additional recording and whole mixing for the album took place at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. The point marks the studio location. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Head Games: third studio album by the British-American rock band Foreigner
• Released 11 September 1979 by Atlantic Records
• The only Foreigner album co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker, best known for Queen's classic albums
• Marked the first appearance of new bass guitarist Rick Wills
• Rick Wills replaced Ed Gagliardi, who was fired from the band
• Last album with founding members Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood, who would leave after the following tour
• Last Foreigner album with a lead vocal by guitarist Mick Jones ("The Modern Day")

Background

• Rick Wills was formerly of Jokers Wild, Roxy Music and Small Faces
• The album continued Foreigner's popularity after its earlier releases
• The album followed the band's two earlier studio albums, both of which were well received

Recording

• Recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York
• Additional recording and whole mixing took place at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles
• Producers credited: Mick Jones, Ian McDonald and Roy Thomas Baker
• Engineer credited: Geoff Workman

Cover

• The model on the front cover is American actress and film producer Lisanne Falk
• The cover art was criticized by feminists
• Lou Gramm said the cover was meant to be cute, like a cartoon
• Bill Ashton of the Miami Herald said the cover plays on the album title

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Foreigner is a British-American rock band formed in New York City in 1976.
• Mick Jones led the band from the start; the original lineup included Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliott, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald and Ed Gagliardi.
• The name came from the band's mix of British and American members: at least three members were foreigners in any country they played.
• The band's debut album came out in March 1977 and reached No. 4 in the US.

Members

• Mick Jones (guitar, keyboards, vocals) is the founder and only constant member.
• Lou Gramm (vocals) was an original member who left in 1990, rejoined in 1992, and left again in 2003.
• Gagliardi was replaced by Rick Wills in 1979; Greenwood and McDonald were dismissed in 1980.
• Kelly Hansen became lead singer in 2005; Luis Maldonado took over lead vocals in 2025.

Career

• Foreigner is one of the best-selling bands of all time, with worldwide sales exceeding 80 million records.
• The 1981 album 4 was its first and only US No. 1 album.
• The 1984 single "I Want to Know What Love Is" topped the charts in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
• The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The New York Times: the group settles comfortably into the hard-driving, macho-posturing style common to many teen heavy metal bands
• The Democrat and Chronicle: the album is strongest when it rocks hard and nasty
• The Richmond Times-Dispatch: the album mainly reminds that commercially hot rock bands are loath to change what made them hot
• The San Bernardino County Sun: Foreigner kept quality control, and Head Games is the band's third impressive album in a row

Reappraisal

• Ultimate Classic Rock critic Eduardo Rivadavia listed "Dirty White Boy", "Rev on the Red Line" and "I'll Get Even with You" among Foreigner's 10 most underrated songs
• Rivadavia praised Mick Jones's sizzling guitar solo on "Rev on the Red Line" and called it one of the band's best B-sides
• Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome ranked "Rev on the Red Line" at number 10 and "Dirty White Boy" at number 3 among Foreigner's most underrated songs
• Dome praised the melody, Lou Gramm's vocal and the way the musicians show their skills without showing off
• PopMatters critic Evan Sawdey called "Rev on the Red Line" paint-by-numbers rock
• Billboard reviewer Gary Graff rated "Seventeen" Foreigner's ninth greatest song and called it a hidden gem

Records

• Album reached number 5 on the Billboard 200
• Platinum certification four months after reaching stores
• As of 2017, 5× Platinum for at least 5 million copies sold in the United States
• "Dirty White Boy" reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100
• Title track "Head Games" reached number 14 and "Women" reached number 41 as singles

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Miami Herald critic Bill Ashton said the cover art plays on the album title Head Games.
• Atlantic Records publicity director Stuart Ginsburg said "head" is a naval term for bathroom.
• Foreigner media coordinator Susan Steinberg said the girl on the cover is shocked by graffiti and is not being attacked.
• Lou Gramm said the girl on the cover is being naughty while erasing graffiti in the restroom.
• The album's sleeve and credits list Geoff Workman as engineer and George Marino as mastering engineer at Sterling Sound.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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