Foreigner Album: “Head Games [Bonus Track]”

Following up two back to back monster albums cannot be a very pleasant task. Head Games, Foreigner's third album released in the fall of '79 was their big test. As a big fan of these guys I have to say that Head Games is the best of the bunch, even though it didn't sell like the previous two and Gramm has even stated that it was not a real pleasure to make. Well Mr. Gramm it's brought me years of pleasure. Top tracks include Love on the Telephone, Dirty White Boy, The Modern Day, Seventeen, Rev on the Red Line and Blinded by Science. Great guitar work from Mick Jones and Ian McDonald (his last album with Foreigner.) I really liked Al Greenwood's synthesizer work (he also exited the band the following year and Foreigner became a four piece.) Lou Gramm turns in great vocal performances, especially on the big rock tunes. Bassist Rick Wills really added a much needed growl to the Foreigner sound. I love this album so much that I wore two vinyl copies out in Jr. High. Kicks even more ass digitally remastered!!

Head Games was Foreigner's third studio album & it went to #5 on the charts. Three singles from the album charted: "Dirty White Boy" (#12), "Head Games" (#14) & "Women" (#41); for the first time they didn't have any singles make it into the Top 10. These weren't the first hints that things were changing for Foreigner; Head Games was the weakest album they had released of their first three. Ed Gagliardi (bass) was now gone, replaced by Rick Wills. This personnel move, in my opinion, was a downgrade.

Head Games doesn't really have any outstanding songs, some of them are very good, but none of them are on the same par of the very best stuff from the first two albums. The album opens with the hit "Dirty White Boy" which is a good start. It's an arena-ready song that gets the fan to moving. "Love on the Telephone" follows which is just as good. The promise developed from the opening two songs falters with "Women", though it was a hit, it's only an average song. "I'll Get Even With You" gets us back on track. "Seventeen" is catchy but it's territory that's been covered lyrically hundreds of times. it's only average. The title song "Head Games" is another song that's not among Foreigner's best. "The Modern Day" has Mick Jones doing the lead vocal but once again the song is average. "Blinded By Science" seems to drag on forever & is below average. "Do What You Like" is a step above the previous one but nothing special though it has a good melody. The original album closes with "Rev on the Red Line" a song about fast cars but fails at being a good song.

The album is an average one; three good songs, six average songs & two sub par songs.

There is but one bonus track, "Zalia", which is an heretofore unreleased outtake. It doesn't rise above the ordinary either. The liner notes are pretty good & lyrics are included. It's unfortunate but Foreigner stumbled badly with this album. They would redeem themselves somewhat with their next release, Four. After that Foreigner, for all intents & purposes, disappeared.

Head Games is probably the most underrated and overlooked album in the Foreigner catalog. Released in between the megaselling Double Vision and 4, the album drew more attention for its controversial cover than its music. The album is hard rock all the way with out much in the way of slow songs. The title track is a searing number and "Dirty White Boy" is a blazing rocker. Other strong tracks include "Women", "Seventeen", "Blinded By Science" and "Do What You Like".

I must admit, I don't listen to my FOREIGNER albums like I used

to when I was growing up, but when I do listen to 'em, it's this

album that I put on the most. HEAD GAMES was FOREIGNER's most

guitar oriented and rock-n-roll oriented album. The first half

of the album is probably FOREIGNER at their best: DIRTY WHITE BOY

is one of their heaviest and catchiest tunes ever and my favorite

FOREIGNER song ever. LOVE ON THE TELEPHONE is more poppy, tho'

it's still a great song and the synthesizer at the beginning is

very similar to the one URIAH HEEP used on their song THE HANGING

TREE from their FIREFLY album. WOMAN is FOREIGNER at their most

raunchy and narsty, both lyrically and musically. It's rock-n-roll, man! I'LL GET EVEN WITH YOU and SEVENTEEN are both

catchy and very likable hard rock/pop songs, with some very pow-

erful singing from LOU GRAMM. SEVENTEEN rocks out like mad and

has one of MICK JONES'S most memorable guitar solos.

The second half lets down a bit after the wonderful track THE

MODERN DAY. DO WHAT YOU LIKE( or DO WHAT YOU WANT, I can't remem-

ber since I listen to side two so rarely) is this album's weak-

est track. Hard to believe that this is the same IAN MCDONALD

who wrote the music for the KING CRIMSON songs I TALK TO THE

WIND and IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING, but it is! The title

track is a very catchy and melodic and likable song, with some

very identifiable lyrics for anyone who's been in involved in a

confusing relationship.

I like it, I like it, hey Mikey!( Now there's a seventies

throwback!)

I had this album when I was in the 4th grade and really jammed and got down to it. Head Games remains one of Foreigner's best lp's of today. Besides the dynamic title cut "Head Games",it included the smash "Women" which always got me rockin' and in a feelgood mood,along with-"Seventeen" and the best song on this album is" I'll Get Even With You" which we can all relate to at one time or another when somebody unjustly betrays or does us wrong- Jeff