Head Games

Head Games is the third studio album by the British-American rock band Foreigner, released on 11 September 1979 by Atlantic Records. Recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York, with additional recording and whole mixing taking place at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles, it was the only Foreigner album co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker, best known for working on Queen's classic albums. It marked the first appearance of new bass guitarist Rick Wills (formerly of Jokers Wild and Small Faces) who replaced Ed Gagliardi (who was fired from the band), and was the last album with founding members Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood, who would leave the band after the recording. Head Games is also the last Foreigner album to feature a lead vocal by guitarist Mick Jones ("The Modern Day"). Cover art The model in the photograph on the front cover is American actress and film producer Lisanne Falk. The cover art was criticized by feminists for showing a teenage girl looking afraid in a boys' restroom. relieving herself by placing her bottom over the bowl of the urinal, But according to Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm, the cover was intended to be cute, like a cartoon. Gramm said "The girl is being naughty, erasing graffiti [in the restroom]. She's looking at whoever buys the album, she's been caught." According to Miami Herald critic Bill Ashton, the cover art is a play on the album title Head Games. Atlantic Records publicity director Stuart Ginsburg pointed out that "head is a naval term for bathroom" and Foreigner's media coordinator Susan Steinberg stated that "the girl on the cover is shocked by the graffiti. It's not like somebody is attacking her. I swear to you, it's not premeditated." Release In August 1979, the release of the album was preceded by its first single, the hard rock song "Dirty White Boy", which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album itself continued Foreigner's popularity, climbing to number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and receiving a Platinum certification four months after it hit the stores. By now, Head Games has gained a 5× Platinum status for selling at least 5 million copies in the United States. The next singles were the title track and "Women", which reached number 14 and 41, respectively. Reception Ultimate Classic Rock critic Eduardo Rivadavia rated three of the songs from Head Games – "Dirty White Boy", "Rev on the Red Line" and "I'll Get Even with You" – among Foreigner's 10 most underrated songs.