Head Games [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Foreigner | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 6, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Atlantic
• ASIN: B00006ALR4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,689 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Foreigner Get Tougher, May 9, 2003

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Head Games (Audio CD)

With their third album, 1979's "Head Games," and with new bassist Rick Wills onboard, Foreigner responded to their critics who claimed that the band's first pair of albums sounded too "polished" by getting tougher. "Head Games" is easily the most hard-edged, guitar-heavy album in the band's catalog, but, thankfully, the band didn't completely abandon their keyboards, or their knack for melody either. "Head Games" is a leaner, meaner-sounding Foreigner, but it's still Foreigner all the same, with ace guitarist Mick Jones & the powerful vocal chops of Lou Gramm leading the way. The rockin' hit title song is an all-time Foreigner classic, and the band also fire on all cylinders on tracks like "Dirty White Boy" (the other hit from the album), "Love On The Telephone," "Women," "Seventeen," and the killer finale, "Rev On The Red Line." Mick Jones' "The Modern Day" is excellent guitar-fueled pop-rock, and the CD bonus track, the previously-unreleased "Zalia," is a very lovely song, indeed, a true buried treasure. I happen to like Foreigner's so-called "polished" sound, as that's always been part of their appeal. But it was definitely the lack of studio shine that contributed to the disappointing sales---by Foreigner standards---of "Head Games" (not to mention the controversial album cover). But it still managed to go platinum, and it cleared the way for Foreigner to enter the 80's in a big, BIG fashion, with 1981's "4," their biggest album to date. "Head Games" may be a departure of sorts, but it's still a very strong Foreigner album. Pick it up and crank it up!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The most "rockin" of Foreigner's albums!!!!, July 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Head Games (Audio CD)

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!!

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take that, Punks!, October 14, 2004

By 

B. Huck (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Head Games (Audio CD)

First, I'll back up everything said in Alan Caylow's review. Spot on.

And, I'll add that although "Head Games" is probably doomed to remain the least esteemed of Foreigner's first four albums, it has definitely emerged as my favorite. Not that I think it's the quintessential Foreigner album, or necessarily the "best" Foreigner album (by whatever standard you chose to measure by), but darned if it doesn't just ROCK. This is high-octane, stripped-down Foreigner, "aerodynamic and ready to roll."

In addition to a bit of a personnel change for their third album, it's very evident that the band picked up on the punk/new-wave/power-pop influences that were impossible to ignore in the 1978/1979 music world. The songs here are tight, focused, and for the most part, hard edged. Most of the songs on "Head Games" could have as easily been recorded by The Knack, The Beat, The Buzzcocks or The Undertones. The sound is much simpler than on "Foreigner" and "Double Vision", but it still retains a very identifiable Foreigner personality. The drums hit hard (listen closely to "Dirty White Boy" - the master is distorted on the major drumbeat), the guitars are crunchy, but not plodding, and there is still the added color of the keyboards, although they are clearly dominated by the guitars, with the exception of the title track and "Rev On The Redline". Lou Gramm has/had a great "rock voice", and he provided this album with another batch of flawless vocals.

The one soft spot on the album, in my opinion, is the song "Blinded By Science". It's not that I think it's a weak song - it builds a nice power as it progresses, and I never fail to get sucked into it - it just seems to be a distracting slowdown from the rest of the album. The song would fit better on "4", and in fact would be a great trade for "Night Life", which would have been right at home on "Head Games".

While perhaps not as "Classic" as the other three of Foreigner's initial quartet of albums, "Head Games" is straightforward rockin' fun, if a bit heavy-handedly "guy oriented" at times. Critics who dismiss Foreigner as not having enough rock credibility should give this album a listen, and not just the singles. They may be pleasantly surprised.