Customer Reviews

Head Games

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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!!

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.

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.

Foreigner returns to the edgy classic-rock sound of their debut album with their third album, "Head Games," one of my favorite Foreigner albums. This masterpiece features some real down n' dirty fun rock with very thick, catchy beats, and Lou Gramm's uncanny vocals. Their classic "Dirty White Boy" is one of the most rock-out songs on the album; just a pure piece of classic rock perfection. Next is the melodic rocker, "Love On The Telephone" with a catchy piano from Mick Jones, and a contagious beat courtesy of Dennis Elliott, who is a true machine on this album. Then there's the rough and rugged "Women" with a mean Mick Jones guitar, followed by the more mellow, Al Greenwood (and/or Ian McDonald) synth-rugged rock of "I'll Get Even With You." Then check out the kickin', shuffling Elliott beat on "Seventeen." After That is "Head Games," their slower, but intense hit, with great synth background sounds, and powerful guitar chords. Mick then takes the mic on "Modern Day," and does very well; quite the catchy song indeed. Probably the worst song on the album is "Blinded By Science." It's a bit dull, slow and a little draggy. It doesn't really live up to the rest of the album, because it lacks that classic rock punch that the other songs contain. "Do What You Like" is a dancable rock tune, with a thick, bouncy beat provided by Elliott; a very contagious song. The last song is my favorite on the album and one of my favorite Foreigner songs of all time; "Rev On The Red Line." The melodic mixture of the powerful guitar and the keyboards/synthesizers blend so well together to throw you an intense, rockin' punch, and Rick Wills' bass is out of this world!! It literally vibrates through your system. It's just a fantasic song, and Lou puts on a great vocal performance as he sings about the pleasures of a man and his flashy car, and the constant need for speed. This was more of a minor hit for Foreigner, but it should have been a much bigger hit in my opinion. If you want some excellent edgy, beat-filled, melodic pure classic rock, then this is the album for you!! In this case, one should keep on playin' "Head Games!!!"

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".

After 2 incredible albums in a row, I guess anyone could be expected to have a dip in quality. As a band, Foreigner's playing remained top-notch. It's just that on their 3rd album, I didn't care much for the songs. "Love On the Telephone" and "Rev On The Red Line" are pretty good, but even after all these years the rest of them still just don't "do it" for me.

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!)

This Foreigner album did not get as much play as some of the "rockers" that most are familiar with. But it is quite good and deserves consideration if you are a Foreigner fan. The two tunes that got a lot of air time off this album, Head Games and Dirty White Boy, do not overshadow other good Foreigner licks, such as Seventeen, The Modern Day, Blinded by Science and Rev on the Red Line. Lou Gramm's vocals are an added plus and give some weight to this album.

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