FOREIGNER – Revisiting Their 1979 Album: Head Games
FOREIGNER – Back in 1979, I was exiting seventh grade in the Spring and entering eighth grade for the coming Fall season. I turned thirteen years of age in January of 1979, kicking off this memorable year as a teen. I used to think the world was mine for the pickings back then… I know much better now. One album that was released back in 1979 was definitely mine for the pickings though, it was Head Games by the forever steady and legendary Foreigner. Head Games was the third studio album from Foreigner, released on Atlantic Records.
When I realized my mother was going to buy me this album, as a reward for doing yard work and other chores, I was ecstatic. You see, Foreigner would be the very first band where I owned every one of their albums! Fortunately for me, Foreigner did not have an extensive catalog of albums back then, so corralling their first three releases was not a difficult task… I just had to earn these albums. Let me tell you this much, I did feel like a big shot and a tad cocky among my school buddies back then, due to my Foreigner loyalty in owning all three of their albums. I chuckle about it now for did it really matter? I guess it did matter at that age.
With albums being such a rare gift or reward for me, (back in 1979 that is), I kept this Head Games album in ultra mint condition. Yes, I did play Head Games like the cows were coming home to fart. I played this album and made certain that my favorite song Dirty White Boy was cranked up the loudest. Being thirteen and turning up the volume to Dirty White Boy, with my bedroom windows open during the warm days, so the neighbors could hear it, was my big idea of rebellion. Yes, I thought I was a rebel by doing that. Metal be thy name.
The big hit was the title track of course and Head Games was played on FM radio all the time back in ’79. I remember like it was yesterday, the ostrich bumps I would get up and down my arms and face whenever I played this song loud… or heard it on the FM dial. Um, I still kinda get ostrich bumps from this song… kinda. Rev on the Red Line is another song on Head Games that never lost it’s Classic Rock cool to my ears… it plays out so smooth and flows so well, while holding it’s hard edge.
Back in ’79, I considered Head Games to be my third favorite Foreigner album, behind their debut/self-titled from 1977 and Double Vision from 1978. I still feel this way. (Double Vision is hands down, my favorite Foreigner album ever). Yes, I do hold fond memories for this Foreigner album. I can remember the album cover giving off the “wow factor” to us kids back then, now I can only shrug and chuckle at it’s classic innocence.
I was into Lou Gramm’s vocals before I ever knew who Joe Lynn Turner was. I was into Foreigner before I can honestly say I was really into Black Sabbath. In reality, thirteen was the age I was during this year of ’79, which was part of the beginning years of my journey, a Rock music journey toward discovering more bands and albums that I could ever dream of. Head Games is an album I will always consider to be a building block of my lifetime infatuation with Hard Rock and yes… Metal.
FOREIGNER as they appeared on Head Games:
Lou Gramm – vocals
Mick Jones – guitar
Rick Wills – bass
Ian McDonald – guitar
Al Greenwood – keyboards
Dennis Elliott – drums
Track Listing For Head Games:
Dirty White Boy
Love on the Telephone
I’ll Get Even With You
Seventeen
Head Games
The Modern Day
Blinded By Science
Do What You Like
Rev on the Red Line
* One nifty fact about Foreigner: Guitarist (multi-instrumentalist) Ian McDonald was a founding member of the legendary Progressive Rock band: King Crimson.
* For more info on FOREIGNER, click on this link: FOREIGNER
The word “nifty” was used in this Metal Odyssey post. Um, yup.
LONG LIVE FOREIGNER.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
April 30, 2011 at 4:41 am
I loved this album back then too. I was a young private just out of boot camp in the marines. I also love the 2 songs you mention. It just goes to show that 1979 was the year the dam began to burst in rock terms.
April 30, 2011 at 10:39 am
I agree… 1979 was “that kind of year” with music where you can point it out and make such a statement. Can we even go so far as to call the first 3 Foreigner albums as “timeless”? I know I can!
Rock Steady – \m/
April 30, 2011 at 8:40 am
Great post dude! I was and still am into Head Games. In fact, I’ve been spinning the remastered cd a lot this spring. I was about to turn 14 when that album came out and it’s still my favorite Foreigner disc. I have it on LP, cassette, and cd now, which I believe is the true test of how much a slab of music means to me or anyone else for that matter.
April 30, 2011 at 10:35 am
Thanks Ric! You are so correct about your last thought. When you can hold onto three different ways to play “Head Games” after all these decades, then that is an album that means something to you. “A true test” is the best way you summed it up.
I look over my cassette collection all the time and can’t bring myself to let ’em go for nothing. I’ll never part with a favorite slab of vinyl ever again either! (I’ve learned my lesson there). Thanks for sharing your story and Rock Steady –
– Stone \m/
April 30, 2011 at 11:38 am
I never had this album. But I remember the cover art…it was scandalous back in ’79—at least it was to me back then since I was only nine years old in 1979.
I did have Foreigner’s greatest hits album “Records” with the songs “Head Games”, “Dirty White Boy” among their other hits.
My favorite Foreigner songs are “Head Games”, “Cold As Ice” and “Double Vision”.
April 30, 2011 at 3:47 pm
I remember that Foreigner “Records” album. I never bought it because I had every album of theirs, up to that point in time. Isn’t it amazing, what was considered “scandalous” then compared to what is so widely accepted now?
Did you know: That the legendary Ian Lloyd sang backing vocals on “Cold As Ice” and “Double Vision”? Check out Ian Lloyd if you want to with this link: http://www.myspace.com/ianlloydstories
April 30, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Ha – I had that one too.
Speaking of the cover – yup, my mom was not too happy about it. Haha – some of my “chores” included yard work (i.e. pulling weeds) as well! hilarious…
*I guess we were mini-human weed eaters in the 70’s.
I agree, this LP is not as good as the first couple, but still jams nonetheless…
Kinger
Pro-Weedeater
Demolish Mag.
April 30, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Right on Kinger… “chores” were my way of getting an album here and there. As for the album cover, my mom allowed “Head Games” in the house, yet within another year she “finally” approved KISS “Alive II” and all Heavy Metal for that matter. God rest her soul, I miss her!
Yes… “mini-human weed eaters” is an appropriate way to look at it. I’ll also add that we were legal child landscaping slaves of the ’70’s. Now, a parent would probably get arrested for having their child (gasp) work in the yard for any material reward. There’s probably attorneys out there looking to represent kids that are asked to “help out” or do “chores” around the house this day and age!
May 2, 2011 at 4:35 pm
I used to have this album on vinyl and bought it used many years after its release and late last year replaced it on CD, love this album, the album cover was one of those that everybody understood the double meaning of it, but my naive ass did not! But I was only 9 in 1979 so I guess I can be forgiven for that.
May 4, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Your forgiven at that age Manny. Heck, back in 1979, I still didn’t know “exactly” how babies were even made! Hint: I was a parochial school captive, um, I mean student. Foreigner has made some great albums over the years. I’m glad Mick Jones has kept the band moving forward (regardless of lineup changes) and it’s identifiable “sound” all these decades.
June 18, 2013 at 10:38 pm
Great post and great memories. There was nothing like breaking the seal on a new album, getting that first whiff of vinyl, carefully placing it on your turntable and cranking it up. And yes, opening your bedroom window for the neighbors to hear how cool your music was.
I have always loved Foreigner and finally got to see them live in ’95 along with REO. Few years past their prime but they put on a great show.
June 18, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Thanks Phil! It’s still grand that you did get to see Foreigner ‘live’ back then. As I believe, it’s never too late to see our bands ‘live’ (regardless of lineup changes) cause these are the bands that have given our lives joy!
I’m actually going to see Loverboy and Night Ranger together in July and I’ve never seen Night Ranger ‘live’ yet! Loverboy actually tore-it-up ‘Live’ back in the 80’s, they were great.
I chuckle now… cause I can still remember my neighbors yelling at me to “turn that damn stereo down!”… and that was years before I was into Death Metal. LOL!! \m/\m/
August 6, 2013 at 8:05 pm
I bought this album when it was first released. I was 12 years old. The song that made me buy it in the first place was “Dirty White Boy.”
August 7, 2013 at 1:00 pm
RIGHT ON!! I had bought (with my mom’s money) the 45rpm of ‘Dirty White Boy’ before I ‘earned’ the ‘Head Games’ album! I had to mow the lawn and weed the garden a few times to deserve it!! LOL!! \m/\m/