"Head Games" is the third studio album by the British-American rock band Foreigner, released on September 11, 1979, by Atlantic Records. The album was recorded at Atlantic Studios in New York and mixed at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. It is notable for being the only Foreigner album co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who is renowned for his work on classic Queen albums.
"Head Games" marks the debut of new bass guitarist Rick Wills, who replaced Ed Gagliardi after Gagliardi's departure from the band. It also represents the final album featuring founding members Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood, who left the band following this recording. Additionally, the album includes the last lead vocal performance by guitarist Mick Jones on the track "The Modern Day."
The cover of Foreigner's "Head Games" features American actress and film producer Lisanne Falk. The artwork, which depicts a teenage girl looking alarmed in a boys' restroom, faced criticism from feminists. The image suggests she might be relieving herself using a urinal, which some interpreted as inappropriate. Foreigner's lead singer Lou Gramm described the cover as intended to be whimsical, likening it to a cartoon where the girl is caught in the act of erasing graffiti. Miami Herald critic Bill Ashton noted that the cover art plays on the album's title, "Head Games," while Atlantic Records' Stuart Ginsburg explained that "head" is a slang term for a bathroom. Media coordinator Susan Steinberg emphasized that the girl’s reaction was meant to convey shock at the graffiti, rather than suggesting any attack.
In August 1979, Foreigner's album Head Games was preceded by the release of its first single, "Dirty White Boy," which achieved notable success by reaching number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album itself bolstered Foreigner's popularity, climbing to number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and earning a Platinum certification within four months of its release. Head Games has since achieved a 5× Platinum status, indicating sales of at least 5 million copies in the United States. Following the success of "Dirty White Boy," the album's next singles, "Head Games" and "Women," peaked at numbers 14 and 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
