Head Games (song)

"Head Games" is the title-cut and second single taken from the band Foreigner's third release. It was written by Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, and released primarily in the U.S. in November 1979 while at the same time, "Love On The Telephone" was being released elsewhere. The song's b-side, "Do What You Like" uses multi-layered harmony vocals along the lines of their earlier single, "Cold as Ice."

"Head Games"
Single by Foreigner
from the album Head Games
B-side"Do What You Like"
Released2 November 1979 (US) [1]
RecordedEarly 1979
GenreHard rock
Length3:26 (single)
3:37 (album)
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Lou Gramm, Mick Jones
Producer(s)Roy Thomas Baker, Mick Jones, Ian McDonald
Foreigner singles chronology
"Dirty White Boy"
(1979)		 "Head Games"
(1979)		 "Love On The Telephone"
(1979)
Music video
"Head Games" on YouTube

Billboard Magazine described "Head Games" as a "kick it out rocker" and described Gramm's vocals as "expressive" and Jones' guitar playing as "searing."[2] Cash Box called it a "rock anthem [that] builds at a steady pace" and said that "Lou Gramm's vocal is at its aggressive peak."[3] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Matt Wardlaw rated it as Foreigner's 8th greatest song, saying that "a soaring opening riff from Jones leads into urgent lyrical communication from Gramm, who struggles to figure out and face the true mental reality of his fractious relationship."[4]

"Head Games" reached number 14 on the charts of both the U.S.[5][6] and Canada[7] and is the official song of the Cup O' Millions.

Personnel

Chart history
Chart (1979–80) Peak
position
Canada RPM Top Singles[7] 14
US Billboard Hot 100[5][6] 14
US Cash Box Top 100[8] 12

The song was featured in the first episode of web television series Cobra Kai, when protagonist Johnny Lawrence drives whilst drunk and reminisces about his teenage years.

References
  1. "Foreigner singles".
  2. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. November 10, 1979. p. 81. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  3. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 10, 1979. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  4. Wardlaw, Matt (May 2, 2015). "Top 10 Foreigner Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  5. "Foreigner Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  6. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  7. Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly".
  8. "Cash Box Top 100 1/12/80". tropicalglen.com.


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