The song that gave us our name. Released 1979 on the album Head Games.
"Head Games" is the title track from Foreigner's third studio album, released in 1979. It peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and represents a harder, edgier turn for the band following their pop-rock debut and the platinum success of Double Vision. The song is about manipulation in relationships — the psychological games people play — delivered with a swagger and directness that set the tone for the album. It's also the song that gave Head Games, Atlanta's premier Foreigner tribute band, its name.
Written by Mick Jones and Lou Gramm, "Head Games" deals with emotional manipulation — someone who plays games with other people's feelings for their own amusement. The phrase "head games" captures that concept perfectly: psychological manipulation dressed up as a relationship. It's a universal frustration distilled into a rock song, and the directness of the lyric is what gives it staying power. No metaphors, no abstractions — just the raw experience of dealing with someone who treats your emotions like a toy.
Musically, the song marks Foreigner's conscious shift toward a heavier, more guitar-driven sound. Jones wanted the third album to have more edge, less polish — a reaction to perceptions that Foreigner was becoming too commercial after the massive success of "Hot Blooded" and "Double Vision." "Head Games" the song announces that intent from the opening riff. It's leaner, meaner, and more direct than anything on the first two records. The arrangement strips away the layered production of earlier work in favor of a raw, punchy attack that puts the guitar front and center.
The Head Games album was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, known for his work with Queen and The Cars. Baker brought a different energy to the studio — more experimental, more willing to push the band into unfamiliar territory. His production style emphasized clarity and power, allowing each instrument to occupy its own sonic space while maintaining the aggressive energy the band was pursuing.
The recording at Atlantic Studios captures a heavier Foreigner — dirtier guitar tones, a more aggressive rhythm section, and a rawer vocal approach from Gramm. The song features a distinctive stop-start riff pattern that creates tension and release throughout the track, and a chorus built on the repeated title phrase, driven home with increasing intensity each time it appears. Baker's approach let the band's natural aggression breathe rather than polishing it away, resulting in a recording that feels immediate and visceral.
The production choices on this track reflect the album's overall philosophy: less studio sheen, more room sound, and a willingness to let imperfections stand if they served the energy. It's a notably different sonic palette from the Foreigner records that came before, and Baker's fingerprints are all over that transformation.
"Head Games" peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 — a solid chart performance that confirmed the band could shift their sound without losing their audience. The Head Games album went on to achieve 5x platinum certification, proving that the harder, edgier direction was commercially viable and that Foreigner's fanbase was willing to follow them into heavier territory.
The song represented a transitional moment for Foreigner — heavier than their earlier material but not yet the synth-driven sound that would come with 4. It sits at an interesting crossroads in the band's evolution: too hard for soft-rock radio, too melodic for metal, and perfectly positioned to appeal to fans who wanted their rock with both hooks and teeth. It's become a fan favorite and deep-cut staple at concerts, and of course, it's the namesake of the tribute band you're reading about right now.
Culturally, "Head Games" entered the lexicon as a phrase synonymous with emotional manipulation — and while the expression predated the song, Foreigner's version cemented it in popular consciousness for an entire generation of rock fans. The album cover itself became iconic and controversial, further embedding the title in the cultural conversation of the late 1970s.
When it came time to choose a name for Atlanta's Foreigner tribute band, "Head Games" was the obvious choice. It captures everything the band wanted to communicate in two words: an instant association with Foreigner, classic rock credibility, and a swagger that fits a live rock performance. The name doesn't need explanation. If you know Foreigner, you know "Head Games." If you don't know Foreigner yet, the name still carries an attitude and edge that draws people in.
It's the one song in the catalog where the tribute band and the original share a direct identity connection. Other Foreigner songs are bigger hits — "I Want To Know What Love Is," "Juke Box Hero," "Waiting For A Girl Like You" — but none of them work as a band name the way "Head Games" does. It's punchy, memorable, and immediately signals what kind of show you're going to get: high-energy, guitar-driven classic rock with attitude.
Every time Head Games takes the stage, they're honoring not just the catalog but the specific attitude and energy that this song represents. The heavier sound, the directness, the swagger — that's what the tribute band delivers night after night. The name isn't just a label. It's a mission statement.
The title track carries special weight in the band's setlist — it's their namesake, and they treat it accordingly. When "Head Games" hits, there's an extra charge in the room. The audience knows what it means. The band knows what it means. It's the ultimate "we ARE this song" moment, and that energy is palpable from the first note of the riff.
The song's heavier groove and stop-start dynamics make it a showcase for the band's tightness as an ensemble. Every pause has to be locked in, every re-entry precise. There's no room to hide in a song built on tension and release — it either clicks perfectly or it doesn't. Head Games delivers it with the kind of precision that only comes from treating the song as sacred ground.
The audience often responds with extra energy when they hear it because of the direct connection to the band's name. There's a recognition moment — a shared understanding between stage and crowd that this isn't just another song in the set. It's the song. The one that started everything. And it hits different when the band playing it carries the same name.
Head Games brings the title track to life with the weight, precision, and swagger it demands. If you want to hear the song that gave this band its name — performed with the energy and commitment it deserves — check the tour schedule and come see for yourself.
"Head Games" is the title track from Foreigner's third studio album, also called Head Games, released in 1979. The album went on to achieve 5x platinum certification and marked a heavier direction for the band.
The Head Games album was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, known for his work with Queen and The Cars. Baker brought a more experimental, heavier approach to Foreigner's sound on this record.
The tribute band is named after this song because it provides an instant association with Foreigner, signals classic rock credibility, and carries a swagger that fits a live rock performance. It's the one song in the catalog where the tribute band and the original share a direct identity connection.
Yes. "Head Games" is a signature moment in the band's setlist. As the band's namesake song, it carries special weight and the audience often responds with extra energy because of the direct connection to the band's name.
Explore the stories behind more classic Foreigner tracks performed live by Head Games: