Foreign Affairs is the fourth studio album by New Zealand singer and songwriter Sharon O’Neill. It was O’Neill’s final studio album release on CBS. The album was certified Gold in New Zealand.
Late in 1981, O’Neill moved from New Zealand to Sydney, Australia to pursue her music career, where she wrote “Maxine”, a song that chronicled the life of a prostitute. In a 2016 interview, O’Neill said; “I was living in a hotel in Kings Cross when I got the inspiration to write “Maxine”. She was always out there working at 3am when we’d get home bleary-eyed from a gig”.
The album was produced by John Boylan with local studio musicians. O’Neill, asked afterward whether this was one of the more enjoyable recording sessions, she said no, “but it was a highlight for me because it was done on the West Coast of the USA with a very important person in my life at the time, John Boylan…, who was so enthusiastic over my songs and pulled it all together and pulled in so many friends. I was such a fan of these people who came and played on the album that I was shaking in my shoes when they came into the studio”. People who played on the album, she said, include Tom Scott, saxophonist with the ensemble L.A. Express, on “Maxine”; and David Lindley, the guitarist.
Tracks
1 Danger (Sharon O’ Neill) 4:03
2 Maxine (Sharon O’ Neill) 4:28
3 One of a Crowd (Sharon O’ Neill) 4:08
4 Radio Lover (Sharon O’ Neill) 3:43
5 Kids in Our Town (Sharon O’ Neill) 3:52
6 Losing You (Sharon O’ Neill) 3:55
7 I’ve Got You to Thank (Sharon O’ Neill) 4:27
8 Take The Fall (Sharon O’ Neill) 4:21
9 Hearts on The Run (Sharon O’ Neill) 3:46
10 All The Way Down (Sharon O’ Neill) 1:55
Musicians
1 Danger
Bass | Scott Chambers |
Drums | Mike Botts |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Rhodes | Sharon O’Neill |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Percussion | Bobbye Hall |
Tambourine | Paul Grupp |
Background Vocals | Marcy Levy |
Background Vocals | Karla Bonoff |
Background Vocals | Tommy Funderburk |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
2 Maxine
Bass | Bob Glaub |
Drums | Mike Baird |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Wurlitzer | Sharon O’Neill |
Congas | Bobbye Hall |
Background Vocals | Arnold McCuller |
Background Vocals | David Lasley |
Background Vocals | Carmen Grillo |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
3 One Of A Crowd
Bass | Scott Chambers |
Drums | Mike Botts |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Rhodes | Sharon O’Neill |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Background Vocals | Marcy Levy |
Background Vocals | Karla Bonoff |
Background Vocals | Timothy B Schmit |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
4 Radio Lover
Bass | Bob Glaub |
Drums | Mike Baird |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Piano | Sharon O’Neill |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Tambourine | Paul Grupp |
Background Vocals | Karla Bonoff |
Background Vocals | Marcy Levy |
Background Vocals | Tommy Funderburk |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
5 Kids In Our Town
Bass | Scott Chambers |
Drums | Mike Botts |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Piano | Sharon O’Neill |
Congas | Bobbye Hall |
Tambourine | Paul Grupp |
Background Vocals | Marcy Levy |
Background Vocals | Timothy B Schmit |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
6 Losing You
Bass | Scott Chambers |
Drums | Mike Botts |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Synthesizer | Michael Boddicker |
Vocoder | Michael Boddicker |
Sax | Tom Scott |
Percussion | Brent Thomas |
Background Vocals | Tommy Funderburk |
Background Vocals | Tom Kelly |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
7 I’ve Got You To Thank
Bass | Bob Glaub |
Drums | Mike Baird |
Guitar (solo) | Andrew Gold |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Hammond Organ | Bill Payne |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Background Vocals | Marcy Levy |
Background Vocals | Timothy B Schmit |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
8 Take The Fall
Bass | Bob Glaub |
Drums | Mike Baird |
Guitar (solo) | Andrew Gold |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Rhodes | Sharon O’Neill |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Background Vocals | Timothy B Schmit |
Background Vocals | Marcy Levy |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
9 Hearts On The Run
Bass | Scott Chambers |
Drums | Mike Botts |
Guitar | Brent Thomas |
Synthesizer | Sharon O’Neill |
Synthesizer | Michael Boddicker |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
Background Vocals | Marcy Levy |
Background Vocals | Timothy B Schmit |
Background Vocals | Don Henley |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
10 All The Way Down
Keyboards | Sharon O’Neill |
Vocals | Sharon O’Neill |
Liner Notes
Producer – John Boylan
Engineer – Paul Grupp
Mastered By – Wally Traugott
Recording Assistant – Ray Leonard, Rick Butz, Eddie Delena
Copyright (c) – April Music Pty. Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Productions Pty. Limited
Copyright (c) – CBS Productions Pty. Limited
Published By – April Music Pty. Ltd.
Mixed At – United Western Studios
Recorded at Sound City, Van Nuys, CA
Recorded at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA