1983 Sharon O’Neill ‎– Foreign Affairs

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

BassScott Chambers
DrumsMike Botts
GuitarBrent Thomas
RhodesSharon O’Neill
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
PercussionBobbye Hall
TambourinePaul Grupp
Background VocalsMarcy Levy
Background VocalsKarla Bonoff
Background VocalsTommy Funderburk
VocalsSharon O’Neill


2 Maxine

BassBob Glaub
DrumsMike Baird
GuitarBrent Thomas
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
WurlitzerSharon O’Neill
CongasBobbye Hall
Background VocalsArnold McCuller
Background VocalsDavid Lasley
Background VocalsCarmen Grillo
VocalsSharon O’Neill


3 One Of A Crowd

BassScott Chambers
DrumsMike Botts
GuitarBrent Thomas
RhodesSharon O’Neill
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
Background VocalsMarcy Levy
Background VocalsKarla Bonoff
Background VocalsTimothy B Schmit
VocalsSharon O’Neill


4 Radio Lover

BassBob Glaub
DrumsMike Baird
GuitarBrent Thomas
PianoSharon O’Neill
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
TambourinePaul Grupp
Background VocalsKarla Bonoff
Background VocalsMarcy Levy
Background VocalsTommy Funderburk
VocalsSharon O’Neill


5 Kids In Our Town

BassScott Chambers
DrumsMike Botts
GuitarBrent Thomas
PianoSharon O’Neill
CongasBobbye Hall
TambourinePaul Grupp
Background VocalsMarcy Levy
Background VocalsTimothy B Schmit
VocalsSharon O’Neill


6 Losing You

BassScott Chambers
DrumsMike Botts
GuitarBrent Thomas
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
SynthesizerMichael Boddicker
VocoderMichael Boddicker
SaxTom Scott
PercussionBrent Thomas
Background VocalsTommy Funderburk
Background VocalsTom Kelly
VocalsSharon O’Neill


7 I’ve Got You To Thank

BassBob Glaub
DrumsMike Baird
Guitar (solo)Andrew Gold
GuitarBrent Thomas
Hammond OrganBill Payne
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
Background VocalsMarcy Levy
Background VocalsTimothy B Schmit
VocalsSharon O’Neill


8 Take The Fall

BassBob Glaub
DrumsMike Baird
Guitar (solo)Andrew Gold
GuitarBrent Thomas
RhodesSharon O’Neill
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
Background VocalsTimothy B Schmit
Background VocalsMarcy Levy
VocalsSharon O’Neill


9 Hearts On The Run

BassScott Chambers
DrumsMike Botts
GuitarBrent Thomas
SynthesizerSharon O’Neill
SynthesizerMichael Boddicker
VocalsSharon O’Neill
Background VocalsMarcy Levy
Background VocalsTimothy B Schmit
Background VocalsDon Henley
VocalsSharon O’Neill


10 All The Way Down

KeyboardsSharon O’Neill
VocalsSharon O’Neill

Liner Notes

Producer – Dino Fekaris, Freddie Perren
Arranged By (Horns, Strings) – Pete Robinson (Tracks 1, 8)
Arranged By (Horns, Strings) – Gene Page (Tracks 2, 5)
Arranged By (Horns, Strings) – David Blumberg (Tracks 3, 4, 6, 7)
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Freddie Perren
Arranged By (Rhythm) – Eddie Sierra (Track 6)
Contractor – Benjamin Barrett
Engineer (Recording, Remix) – Pete Bishop
Engineer (Assistant) – David Goldstein

Photography – Norman Seeff

Mastered At Crystal Sound Recording Studio
Recorded At The Mom & Pops Co Store Inc, Studio City, CA
Remixed At The Mom & Pops Co Store Inc, Studio City, CA
Phonographic Copyright Polydor Incorporated
Copyright Polydor