Foreign Affairs (Sharon O'Neill album)

Late in 1981, O'Neill moved from New Zealand to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia to pursue her music career,[2] where she wrote "Maxine", a song that chronicled the life of a prostitute.[3] 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".[2]

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".[4] 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.[4]

Three singles from the album charted: "Losing You" (#26 in Australia, Kent Music Report[5]); "Maxine" (#16 in Australia, Kent Music Report;[5] #16 in New Zealand[6]); and "Danger" (#78 in Australia, Kent Music Report[5]).

All tracks are written by Sharon O'Neill.[7]

Credits adapted from cassette liner notes, which omit the musicians on "All the Way Down."[7]

• Sharon O'Neill – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 5-7, 9), Rhodes piano (1, 3, 8), OB-Xa (1-4, 6-9), Wurlitzer piano (2), acoustic piano (4, 5), Prophet-5 (9)
• John Boylan – production
• Mike Baird – drums (2, 4, 7, 8)
• Michael Boddicker – Jupiter-8 (3, 6, 9), vocoder (6), Minimoog (9)
• Karla Bonoff – backing vocals (1, 3, 4)
• Mike Botts – drums (1, 3, 5, 6, 9)
• Scott Chambers – bass guitar (1, 3, 5, 6, 9)
• Bob Glaub – bass guitar (2, 4, 7, 8)
• Don Henley – backing vocals (9)
• Tommy Funderburk – backing vocals (1, 4, 6)
• Andrew Gold – guitar (7, 8)
• Carmen Grillo – backing vocals (2)
• Paul Grupp – tambourine (1, 3-5)
• Bobbye Hall – congas (1, 2, 5)
• Tom Kelly – backing vocals (6)
• David Lindley[note 1] – backing vocals (2)
• Marcella Levy – backing vocals (1, 3-5, 7-9)
• Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (2)
• Bill Payne – Hammond organ (7)
• Timothy B. Schmit - backing vocals (3, 5, 7-9)
• Tom Scott – saxophone (2, 3, 6)
• Brent Thomas – electric guitar (1-9), percussion (6)