Foreign Affairs is the fourth studio album by New Zealand singer and songwriter Sharon O'Neill.

[1] 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".

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.

[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.