Games People Play (Joe South song)

Last updated
"Games People Play"
Games People Play - Joe South.jpg
Single by Joe South
from the album Introspect
B-side "Mirror of Your Mind"
ReleasedAugust 1968
Genre Folk rock, country rock, psychedelic rock, raga rock
Length3:34
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Joe South
Producer(s) Joe South
Joe South singles chronology
"Birds of a Feather"
(1968)		"Games People Play"
(1968)		"Don't It Make You Want to Go Home"
(1969)
Official audio
"Games People Play" (Remastered 2002) on YouTube

"Games People Play" is a song written, composed, and performed by American singer-songwriter Joe South, released in August 1968. [1] It entered the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1969 and won the 1970 Grammy Awards for both Best Contemporary Song and the Song of the Year. [2]

Contents

Release

"Games People Play" is a protest song whose lyrics speak against various forms of hatred, hypocrisy, inhumanity, intolerance, and irresponsibility, in both interpersonal and social interactions between people.[ citation needed ] Billboard favorably reviewed the song some three months after its release and eight weeks before it finally reached the Hot 100. [3]

The song was released on South's debut album Introspect and as a single, reaching No. 12 on the Hot 100. [4] It was also a No. 6 hit in the UK in 1969, No. 4 in Ireland, and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. [2]

The distinctive guitar in the opening is played on a Danelectro electric sitar, [5] which can be seen in a video recorded to support South's album Introspect. Concurrent with South's version of the song on the pop chart, Freddy Weller, guitarist for Paul Revere and the Raiders, released a country version of the song in 1969 as his debut single; this rendition spent two weeks at No. 2 on the Country Chart. [6]

Charts

Inner Circle version

"Games People Play"
Inner Circle-Games People Play.jpg
Single by Inner Circle
from the album Reggae Dancer
Released1994
Genre Reggae
Length3:26
Label WEA
Songwriter(s) Joe South
Producer(s)
  • Touter Harvey
  • Ian Lewis
Inner Circle singles chronology
"Sweat (A La La La La Long)"
(1992)		"Games People Play"
(1994)		"Summer Jammin'"
(1994)
Music video
"Games People Play" on YouTube

"Games People Play" was covered by Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle on their 1994 album, Reggae Dancer. The song was released by WEA. In the US, it peaked at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 51 on the Cash Box Top 100. In Europe, it was successful, reaching the top 10 in several countries, like the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. The single reached its best chart position in Finland, where it peaked at number two. Outside Europe, it also hit number four in New Zealand. It's music video was directed by Mathias Julien.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote:

"Reggae outfit is once again ready for top 40 picking with this rendition of Joe South's 1969 hit. Although band has many of its own solid songs to offer, there is no denying that reggae clicks with pop programmers faster when wrapped around a familiar tune. Once attitudes change in the mainstream, then maybe we'll get more original singles. In the meantime, enjoy Inner Circle's deft musicianship and charming vocals." [20]

Alan Jones from Music Week deemed it "another reggae cover of little significance but great potential", adding that this version "is bright, bouncy and competent. It's already a huge hit in Europe, and an MTV staple, so UK success seems simply a matter of time." [21] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave the song four out of five, saying, "If everything in Life was as reliable as Inner Circle. Every summer they seem to come up with the perfect smiley reggae record." He described it as "a bounce-along beach party of a choon with a, erm, "NA NA NA" chorus. Unbeatable as a soundtrack for beach volleyball – and as big a hit as their lard-tub guitarist." [22]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Mathias Julien. [23] It features the band performing on the beach. Other times they perform in a boat. Julien had previously directed the video for the band's 1992 hit, "Sweat (A La La La La Long)".

Track listing

  1. "Games People Play" (Radio Edit) – 3:26
  2. "Games People Play" (Miami Mix) – 3:55
  3. "Games People Play" (Big Game Dub) – 5:07
  4. "Games People Play" (Extended Version) – 5:40

Charts

Other cover versions

"Games People Play" has been covered by, at least, 39 artists in total, [49] including by: [49]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twist and Shout</span> 1961 R&B song

"Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns. It was originally recorded by The Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers in 1962. The song has been covered by several artists, including the Beatles, Salt-N-Pepa, and Chaka Demus & Pliers, who experienced chart success with their versions.

"Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & the Aces, reaching the top of the charts in numerous countries in 1969. Sung in Jamaican Patois, some of the song's lyrics were not readily understood by many British and American listeners at the time of its release. Despite this, the single was the first UK reggae #1 and among the first to reach the US top ten. It combined the Rastafarian religion with rude boy concerns, to make what has been described by Allmusic as a "timeless masterpiece that knew no boundaries".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Help Falling in Love</span> 1961 single by Elvis Presley

"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the album Blue Hawaii (1961). It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss and published by Gladys Music, Inc. The melody is based on "Plaisir d'amour", a popular French love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Égide Martini. The song was initially written from the perspective of a woman as "Can't Help Falling in Love with Him", which explains the first and third line ending on "in" and "sin" rather than words rhyming with "you".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cat's in the Cradle</span> 1974 single by Harry Chapin

"Cat's in the Cradle" is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash. The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1974. As Chapin's only number-one song, it became the best known of his work and a staple for folk rock music. Chapin's recording of the song was nominated for the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)</span> 1974 single by MFSB featuring The Three Degrees

"TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" is a 1974 hit recording by MFSB featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. A classic example of the Philadelphia soul genre, it was written by Gamble and Huff as the theme for the American musical television program Soul Train, which specialized in African American musical performers. The single was released on the Philadelphia International Records label. It was the first television theme song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and it is arguably the first disco song to reach that position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sign (song)</span> 1993 single by Ace of Base

"The Sign" is a song by Swedish group Ace of Base from their first North American studio album, The Sign (1993), and their re-released debut studio album, Happy Nation (1992), titled Happy Nation . The song was released by Arista and Mega as a single in Europe on 1 November 1993 and the US on 14 December 1993. It was written by band member Jonas Berggren, who also produced the song with Denniz Pop and Douglas Carr. "The Sign" is a techno-reggae, Europop, and pop ballad with lyrics describing a couple contemplating the state of their relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Red Wine</span> 1967 single by Neil Diamond

"Red Red Wine" is a song originally written, performed and recorded by American singer Neil Diamond in 1967 that appears on his second studio album, Just for You. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a person who finds that drinking red wine is the only way to forget his woes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inner Circle (band)</span> Jamaican reggae band

Inner Circle, also known as The Inner Circle Band or The Bad Boys of Reggae, are a Jamaican reggae band formed in Kingston in 1968. The band first backed The Chosen Few in the early 1970s before joining with successful solo artist Jacob Miller and releasing a string of records. This era of the band ended with Miller's death in a car crash in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All That She Wants</span> 1992 single by Ace of Base

"All That She Wants" is a song by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released in Scandinavia in August 1992 by Mega Records as the second single from the group's first studio album, Happy Nation (1992), and in the following year, it was released as the first single from the 1993 album The Sign in North America. Produced by Denniz Pop with group members Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, the drum beat was inspired by the Kayo song "Another Mother". Berggren and Ekberg also wrote the lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Informer (song)</span> 1992 single by Snow

"Informer" is a song by Canadian reggae musician Snow, released in December 1992 as the first single from his debut album, 12 Inches of Snow (1993). The song is well known for the line "a licky boom boom down" and for Snow's fast toasting and often unintelligible lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can See Clearly Now</span> Song by Johnny Nash

"I Can See Clearly Now" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Johnny Nash. It was the lead single from his album, I Can See Clearly Now (1972), and achieved success in the United States and the United Kingdom when it was released in 1972, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box charts. It also reached number one in Canada and South Africa. The song has been covered by many artists throughout the years, including a hit version by Lee Towers that reached no. 19 in the Dutch Top 40 in 1982, and another recorded by Jimmy Cliff for the motion picture soundtrack of Cool Runnings that peaked at no. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything I Own</span> 1972 single by Bread

"Everything I Own" is a song written by American singer-songwriter David Gates. It was originally recorded by Gates's soft rock band Bread for their 1972 album Baby I'm-a Want You. The original reached No. 5 on the American Billboard Hot 100. Billboard ranked it as the No. 52 song for 1972. "Everything I Own" also reached No. 5 in Canada and No. 1 in the Philippines.

"Don't Turn Around" is a popular song written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren. It was originally recorded by American singer Tina Turner and released as the B-side to her 1986 hit single "Typical Male". It has since been included on Turner's compilation album The Collected Recordings: Sixties to Nineties (1994), as well as featuring in the Tina musical since 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living in Danger</span> 1994 single by Ace of Base

"Living in Danger" is a song recorded by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released in October 1994 by Arista and Mega as the seventh and final single from the group's debut album, Happy Nation and fourth single from their American debut release, The Sign (1993). Written by bandmembers Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg, the single peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in December 1994. On the US Cash Box Top 100, it peaked at number ten. The single later reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1995. Its music video was directed by Matt Broadley and filmed in Stockholm, Sweden. Ace of Base performed the song on the first ever MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin, Germany in 1994. Q Magazine included "Living in Danger" in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby, I Love Your Way</span> 1975 single by Peter Frampton

"Baby, I Love Your Way" is a song written and performed by English singer Peter Frampton, released as a single in September 1975. It first featured on Frampton's 1975 album, Frampton, where it segues from the previous track "Nassau".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweat (A La La La La Long)</span> 1992 single by Inner Circle

"Sweat (A La La La La Long)" is a song by Jamaican reggae fusion group Inner Circle, released in July 1992 as the lead single from their twelfth album, Bad to the Bone (1992). It was a number-one hit in Belgium, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe. The accompanying music video, depicting the group on the beach, was directed by Mathias Julien. Australian music channel Max included "Sweat" in their list "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2017.

"It Keeps Rainin'" is a song recorded by Fats Domino in 1961 and written by Domino, Dave Bartholomew and Bobby Charles. It was released in the US on Imperial 5753, and in the UK on London HLP-9374, as the B-side of "I Just Cry". The song was covered by Bitty McLean in 1993, becoming a chart success in Europe and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love of the Common People</span> 1967 single by The Four Preps

"Love of the Common People" is a song written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, eventually released in 1970 on John Hurley's album John Hurley Sings about People, but first sung in January 1967 by the Four Preps. The Four Preps' recording was not a hit, but, later in 1967, the Everly Brothers and Wayne Newton would each issue their versions of the song, both of which "bubbled under" in the US charts; Newton's version peaked at No. 106, the Everlys' at No. 114. However, the Everly Brothers' recording was a major hit in Canada, peaking at No. 4. In 1968, Irish artist Joe Dolan and backing grouping the Drifters recorded a version which hit the top 10 on the Irish Singles Chart, but did not chart elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)</span> 1994 single by Dawn Penn

"You Don't Love Me " is a song by Jamaican recording artist Dawn Penn, released in February 1994 by Big Beat as the first single from her first studio album, No, No, No (1994). The song's lyrics are credited to Penn, Bo Diddley and Willie Cobbs, and production was handled by Steely & Clevie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Boys (Inner Circle song)</span> 1987 single by Inner Circle

"Bad Boys" is a 1987 song by the Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle, which gained high popularity in the United States after its re-release in 1993, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Top 40 Mainstream. It is the opening theme to the American TV show Cops and the theme song of the Bad Boys franchise.

References

  1. ↑ "Games People Play / Mirror of Your Mind - Joe South". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
  2. 1 2 "Joe South". Grammy.org. 23 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "Spotlight Singles: Special Merit Spotlight" (PDF). Billboard. 1968-11-16. p. 74. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  4. ↑ "Games People Play (song by Joe South)". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  5. ↑ Thom Hickey (2016-02-01). "Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin & Elvis all revered Joe South : Games People Play". The Immortal Jukebox. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 379.
  7. ↑ "Joe South – Games People Play" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Joe South – Games People Play" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Games People Play". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  10. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Joe South" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Joe South – Games People Play" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "Joe South – Games People Play". VG-lista. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989" . Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  14. ↑ "Joe South: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  15. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  16. ↑ "RPM Top Singles of 1969". Library and Archives Canada . RPM. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1969". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  18. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969 | Music Outfitters". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969". Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  20. ↑ Flick, Larry (August 13, 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . p. 61. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  21. ↑ Jones, Alan (September 3, 1994). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week . p. 18. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  22. ↑ Sutherland, Mark (August 17, 1994). "New Singles". Smash Hits . p. 51. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Games People Play by Inner Circle". IMVDb.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  24. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 137.
  25. ↑ "Inner Circle – Games People Play" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Inner Circle – Games People Play" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media . August 6, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media . September 24, 1994. p. 24. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  29. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Inner Circal". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 221. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Inner Circle – Games People Play" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Inner Circle" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Inner Circle – Games People Play" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Inner Circle – Games People Play". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Inner Circle – Games People Play". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Inner Circle – Games People Play". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Inner Circle: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 10 September 1994. p. 30. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  38. ↑ "Inner Circle Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . December 24, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved May 27, 2022– via World Radio History.
  40. ↑ "Border Breakers" (PDF). Music & Media . December 24, 1994. p. 8. Retrieved May 27, 2022– via World Radio History.
  41. ↑ "EHR Top 40" (PDF). Music & Media . December 24, 1994. p. 6. Retrieved May 27, 2022– via World Radio History.
  42. ↑ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1995. p. 25. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  45. ↑ "JAAROVERZICHTEN - Single 1994". Dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  46. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  47. ↑ "Årslista Singlar, 1994" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  48. ↑ "SCHWEIZER JAHRESHITPARADE 1994". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  49. 1 2 "Covers of Games People Play by Joe South". WhoSampled . Retrieved May 13, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.