"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]
| "Games People Play" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Joe South | ||||
| from the album Introspect | ||||
| B-side | "Mirror of Your Mind" | |||
| Released | August 1968 | |||
| Genre | Folk rock, country rock, psychedelic rock, raga rock | |||
| Length | 3:34 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joe South | |||
| Producer(s) | Joe South | |||
| Joe South singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Games People Play" (Remastered 2002) on YouTube | ||||
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" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Inner Circle | ||||
| from the album Reggae Dancer | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 3:26 | |||
| Label | WEA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joe South | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Inner Circle singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| 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
- CD maxi, Europe (1994)
- "Games People Play" (Radio Edit) – 3:26
- "Games People Play" (Miami Mix) – 3:55
- "Games People Play" (Big Game Dub) – 5:07
- "Games People Play" (Extended Version) – 5:40
Charts
Year-end charts
| Chart (1994) | Rank |
|---|---|
| Europe Adult Contemporary (M&M)[39] | 16 |
| Europe Border Breakers (M&M)[40] | 5 |
| European Hit Radio (M&M)[41] | 24 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[42] | 95 |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[43] | 89 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[44] | 63 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[45] | 77 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music)[46] | 28 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[47] | 38 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] | 48 |
Other cover versions
"Games People Play" has been covered by, at least, 39 artists in total,[49] including by:[49]
- the Staple Singers
- Mel Torme
- Hank Williams Jr.
- Tesla
- Murray Head
- King Curtis, whose 1970 version also won a Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental
- Bill Haley & His Comets
- Johnnie Taylor
- the Georgia Satellites
- Lee Dorsey
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Petula Clark
- Dionne Warwick
- Deal's Gone Bad
- Dick Gaughan
- Lissie
- Waylon Jennings
- Jeannie C. Riley
- Nathan Abshire
- Conway Twitty
Popular culture
- The song was referenced in the lyrics to the Beach Boys' song "Games Two Can Play".