Games People Play (The Alan Parsons Project song)
1980 single by The Alan Parsons Project
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"Games People Play" is a 1980 song by the Alan Parsons Project. It peaked at No. 16 on 14 March 1981 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart as well as No. 18 on Cash Box.[2][3] It appears on the album The Turn of a Friendly Card and was sung by Lenny Zakatek.
| "Games People Play" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by The Alan Parsons Project | ||||
| from the album The Turn of a Friendly Card | ||||
| B-side | "The Ace of Swords" | |||
| Released | November 1980[1] | |||
| Length |
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| Label | Arista | |||
| Songwriters | Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson | |||
| Producers | Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson | |||
| The Alan Parsons Project singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Games People Play" on YouTube | ||||
Single version
The single version of the song features two edits, one during the instrumental section preceding the guitar solo, and another shortening the guitar solo. It is also sped up slightly. The "single edit" included on the deluxe anniversary edition of The Turn of a Friendly Card from 2015 is edited differently and presented at the original pitch, so it is not the actual single version.
Critical reception
Record World wrote that the song's "irresistible keyboard melodies play with the rhythm [sic] drive."[4] Billboard called "Games People Play" an "uptempo track", adding that the "hook is incredibly infectious and [the] twin guitar work midway through adds extra bite."[5]
Personnel
- Ian Bairnson – guitars
- David Paton – bass guitar
- Eric Woolfson – keyboards
- Alan Parsons – Projectron
- Stuart Elliott – drums, percussion
- Lenny Zakatek – lead and backing vocals
- Chris Rainbow – backing vocals
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| United States | November 1980 |
| United Kingdom | January 1981 |