Games People Play (The Alan Parsons Project song)

"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. It appears on the album The Turn of a Friendly Card and was sung by Lenny Zakatek.

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." 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."

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 Chart (1980–1981)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 95Canada Top 100 (RPM) 9US Billboard Hot 100 16

Year-end charts Year-end chart (1981) RankUS Top Pop Singles (Billboard)66Canada (RPM) 90

Release history Country Date United States November 1980 United Kingdom January 1981

References