Games People Play (Joe South song)


"Games People Play" is a song written, composed, and performed by American singer-songwriter Joe South, released in August 1968, that won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

History

"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. Billboard favorably reviewed the song some three months after its release and eight weeks before it finally reached the Hot 100.
The song was released on South's debut album Introspect and as a single, reaching #12 on the Hot 100. It was also a #6 hit in the UK in 1969, #4 in Ireland, and won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Song and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
The distinctive guitar in the opening is played on a Danelectro electric sitar, 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 charts, 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 #2 on the country charts.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Inner Circle version

"Games People Play" was covered by Inner Circle on their 1994 album, Reggae Dancer. It reached #84 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #51 on Cash Box. It reached the Top 10 in parts of Europe, but did best in New Zealand, where it peaked at number four.

Chart history

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Other versions

Canadian singer Renée Martel recorded a French-language cover version in 1969.
American saxophonist King Curtis recorded an instrument cover version with guitarist Duane Allman February 19, 1969 at FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Don Gibson covered "Games People Play" on his 1970 album, Hits, The Don Gibson Way.
The Everly Brothers included the song as part of a medley on their 1970 live album The Everly Brothers Show.
Jazz vocalist Johnny Hartman covered the song on his 1972 album Today.
Sami Jo covered the song on her debut LP in 1974.
The Georgia Satellites covered "Games People Play" on their 1989 album, In the Land of Salvation and Sin.
Tesla covered "Games People Play" on their 1994 album, Bust a Nut.
"Games People Play" has also been covered by Jeannie C. Riley, Bob Andy, The Israelites, Lynn Anderson, King Curtis, Lee Dorsey, Dick Gaughan, Bettye LaVette, Lissie, Dolly Parton, Billie Jo Spears, Mel Tormé, Conway Twitty, Arlen Roth, Joe Dolan, Petula Clark, Merle Haggard, Don Williams, and Emily Rose.
In 2019, Elvis Costello performed "Games People Play" publicly for the first time as a medley with his song "Different Finger."
In 1968, The Road, a band consisting of RAF servicemen based at RAF Tengah in Singapore, recorded the song on an EP on the Decca label.