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.^[2][3] It appears on the album The Turn of a Friendly Card and was sung by Lenny Zakatek.

"Games People Play"
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	4:23 (album) 3:17 (7-inch single)
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson
Producer(s)	Alan Parsons, Eric Woolfson
The Alan Parsons Project singles chronology
"The Turn of a Friendly Card" (1980) "Games People Play" (1980) "Time" (1981)
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.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980–1981)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4]	95
Canada Top 100 (RPM)[5]	9
US Billboard Hot 100	16

Year-end charts

Year-end chart (1981)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[6]	66
Canada (RPM)[7]	90

Release history

Country	Date
United States	November 1980
United Kingdom	January 1981