Games People Play

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove to some fascinating trivia about "Games People Play" by The Alan Parsons Project from their 1980 album The Turn of a Friendly Card. This high-tempo, rock-infused track, a standout in the band’s progressive catalog, was inspired by the glitzy gambling culture of Monte Carlo, where co-founders Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson lived during the album’s creation. In a 2019 interview with Songfacts, Parsons revealed that the song ties directly to the album’s gambling theme, exploring the strategies and mind games people play, both at the casino and in life. The track’s infectious energy comes from a unique looping device called the "projectron," invented by Parsons himself, which was used to control the tempo and became part of the final mix, giving it that hypnotic pulse you can’t resist.

Another cool tidbit comes from the song’s production process. According to the band’s official site, the main keyboard sound in "Games People Play" is a Hohner Clavinet with damped strings and a repeat echo, meticulously tuned despite the challenge of its short note duration. The song features Lenny Zakatek on lead vocals, whose powerful delivery made it a fan favorite, peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1981. A rough mix of the track, included in the deluxe anniversary edition, famously had “more cowbell,” a nod to the iconic Saturday Night Live sketch, as noted on the band’s site. Fans on Reddit have also praised the song’s lyrical depth, with one recovering gambling addict on r/progrockmusic calling the album’s gambling addiction theme emotionally resonant, citing the raw honesty in the lyrics.

The music video for "Games People Play," shot in Studio 2 at Abbey Road, is another gem. A post from the band’s official X account on December 1, 2024, highlighted how Zakatek and the core group—featuring Ian Bairnson on guitars, David Paton on bass, and Stuart Elliott on drums—brought the song to life visually. The video, recently remastered in HD, captures the band’s polished yet playful vibe. The song’s title also sparked debate among fans, with some, like a commenter on Songfacts, connecting it to Eric Berne’s psychology book Games People Play, which explores interpersonal headgames. However, Woolfson’s wife Hazel was reading the book at the time, and he adapted the title to fit the gambling narrative, as shared on the band’s website.

Now, let’s rewind to how The Alan Parsons Project got started. Formed in 1975 in London, the band was the brainchild of Alan Parsons, a renowned producer and audio engineer, and Eric Woolfson, a gifted songwriter and pianist. Parsons had already made waves in the music world, working as an assistant engineer on The Beatles’ Abbey Road and Let It Be, and engineering Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. Woolfson, meanwhile, was a session pianist composing material inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Their paths crossed in 1974 at Abbey Road Studios’ canteen, sparking a partnership that blended Parsons’ production wizardry with Woolfson’s melodic genius. Woolfson initially managed Parsons, guiding his production work with acts like Pilot and Al Stewart, but soon pitched the idea of a producer-driven album, leading to their debut, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, in 1976.

The Alan Parsons Project stood out for its revolving cast of session musicians and vocalists, including Chris Rainbow, John Miles, and Lenny Zakatek, with Parsons and Woolfson as the creative core. Their concept albums, tackling themes from science fiction to gambling, earned them a cult following. Over 15 years, they released 11 studio albums, with hits like “Eye in the Sky” and “Time” cementing their legacy. Fans can dive deeper into their world through the official website, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X, or join discussions on fan communities like the Alan Parsons Project Fan Group on Facebook. For more fan-driven content, check out Prog Archives, where enthusiasts share reviews and insights. So, Zoo Crew, keep spinning those records and let the Zoo Freaks vibe to this classic!