GAMES PEOPLE PLAY / THE ACE OF SWORDS

After the disappointing album Eve (1979) the Project released The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980), which is much more rewarding. To my surprise it even has higher rating here than Pyramid (1978), one of my personal favourites. The theme of gambling and the effects of gambling addiction covers most of the album, most notably on the five-part title suite. At least three singles were taken from the album, this one being the first of them, released in December 1980.

'Games People Play' is in my opinion rather mediocre uptempo pop song, sung by the sharp-voiced Project regular Lenny Zakatek. Anyway it was well received commercially and it peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single version features two edits, one during the instrumental section preceding the guitar solo, and another shortening the guitar solo. It is also sped up slightly.

On the B-side is one part of the mentioned 'The Turn of a Friendly Card' suite, the instrumental third part called 'The Ace of Swords'. This is a fairly good and representative track when speaking of the essential instrumental side of the project. Orchestral and dramatic without getting too pretentious. I like the harpsichord intro. A nice choice for a single's B side, and for that reason I'll give three stars.