Redeye: Games

It’s my first One Hit Wonders Wednesday. Just in case someone questions why some songs are included, I’ll provide my motivation. I define a “One Hit Wonder” as an artist’s only song to chart within the Top 40. Bands and singers even will qualify if they had a dozen singles charting above (or is below) 40 (i.e. 41-100), but only one song charting between 1 and 40.

Now that we’ve got the preliminaries out of the way, one of my favorite one hit wonders is by the Los Angeles based band Redeye. Their only Top 40 single “Games” peaked the day after Christmas 1970 at #27. “Games” was released on Redeye’s self titled debut album. I bought this album in 72 as a cutout at Woolworths in Eastland Shopping Center and still have it in my collection.

Another nice thing about this recording is the clean stereo mix – great separation - the drums sound just perfect in the right channel with the acoustic rhythm guitar keeping time in the left. There is a little bit of everything in this tune: a driving bass, cowbell, several different lead guitar sounds (including authentic fuzz tone distortion), ratchet, and a great ending. I hope I’m not the only one that remembers this great tune from 1970.