Garage Rock

The song “The Game of Love” was written by American songwriter Clint Ballard, Jr., who also had a big hit with Linda Ronstadt’s version of “You’re No Good”, “I’m Alive” for The Hollies, “There’s Not a Minute” for Ricky Nelson, and many more. The Sixties pop music band Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders were the first to record and release “Game of Love” in 1965. In that year, it went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #2 in the U.S., and in the Top 40 in Australia. Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders also released it on their 1965 album titled The Game of Love.

Wayne Fontana was born Glyn Geoffrey Ellis in Manchester Lancashire, England. His professional name is derived from Elvis Presley’s drummer D.J. Fontana. He formed his backing group The Mindbenders in 1963, and they, strangely enough, had a recording contract with Fontana Records. The Mindbenders were Bob Lang, Ric Rothwell, Eric Stewart and later Grahame Foote. They got their name from a British thriller movie called The Mind Benders, which starred Dirk Bogarde. They went on to part ways, but Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders also had a hit in 1966 with “A Groovy Kind of Love.”

Here are the lyrics to “Game of Love” by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders:

The purpose of a man is to love a woman,
And the purpose of a woman is to love a man,
So come on baby let’s start today, come on baby let’s play
The game of love, love, la la la la la love

It started long ago in the Garden of Eden
When Adam said to Eve, baby, you’re for me
So come on baby let’s start today, come on baby let’s play
The game of love, love, la la la la la love

Come on baby ’cause the time is right
Love your daddy with all your might
Put your arms around me, hold me tight
Play the game of love

The purpose of a man is to love a woman,
And the purpose of a woman is to love a man,
So come on baby let’s start today, come on baby let’s play
The game of love, love, la la la la la love

[Instrumental break]

The purpose of a man is to love a woman,
And the purpose of a woman is to love a man,
So come on baby let’s start today, come on baby let’s play
The game of love, love, la la la la la love

Well, come on baby ’cause the time is right
Love your daddy with all your might
Put your arms around me, hold me tight
Play the game of love

The purpose of a man is to love a woman,
And the purpose of a woman is to love a man,
So come on baby let’s start today, come on baby let’s play
The game of love, love, la la la la la love

The game of love, (love), love, (love), baby, la la la la la love
The game of love, (love), love, (love), baby, la la la la la love

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Game of Love” by Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders.