GAMES PEOPLE PLAY JOE SOUTH REACTION - Back to my childhood!

[@DanoSeer]

I'm back in the 70s riding in the back seat of my dad's car. Has to be one the coolest tunes (and truthful) ever written.

[@sorrystaunton]

I knew Joe when I was going to college in Atlanta Georgia in the late 60’s. Fantastic guy.....brilliant writer.....listen to his incredible “Don’t It Make You Wanna Go Home”.....Joe passed away a couple of years ago and he is missed...

[@timgasper8748]

Man I would LOVE to talk with you about that. I remember when this first came out. I loved it. It's forever relevant. Thanks.

[@sorrystaunton]

@@timgasper8748 Anytime Tim….

[@walterfisher5749]

One of my heroes in music. Would be on my list of people to have met. Lucky you.

[@antrygis1]

That's so cool man. That one song, just said so much. I was 11.12? Sadly, I think it's worse now. But listening to it was like. "Yeah. I am in with this. He is saying it." Just so truthful and down to earth. We needed it then and need it now. If someone wrote a song called Stop the B.S. now it would fit. But how would you say it? Joe just captured it. Nothing new under the sun. The truth lasts forever. The lies? They keep hurting but will fade with time.

[@StuartBearden]

One of life's blessings, when a song resurrects memories 😊

[@827dusty]

I've always said, music is a time machine. Everything you had forgotten, comes roaring back to where you were, what you were doing, and who was with you. Music is truly a gift from God.

[@The1957Michael]

One of the truly great songwriters.

[@johnhilliard7023]

I second the recommendation, "Don't it make you want to go home" is a great Joe South song.

[@terrymcelrath3338]

He wrote a lot of songs. Great songs recorded by others. LOVE HIM ❤🎶🎸

[@charliewrites]

excellent ....amazing connections that tunes make...you don't know it at the moment, but years later you remember where you were, etc...amazing.I can remember where I was when i first heard Crimson and Clover by tommy James...Bam! there i was.The lyrics to song were right on. Joe South wrote some amazingly honest songs ..totally underrated..

[@radtech497]

In addition to being a songwriter and singer, Joe South also played as a sideman with other artists on their records, like playing guitar on Tommy Roe's "Sheila," Bob Dylan's "Blonde on Blonde," Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools," and Simon and Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence."

[@bobbiestewart9500]

Takes the soul right out of us and stomps on it right in front of us. I tell ya what I love the way you respect this song! Its Great lol.

[@clapolla]

Joe South wrote so many great songs but the most commercially successful song he wrote was "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson. It went No.1 around the world and made her a superstar.

[@garyarnett1220]

Believe he also wrote Hush" which became Deep Purple's first hit.

[@MJ-dq8ik]

Yes and South wrote SO many great tunes

[@ajogg]

Harri, he had that one big hit for himself, but he's probably better known as a songwriter. He wrote the song "Down in the Boondocks" which was a hit for Billy Joe Royal in the 60s, in the 70's Lynn Anderson had a huge hit Rose Garden. He wrote stuff for Pop as well as Country artists.

[@phil5762]

He was best known as a songwriter. However, he had hits starting in the late 50's. Many more hits than this one.

[@Huckfintress]

Walk a Mile in My Shoes … amazing song by him and way cool video. I love him - grew up in the 60’s and 70’s this brings back so many cherished memories of my childhood ❤✌️

[@shaunedwards4893]

The Indian sitar is what makes this song so cool. Wish it was used more.

[@dsusan17]

This ,in my opinion, is a great song. He is a great song writer. Thank you Harri.

[@39thala]

Joe was a prolific songwriter for other artists as well. He wrote Country artist Lynn Anderson's breakthrough number 1 hit, "Rose Garden" which also crossed over to the Billboard Hot 100.

[@debbiechang5781]

Harri, you keep finding these songs that I had forgotten. I think this was a crossover pop hit from the country genre. As he sang, I remembered every word🤔

[@bobr4987]

Song facts says it was considered "Country Soul".

[@justanoldmansopinion]

Me too!

[@joesouthsgirl5662]

Joe South himself described his own music as country soul. I describe Joe as extremely talented and quite the handsome man!

[@berndschuster1547]

A super song from the 60ies from JOE SOUTH!

[@rogerdodger6025]

Joe South had a few hit songs but he wrote some very big hits for other artists like "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson, "Down In The Boondocks" by Billy Joe Royal and "Reach Out In The Darkness" by Friend and Lover and a few others. He was a session guitarist at Muscle Shoals recording studio and played the swampy guitar on "Chain Of Fools" by Aretha Franklin.

[@johnpaulbacon8320]

Great reaction. I have liked this song since i was about 14. I am now 50 going on 51 in dec.

[@ggavin9934]

Music ages, forgotten. Listen to them again, message still relevant in todays world. Sad commentary about mankind. Nothing changes.

[@walterpanovs]

Great singer/songwriter. This track was a "Song of Year at the Grammys in 1970. He's also known for "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" (which was covered by Elvis on stage) and the gorgeously sentimental "Don't It Make You Want to Go Home." He also wrote many hits for others including "Rose Garden" (Lynn Anderson), "Hush" (Deep Purple), and "Down in the Boondocks" (Billy Joe Royal).

[@marcelburger2436]

❤❤

[@dalem8332]

Great song from Joe! Big hit. He also had a hit with...Walk A Mile In My Shoes. Another excellent Joe South song with great lyrics! ♥️🎼🎵🎶🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

rri, " Walk a Mile in my Shoes " is another favorite. There are

[@avidrdr5640]

This was a hippie anthem!

[@johnnyhawkins43]

I have liked him since I guess the late 60s and I have a copy of his greatest hits on CD now I love it. !

[@stevesullivan8705]

Great reaction Harri. You would love his Walk a Mile in My Shoes. Keep up the good work.

[@sheilalopez3983]

Times change, fashions change but people stay the same.

[@marycapok4247]

Superb song....say no more!

[@jvs333]

This song is a commendation of the times then but just as relevant today

[@neilmartin99]

Oh geez...totally forgot about this song. Great pull, Harri.

[@andythrush3341]

One of my mother's favorite songs. She died in 1990 at age 62. Thanks for sharing this song.

[@BlackiePawless]

As well as a hit songwriter in the pop, country and rock genres, Joe was a world class musician playing on records by Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Simon & Garfunkel and many others. Like many of his generation from the American South he was equally influenced by soul/country/blues/pop music.

[@sheilaisaacs981]

that's my Uncle Joe, Mom and Dad ...they made up a new genre of music just for him....country pop lol

[@rockstarrobinson]

Hi Harry life is beautiful it’s all how we look at it we all are living by the grace of god just awesome

[@Aragallify]

I had a gigantic crush on Joe South when I was a kid. Great songs, great voice and killer guitar. Don't It Make You Want To Go Home is a must listen, Harry. Love your channel.

[@shade51]

Thanks for bringing back this forgotten gem. I was maybe 15 when this came out - and at that age one is coming to terms with how f-d up people are. I loved the brutal lyrics. They seemed right and true to me them. They still do. And that fuzz guitar is still just great!

[@bobr4987]

Loved that Electric Sitar in the intro riff. That really nails it in time, back when all the big groups were trying meditation, yoga and Sitars.

[@danmartin6490]

Does nobody notice it is not a regular guitar he's playing? It is a combo of a guitar and a sitar, very unique.

[@cheryla7480]

Thankyou once again Harri for finding this true gem. I feel like the last time I heard it was like a million years ago! Such wonderful memories.

[@CONNIECOLVIN-wg8bq]

Great words. So true, more true than ever. Love you Harri.

[@spreet65]

Brilliant whoever requested this.. love this song.. you are the first to review as far as I know Harri. Truckloads of songs from this era which are worth a review.. On the subject of "Games People Play" and following on from Jim Brown's comment below, Alan Parsons (who worked with The Beatles) also did a "Games People Play" song... pretty good song also.

[@dlewis5631]

Song of the Year, Grammy winner, 1968 or 1969

[@thomastimlin1724]

1969...as a 13 year old, favorite protest song.

[@cameronstewart1483]

Harri, you really hit be in the gut with your history of when this song hit you. Now for the life of me, I thought what the heck, because I felt the same way! I think you may find your answer listing to Jimmy Reed, Honest I Do. keep in mind I'm totally guessing. Getting back to Joe, Polk Salad Annie, was a huge hit. I thought Joe South was Black and I was shocked to find many years he was white. Also, this song makes you cry, because it should be our National Anthem for grade school children, in America in all schools. Just put their heart on that song. Its a song bigger than American life itself. Thank for memory, because I would never have come across it, no way. I just felt the beat and melody was heart rendering, like a Otis Redding melody. Anyway, I think your on to something here. Joe is known for Swamp mud music, out of the south. He's likely to have written, Cherry Hill Park? Cherry Hill Park was band on radio at first but eventually got on radio. Hell was a hell of a writer and really I think well under rated. Respected more in England. but very loved in the American Southern States. Thanks for your study on this song.

[@joesouthsgirl5662]

Cameron, I think you are a little mistaken. Tony Joe White did "Polk Salad Annie", not Joe South. Joe South did not do swamp style music, but Tony Joe White did. They are both white, but it really doesn't matter what color they are or were, they were both really good singers with amazing talents. Joe South described his own music as "country soul". He was an excellent musician and a terrific man. Joe South helped Billy Joe Royal get his career going by writing several songs just for Billy Joe to sing. He also wrote songs for The Tams. He was a very generous man.

[@deansmith2790]

Never listened to the lyrics when listening to this song when growing up but the lyrics are amazing imo.

[@JuandeFucaU]

peace man.... have a flower.... tune in, turn on, and tune out or however that old saying goes.... this song was made for sitting on the grass and singing along with the other hippie protestors. very likely I haven't heard this song for 50 years.... flooded with memories. nana na na na.... nana na na na .... nana na na na na.... yah that's gonna get stuck in there all day..... na na na na na na.

[@MultiPetercool]

Little known fact: This was recorded and engineered by Roger Powell who is recognized as a synthesizer authority. Roger is a brilliant musician himself and appeared on many Todd Rundgren and Utopia albums. He toured with David Bowie in the late 1970s.

[@bman133]

A big part of Mom's playlist when i wsz s kid. Thank you brother

[@robertbelyea5767]

Keep sharing that good sound brother 🎶

[@wslvingtsun6768]

I like walk a mile in my shoes bu joe south.

[@827dusty]

This came out in the late 60s, during the Vietnam war era. Not really a protest song, but there are some underlying messages in this song.

[@margaretbody6649]

You should try, "Games people play" but Inner Circle, beautiful version.

[@tammybiddle7115]

Omg! I haven’t heard this in years.

[@andrewclayton4181]

Great song. Remember it well. I don't recall the video, so my image of Joe South was of a hippy, with beads and a lot more hair. He looks too smooth!. Go on Harri give us a treat, review Eve of destruction. !

[@Dtrain-kq8kd]

this is such a good one..good times harri

[@CarolynAllen-fc2vs]

alot of memories

[@rheailiarome2287]

Lovely song 🎵 and so true

[@vaffel83]

This was interesting 😃I know this song from the band Inner Circle. And they make it a reggae song. And I knew they made the song "Bad Boys" and some others, but did not know they started up in the 70's! Thought of them as a 90's band. Fun learning new stuff 😄💕

[@samuelmorgan3342]

Nice pink room! I love pink! I remember when this came out, I was 12.

[@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv]

It was hearing this intro that inspired me to learn guitar. I didn't realise that it was played on pedal steel.

[@Daria_Morgandorfer.]

I love Joe south especially his song walk a mile in my shoes

[@annasaylor3566]

Walk A Mile In My Shoes is a really good song.

[@richardkeep8651]

There is also a great instrumental version by King Curtis with Duane Allman on sitar and slide guitar

[@kenchristie9214]

You could classify Joe South as Country/Folk. Another hit from Joe you need to listen to is "Don't It Make You Wanna Go Home".

[@irbylangley6147]

Not just song writer ,performer but studio musician,producer he’s on Bob Dylan’s Nashville skyline, that him on the guitar intro on Aretha Franklins Chain of fools, he was the pride of south Atlanta in the day along with Tommy Roe And B J Thomas

[@ALifeThatRocks]

It may fall into the narrow genre of psychedelic. The sitar/hybrid gives it that. It’s a hippie song and I don’t think his record company knew he was a hippie songwriter. They probably thought he was country too. Surprise. 🤘✌️🎸

[@Scottshodgepodge]

My favorite Games People Play is probably the Spinners, second is this one, and third is Alan Parsons. All are good though!

[@Scottshodgepodge]

And they’re all different though!

[@dlewis5631]

Gotta do "Walk a Mile in My Shoes"

[@richdiana3663]

Joe was cool.

[@CONNIECOLVIN-wg8bq]

You are a sweet wonderful guy.

[@scottwitt4104]

Love this song from when I was a kid. Try Uncle Lucius, Keep the wolves away

[@cathyortiz1280]

Country-Rock. Wow! Haven't heard this for ages. Loved this song too. But it doesn't sound at all like The Beatles. "Then they sock it to you in the name of the Lord," maybe not a church song! "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" is even better!

[@jerrydelacruz5119]

Walk A Mile In My Shoes.

[@antrygis1]

Love your intro about, heard this and I can tell you where I was etc. This song is not Country it is UNIVERSAL. It's humanity and its nonsense. "God give me the ....to remember who I am." He just ripped off the veneers and said Why? Life's hard enough, ya know? One of the few, simple songs ever made that has great depth. It transcends time.

[@BOOMNERD51]

He is a Southern guy (USA) with I think the trend of trying to distort the guitar to sitar sound, to cash in on the psychelic era. Just my opinion.

[@joesouthsgirl5662]

Actually Joe was using a sitar on this song 😊

[@julietate7806]

You should hear Duane Allman's and King Curtis's instrumental version of this song.

[@HaywardSouth]

Bellamy Brothers Let your love flow

[@wayne_twentyfive]

Country / Pop crossover music is among my favourite types .. While I generally find pure country a little dull, there are countless examples of country styled songs that were mainstream hits and are really enjoyable to my ears .. The 60's were full of them .. Artists like Marty Robbins, Don Gibson, Ned Miller, Glenn Campbell, etc had many such songs .. Check 'em out .. Cheers, Wayne

[@garybauer9494]

Harris, Here's a good one for you to hear. It goes back to 1947. Hank Williams Senior as Luke The Drifter/ I Saw The Light. Enjoy and please share your thoughts on it after hearing it with us. Blessings to you and yours keep doing what you do. I Am In HIS GRIP!!!! Gary 😊

[@kevinstewart449]

You might also like "Polk Salad Annie" by Tony Joe White.

[@bobr4987]

Check out "Red Rubber Ball" by "The Cyrkle", from 1966. Or, "Little Bit of Soul", from "Music Explosion". "Midnight Confessions" from The Grass Roots. All remind you of what it was like to be alive in the 60's.

[@ElusvOptmst1]

@Bob R I forgot about those great tunes.

[@scottysworld700]

It's a cross over song played on Country and Rock stations. Country Rock song. Like the Eagles.

[@jesseduke694]

Hank Jr has a version of this song, I believe he did in the late 90's.

[@gaillouise8310]

Harri, would you please react to Murder Most Foul by Dylan. Thank you. Also, I love Joe South and this is my favorits song of his.

[@cndngranma8436]

Fred Weller does a cover also

[@heathertaylor1389]

❤

[@kirpalite]

Which genre? In the VERY CREATIVE 1960's, musicians covered many genres, and created new ones. Folk/Country, Fold/Country/Rock/ , Gospel PSYCHEDLIC ROCK, (ARE YOU READY and SPIRIT IN THE SKY), Country/Blues/Rock, ETC. ETC.

[@bryanforis1839]

One of eagles used. To use a song writes he one big writers

[@santocataldi3355]

In a few minutes he described every politician thats ever existed hahaha the brilliance of an Italian !!!

[@sheilaisaacs981]

the melody is similar to an old Christian song called "I don't want to be a pharisee"

[@Newfie-zc7ug]

Harri...you are unbelievable with your cross section and taste in music.......keep it up. What's next ?

[@annmills3163]

Check out Don’t It Make You Wanna Go Home & Never Been To Spain ☮️💜

[@LBinsocal]

it’s kinda hippy folk music

[@dinodasbunce6224]

I would love to see/hear Home Free cover this song. They would do an amazing job.

[@jamesgabbert9375]

Great song. For fun, listen to two other, completely different songs with the same title by two other groups - the Spinners and the Alan Parsons Project.

[@bwilliams463]

Freddy Weller did a country version of this, which I prefer to Joe South's version.

[@joesouthsgirl5662]

Yes Freddy did do this song with more of a country sound and feel. I love Freddy, but I prefer Joe's version.

[@bobbiestewart9500]

Say Harri, you mention a song out of the past that reminds you of this song. Try Rolling Stones first or Second album Out of Our Heads. Let the good times Roll, La di da da who aa lod di de de la da la la da da di dee. Come on baby let the good times roll were ganna stay here till we sooze our soul whoah come on and let the good times roll. The Stones, but they didn't come out till around the early or late sixties. They hit america like a bomb. I hope this helps both of us, because you hit a nerve with allot of music lovers. But the stones rendition of Sam Cook's Let the good times roll.

[@andydurazo5337]

Okay that’s the sixties Games People Play. Now try the seventies Games People Play by The Spinners and the eighties Games People Play by The Alan Parsons Project.

[@wildmandon1]

There was a country cover of this song back in the 70s. Can't remember the artist.

[@tonycasey3183]

Hank Williams did a cover

[@joesouthsgirl5662]

Freddy Weller did this and hit the country charts with it.