Peak
1
Weeks
11
Score
2,540
Chart Year
1965
Wayne Fontana gets biblical in this '60s hit, letting the lady know that the purpose of a man is to love a woman, and the purpose of a woman is to love a man. It started back in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve became the first participants in the game of love. Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders were a British Invasion group, but this song was written by an American: Clint Ballard Jr., who also wrote The Hollies hit "I'm Alive" and Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good." It wasn't just The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Kinks that were coming over from England dominating the American charts in 1965. There was also Herman's Hermits, Freddie & the Dreamers, and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. All three were from the Manchester area of England and they had consecutive #1 hits, first "I'm Telling You Now" by Freddie & the Dreamers on April 10, then Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders with "Game Of Love" on April 24, and finally "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" by Herman's Hermits on May 1. Herman's Hermits had an impressive run of hits but Freddie & the Dreamers and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders didn't do much damage on the American charts outside of their #1 hits. Wayne Fontana's real name was Glyn Ellis. He was given a contract in 1963 on the condition that he change his name to that of the label, Fontana Records, thus Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. When a US tour was scheduled, the group was initially denied visas until they could demonstrate that they recorded this song. Fontana left the group for a solo career in 1966. The Mindbenders carried on without him, landing a #2 hit with "A Groovy Kind Of Love." The Mindbenders evolved into Hot Legs (a one-hit wonder with "Neanderthal Man"), which in turn became 10cc ("The Things We Do For Love," among others).
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 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 game of love, (love), love, (love), la la la la la love The game of love, (love), love, (love), la la la la la love The game of love baby, the game of la la la la love The game of love baby, the game of la la la la love
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 20, 1965 | 63 | 63 |
| 2 | Mar 27, 1965 | 40 | 86 |
| 3 | Apr 3, 1965 | 17 | 109 |
| 4 | Apr 10, 1965 | 7 | 119 |
| 5 | Apr 17, 1965 | 3 | 123 |
| 6 | Apr 24, 1965 | 1 | 125 |
| 7 | May 1, 1965 | 2 | 124 |
| 8 | May 8, 1965 | 4 | 122 |
| 9 | May 15, 1965 | 11 | 115 |
| 10 | May 22, 1965 | 14 | 112 |
| 11 | May 29, 1965 | 33 | 93 |