The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game

"The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" is a 1966 song written by Smokey Robinson. It was a hit single in 1967 for the American girl group The Marvelettes for the Motown label, from their self-titled album released that same year. In 1980, Jamaican singer Grace Jones remade the song and had minor success with her version in the US. The song has had several cover versions over the years. Blondie included a cover as the closing track on their 1982 conceptual album The Hunter. Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn (of Everything but the Girl) recorded a cover for the soundtrack to Batman Forever in 1995. Most recently, Bette Midler performed a rendition included in the deluxe edition of her 2014 studio album It's The Girls!. Another cover also appeared on Jerry Garcia Compliments in 1974 and was performed live by the Jerry Garcia Band until into the early 90s.

"The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"
Single by The Marvelettes
from the album The Marvelettes
B-side"I Think I Can Change You"
ReleasedDecember 27, 1966
Recorded1966
StudioHitsville U.S.A.
GenreSoul, pop
Length2:45 (single version)
3:13 (album version)
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)Smokey Robinson
Producer(s)Smokey Robinson
The Marvelettes singles chronology
"You're the One"
(1966)		 "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"
(1966)		 "When You're Young and in Love"
(1967)

The Marvelettes version

Background

The Marvelettes single peaked in the United States in spring 1967 at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and at number two on the Billboard soul chart.[1] The group's version of the song was produced by Smokey Robinson. The song is written in the first person, from the point of view of someone who has "laid such a tender trap" to catch a lover. Lead singer Wanda Young-Rogers (wife of Miracles member Bobby Rogers) talks about how she had been stalking her lover, having to learn his "ways and habits" so she could plan how to catch him. But "certain things rearrange" and she finds herself caught, presumably, in love with her 'game.'

There seems to be 3 variations issued. The original mono single ended cold, yet some (not all) of the stereo remixes fade at the end. There is also a different last verse on some of the reissues, leading to the assumption that Smokey recorded the song much longer than any of the issued versions. Additionally, the single version and at least one of the stereo mixes exclude the first part of the second verse.

Billboard named the song #71 on their list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.[2]

Personnel

Chart performance
Chart (1967) Peak
position
Billboard Hot 100[3] 13
R&B Singles[3] 2

Grace Jones version
"The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"
Single by Grace Jones
from the album Warm Leatherette
B-side"Sinning", "Warm Leatherette"
ReleasedSeptember 1980
GenreDisco, soul, R&B
Length3:50
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Smokey Robinson
Producer(s)Chris Blackwell, Alex Sadkin
Grace Jones singles chronology
"Private Life"
(1980)		 "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"
(1980)		 "Breakdown"
(1980)

Background

Jamaican singer Grace Jones covered "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" on Warm Leatherette in 1980, her first post-disco album. It was also released as the lead single in the USA and the fourth in the UK. The B-side on the European single is an alternate version of the song, known as the "Special Single Version". This version was not released on CD until 2016 when Warm Leatherette was reissued.

Track listings
  • US 7" single[4]
A. "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" – 3:49
B. "Sinning" – 5:06
  • EU 7" single[5]
A. "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" (LP version) – 3:50
B. "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" (Special Version) – 3:20
  • UK 12" single[6]
A. "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" (long version) – 6:43
B. "Warm Leatherette" (long version) – 5:36

Chart performance
Chart (1980) Peak
position
United States (R&B Singles)[7] 87
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References
  1. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Company. 79 (11): 20. 1967. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  2. "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  3. "The Marvelettes". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  4. "Grace Jones – The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game (Vinyl) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  5. "Grace Jones – The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game (Vinyl) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  6. "Grace Jones – The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game (Vinyl) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  7. "Grace Jones". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
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