Susanna Hoffs (with Aimee Mann) – Name of the Game

Susanna Hoffs and Aimee Mann both fronted popular bands in the 1980s — Hoffs with the Bangles and Mann with ’til Tuesday.

But they left that behind long ago.

Both have had long, successful solo careers.

Mann is a GREAT songwriter. Hoffs writes less and records lots of covers — including a series of excellent albums with Matthew Sweet on which they do faithful covers of songs we know and love.

On her latest album, Bright Lights (2021), she steps into covers again.

Lots of good ones on this album. I’ve chosen one that’s written by Badfinger’s Pete Ham, from the band’s 1971 album “Straight Up.”

It’s a great song from an underrated album by an underrated band.

Todd Rundgren produced the album that included Bad Finger’s biggest hit, “Baby Blue.”

Hoffs and Mann cover the album’s sixth track. Their version is a beauty.

Here it is…

Today’s Song 

Title: Name of the Game

Artist: Susanna Hoffs (with Aimee Mann)

Album: Bright Lights (2021)

YouTube Link (official video): 

youtu.be/pBmhCgaZ8m8

Lyrics 

Saw the railway master

And I looked him in the eye

Said “Would you go much faster

If you thought that you would die?

He said “Not me sir I could not care

In fact I would not try

Protest would not take me far

It’s different me not being a star”

I lock my feelings in a jar until another day

Comfort me dear brother

Won’t you tell me what you know?

Somewhere in this painful world

Is a place where I can go

Oh long awaiting mother

Is it time to make yout the show?

And take your babies to your breast

No we never passed the test

And all our sins should be confessed before we carry on

Oh don’t refuse me

If you choose me you’ll follow my shame

No don’t confuse me

For I know it’s the name of the game

Got up off my pillow

And I looked up at the sun

Said “You can see quite clearly now

The things that we have done”

We burned your sacred willow

And our battles we have won

But did we get so very far?

It’s different me not being a star

Lock my feelings in a jar until we go away

Oh don’t refuse me

If you choose me you’ll follow my shame

No don’t confuse me

For I know it’s the name of the game

Oh don’t refuse me

If you choose me you’ll follow my shame

No don’t confuse me

For I know that’s the name of the game

Don’t refuse me

Don’t confuse me

Ohh ohh ohh

Don’t refuse me

Don’t confuse me

Ohh ohh ohh

Here are the Playlists:  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xYKtYparrdJRYAjBj9kjx?si=eb6c3ebc30484204 

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/ware-house-concerts-song-of-the-day/pl.u-Ggz26cZlAVLj 

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