The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game

"The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" is a 1966 song recorded by The Marvelettes for the Motown label, from their self-titled album released that year.

Written and produced by Smokey Robinson, the 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 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.'

Personnel

• Lead vocals by Wanda Young Rogers
• Background vocals by Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, and The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Cover versions

The song has been covered by a number of contemporary recording artists, including:

• Len Barry for his 1967 album My Kind of Soul
• Barbara McNair recorded a version of the song for her 1968 Motown album The Real Barbara McNair
• Brendan Benson recorded a rough cover version of the song for his Myspace page.
• Jimmy Mack & The Music Factory on Atlantic Records 45 45-2552 b-side circa 1968.
• Ella Fitzgerald on Ella in 1969.
• Jerry Garcia on Compliments in 1974, as "When the Hunter Gets Captured by the Game". Also covered occasionally in concert by Jerry Garcia Band
• Grace Jones on Warm Leatherette in 1980, also released as the lead single in the US and fourth single in the UK.
• Blondie, on The Hunter in 1982.
• Anna Domino on her first album Anna Domino in 1986.
• Massive Attack, with Tracey Thorn on vocals, on the Batman Forever soundtrack in 1995.
• Nedelle.
• George Clinton sings a line from "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" on his single "Loopzilla."
• The Miracles finally recorded their own cover version of the song on their 1970 album, One Dozen Roses.
• Gospel Singer Candi Staton recorded a version on the Warner Brothers label in 1980.
• Caesar during their Motown flashback concerts

References