In 1944 popular touring bandleader Buddy Johnson found Prysock in Hartford Connecticut and signed him as a vocalist. Prysock became a mainstay of the live big band performance circuit, singing on several of Buddy Johnson’s hits on Decca Records ("Jet My Love", 1947 and "I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone", 1948) and later on Mercury Records ("Because", 1950). Other signature tracks that Prysock recorded for Buddy Johnson's Orchestra between 1944 and 1952 included “They All Say I’m the Biggest Fool,” and “At Last.”
He went solo in the early 1950's, and had an R&B hit with "I Didn't Sleep a Wink Last Night," and was oft found performing on the road with his saxophonist brother Red Prysock. Tracks like "I Worry 'Bout You" in 1958, "The Very Thought of You" in 1960, and 1965's "It's Too Late Baby, It's Too Late" were hits on the Old Town label. Old Town, became his home through much of the late 50's & early 60's and again through the 70's after a brief late 60's stint with Verve.
With his concert popularity building, Verve picked him up, and paired him with Count Basie for an album in 1965, and after years of one-nighters on the Chitlin circuit, he finally performed at Carnegie Hall in 1966. Many productions from the 60's & 70's place Prysock in baths of syrupy strings & over orchestrated arrangements that have woefully buried his voice. He remains largely under appreciated as an 'easy listening' artist by modern audiences, with the Verve Music Group not even bothering to provide a bio on their website, despite selling his recordings.
In the 70s, he kept recording for Old Town, and had smatterings of success like the circa '73 Northern Soul In The Rain fave and a surprise disco hit with "When Love Is New". By 1980 "I'm Never Gonna Let You Go" was recorded for Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label . In 1985, recorded his first new album in almost a decade,signing with Milestone Records in 1986. He continued recording jazz ballads & blues for Milestone, accompanied by his brother Red Prysock. His Milestone recordings were considered comebacks and “A Rockin’ Good Way,” (’85) and its follow up, “This Guy’s in Love with You,” (’86) rekindled his career, and he received 2 Grammy nomination for his latter career efforts, one a duet with Betty Joplin. His last studio effort was released in 1987, and a collection of his Milestone Recordings was re-issued in 2000 via the Concord Music Group. Prysock received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1995 and passed away in 1997 after suffering an aneurysm at age 73 in Bermuda where he had a retirement residence.
It's All In the Game
Arthur Prysock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's all in the game
All in the wonderful game
That we know as love
You have words with him
And your future's looking dim
But these things
Your hearts can rise above
Once in a while he won't call
But it's all in the game
Soon he'll be there at your side
With a sweet bouquet
And he'll kiss your lips
And caress your waiting fingertips
And your hearts will fly away
Soon he'll be there at your side
With a sweet bouquet
Then he'll kiss your lips
And caress your waiting fingertips
And your hearts will fly away
Arthur Prysock's song "It's All In The Game" speaks about the ups and downs of love, with lyrics that highlight the various emotions that come with it. The opening lines "Many a tear has to fall, but it's all in the game" suggests that love, just like a game, involves risk, uncertainty and the possibility of losing. But despite these challenges, love still remains a wonderful, exciting and rewarding experience, as suggested in the line "All in the wonderful game, that we know as love".
The lyric "You have words with him and your future's looking dim, but these things your hearts can rise above" emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and rising above conflicts in love. The lyric "Once in awhile he won't call, but it's all in the game" highlight the fact that relationships are not perfect and there will be times when things do not go as planned. But even in these tough moments, love can still thrive and overcome the challenges. The wistful lines "And he'll kiss your lips and caress your waiting fingertips, and your hearts will fly away" captures the emotional highs that come with falling in love, and the hope that love can bring regardless of past hurt and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Many a tear has to fall
Lots of sadness and pain is inevitable in relationships
But it's all in the game
Despite the heartache, this is just the way love works
All in the wonderful game
Love can bring both happiness and heartache
That we know as love
These emotional ups and downs are part of what makes love so meaningful
You have words with him
You'll likely have arguments and disagreements
And your future's looking dim
As a result, things may look uncertain and bleak
But these things
However, there is hope for overcoming these obstacles
Your hearts can rise above
You can both move past these issues if you work together
Once in a while he won't call
There may be periods of time where he seems distant and unavailable
Soon he'll be there at your side
But he'll come back around eventually
With a sweet bouquet
He'll try to make up for his absence and show his love
And he'll kiss your lips
He'll be physically affectionate
And caress your waiting fingertips
He'll be attentive to your needs and desires
And your hearts will fly away
His affection will rekindle your love and make you feel like everything is perfect again
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Carl Sigman, Charles Gates Dawes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brenda Joyce Cammon
on I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You
Beautiful song.