Overview

The song was written by Warren Harry

Warren Harry

Warren Harry was a British songwriter and performer.-Biography:In 1978, Warren Harry and his band released the self-funded single "1965" / "Radio Show"...

 (under the name Warren Bacall), who had written their top 10 hit "When We Were Young" a few months earlier. It was produced by Brian Tench with co-production by Andy Hill

Andy Hill (composer)

Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s...

.

Released in November 1983, the single proved to be one of the group's least successful singles, peaking at No.57. Despite this, it remained on the Top 100 Chart for 10 weeks. The record's chart failure was commented on by the group some months later, with member Jay Aston

Jay Aston

Jay Hilda Aston is a singer, dancer, and occasional songwriter who was formerly with the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. She was the youngest member of the group's original line-up, being just 19 at the Eurovision Song Contest....

 stating; "It didn't get played. It came out a bit too soon ater 'London Town' and got a bit lost among the Christmas stuff". Bobby G

Bobby G

Bobby G is a member of pop group Bucks Fizz. He was the only remaining original member in the group...

 agreed that the record company was putting out too many singles at the time, "We gave them a lot of material and record companies, being what they are, released it." Following this they decided simply to not give any of their finished material over. As a result, the next single was released some nine months later.

The single was released in tandem with their first Greatest Hits album. The B-Side, "When We Were at War", a ballad, was written by the group themselves. At 6 minutes running length, it remains the longest song recorded by the group. "Rules of the Game" features lead vocals by member Cheryl Baker

Cheryl Baker

Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...

. The song's lyrics centre on a woman who becomes famous and turns her back on her old friends, but when the fame ends, she finds herself desperately lonely. Baker has since said of her dislike for this song, stating that she finds the lyrics depressing and was unhappy with the affected way she was asked to sing, although it remains a fan-favourite. The Promotional Video shows the group performing the song as moderators of a game featuring two martial arts

Martial arts

Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....

 players.

An extended 12" version of the song was produced but never released at the time. It finally surfaced on a re-release of the group's Are You Ready album in 2000.

Track listing

1. "Rules of the Game" (Warren Bacall) (4.04)
2. "When We Were at War" (Bucks Fizz) (6.00)