Single:
Spinning Wheel entered the Australian singles chart* on 28 June 1969 and peaked at #5. The song was #61 on the Top 100 of 1969.
Album:
The song is on Blood, Sweat & Tears which entered the Australian albums chart* on 7 June 1969 and peaked at #4.
Songwriter:
David Clayton-Thomas
Producer:
James William Guercio
Record label of Australian release:
CBS
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Wikipedia:
David Clayton-Thomas was quoted as describing the song as being “written in an age when psychedelic imagery was all over lyrics … it was my way of saying, ‘Don’t get too caught up, because everything comes full circle’.”
Read more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_Wheel_(song)
Songfacts:
Spinning Wheel was written by vocalist David Clayton-Thomas, arranged by saxophonist Fred Lipsius, and produced by James William Guercio. In a Songfacts interview with Clayton-Thomas in 2015, he explained: “I came up with the song just picking it away on a guitar when I found some chord changes I liked. As for the lyrics, everybody was getting so serious about ‘The Revolution’ and everything else in those days. It was just kind of a way to say, ‘Lighten up people. Take it easy. It’s all going to come full circle.’ And it did. Ten years later, we went from ‘The Revolution’ to Ronald Reagan.”
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/blood-sweat-tears/spinning-wheel
Lyrics:
What goes up must come down
Spinnin’ wheel got to go ’round
Talkin’ ’bout your troubles it’s a cryin’ sin
Ride a painted pony let the spinnin’ wheel spin
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
Find more songs to enjoy: Bang a Gong song finder
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