Going in Circles

Last updated
"Going in Circles"
Going in Circles - single cover.jpg
Single by The Friends of Distinction
from the album Grazin'
A-side "Let Yourself Go"
ReleasedJuly 1969 [1]
RecordedDecember 16, 1968 [2] at RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California
Genre R&B, soul
Length4:32
Label RCA Victor
74-0204
Songwriter(s) Jerry Peters, Anita Poree
Producer(s) John Florez, Ray Cork, Jr.
The Friends of Distinction singles chronology
"Grazing in the Grass"
(1969)
"Going in Circles"
(1969)
"Love or Let Me Be Lonely"
(1970)

"Going in Circles" is a song written by Jerry Peters and Anita Poree, and originally performed by The Friends of Distinction on their 1969 album Grazin' , reaching number 15 on the U.S. Hot 100, and number three on the R&B chart. [3] The song has since been covered numerous times by other artists, including Isaac Hayes and Luther Vandross. In addition, the song's co-composer, Jerry Peters released his own version of the tune on his 1972 solo album Blueprint for Discovery . The Friends of Distinction's original version is an R.I.A.A. Certified Million-Seller. [4]

Contents

Chart history

Weekly charts

Other notable versions

In 1985, the American R&B Band The Gap Band, recorded the cover version for the Gap Band VII album.

American R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross released a cover version on his 1994 standards album Songs . In 1995, his cover version was released as the B-side to "Love The One You're With". The song rose to number 28 on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart. [8]

Related Research Articles

"If This World Were Mine" is a 1967 song by soul music duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell from their album United. Written solely by Gaye, it was one of the few songs they recorded without Ashford & Simpson writing or producing. When it was released as a single in November 1967 as the B-side to the duo's "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You", it hit the Billboard pop singles chart, peaking at number sixty-eight, and peaked at number twenty-seven on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Gaye would later put the song into his set list during his last tours in the early-1980s as he performed a medley of his hits with Terrell. The song was covered a year later by Joe Bataan on the 1968 Fania Allstars LP Live at the Red Garter, Vol. 2, and in 1969 by Ambrose Slade (pre-Slade) on their album Beginnings.

"Pledging My Love" is a blues ballad. It was written by Ferdinand Washington and Don Robey and published in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)</span> 1973 song composed by Stevie Wonder, performed by Aretha Franklin

"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" is a song written by Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, and Stevie Wonder. The song was originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1967, but his version was not released as a single and did not appear on an album until 1977's anthology Looking Back. The best-known version of this song is the 1973 release by Aretha Franklin, who had a million-selling top 10 hit on Billboard charts. The song reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart in 1974. It became an RIAA Gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Friends of Distinction</span> American rhythm and blues group

The Friends of Distinction were an American vocal group founded by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, best known for their late 1960s hits, "Grazing in the Grass", "Love or Let Me Be Lonely", and "Going in Circles".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Never Too Much (song)</span> 1981 single by Luther Vandross

"Never Too Much" is the debut song written, composed, produced, and performed by Luther Vandross. The R&B song was released in 1981, as the lead single from Vandross's debut album of the same name. The title track hit number one on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number four on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. It peaked at #27 in Cash Box and #33 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power of Love/Love Power</span> 1991 single by Luther Vandross

"Power of Love/Love Power" is a single by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross. It was released on April 9, 1991 as the lead single from his 1991 album of the same name. The song spent two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart, and peaked at number four on the US pop chart, becoming his biggest pop solo hit.

"Superstar" is a 1969 song written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell, that has been a hit for many artists in different genres in the years since. The best-known versions are by the Carpenters in 1971, Luther Vandross in 1983, and Sonic Youth in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grazing in the Grass</span> 1968 composition by Philemon Hou

"Grazing in the Grass" is an instrumental composed by Philemon Hou and first recorded by the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Released in the United States as a single in 1968, it followed United States trumpeter Herb Alpert's vocal performance of "This Guy's in Love with You" to the top spot on the Hot 100 chart, ranking it as the 18th biggest hit of the year. The song also reached No. 15 Adult Contemporary. Masekela included the song in his albums Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela (2001), Still Grazing (2004), and Live at the Market Theatre (2006).

The Sandpebbles were an American R&B vocal group composed of Calvin White, Andrea Bolden, and Lonzine Wright. They recorded for Calla Records, and had one major pop hit in the U.S., "Love Power", which hit #14 on the Billboard Black Singles chart in 1967 and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following year. An album containing their complete recorded output was issued on compact disc in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Any Day Now (Burt Bacharach song)</span> 1962 song by Bacharach and Bob Hilliard

"Any Day Now" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard in 1962. It has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, including notable versions by Chuck Jackson in 1962, Alan Price in 1965, Elvis Presley in 1969, Scott Walker in 1973 and Ronnie Milsap in 1982. In the lyrics, the singer predicts the imminent demise of a romantic relationship and describes the sadness this will leave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love or Let Me Be Lonely</span> 1970 single by the Friends of Distinction

"Love or Let Me Be Lonely" is a pop song recorded by the soul group The Friends of Distinction and released as a single in early 1970. The song was a multi-format success, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1970. It also reached #13 on the R&B chart, and #9 on the Adult Contemporary singles chart. The song is ranked as No. 63 on the Hot 100 singles of 1970.

"Who's Making Love" is a song written by Stax Records staffers Homer Banks, Bettye Crutcher, Don Davis and Raymond Jackson and recorded by singer Johnnie Taylor in 1968.

"Stop to Love" is a song by American recording R&B/soul artist Luther Vandross. Released in 1986 as the lead single from his album Give Me the Reason. It was his first number-one single on the R&B chart since "Never Too Much" in 1981. The upbeat single was also a crossover hit, peaking at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Won't Let Me Wait</span> 1975 single by Major Harris

"Love Won't Let Me Wait" is a hit 1975 single by Major Harris, a former member of R&B/soul group The Delfonics. Written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, the single is considered to be a staple of classic soul playlists, and was Harris' only entry into the top five on both the soul and pop charts. The single hit number five on the pop chart, and also hit number one on the soul chart for one week. Billboard ranked it as the No. 24 song for 1975. It was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. on 25 June 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Here and Now (Luther Vandross song)</span> 1989 single by Luther Vandross

"Here and Now" is a 1989 song by American recording artist Luther Vandross, and written by: David L. Elliott, Terry Steele, and Charles “Casino“ White. The single is from the compilation album The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love. "Here and Now" became his fifth single to peak at No. 1 on the Hot Black Singles, and his first single to chart in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always and Forever (Heatwave song)</span> 1977 single by Heatwave

"Always and Forever" is an R&B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue. It was first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on 3 December 1977, the song is included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle (1976) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard.

"Don't Let Go" is a song written by Jesse Stone. The song was first a hit for Roy Hamilton in 1958. The Roy Hamilton version reached number 2 on the R&B charts and number 13 on the pop charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Year, Every Christmas</span> 1995 single by Luther Vandross

"Every Year, Every Christmas" is a song by American singer Luther Vandross. It was written by Vandross and Richard Marx for his tenth studio album, the holiday album This Is Christmas (1995), while production was helmed by Vandross. The original Christmas song received moderate rotation on radio and peaked at number 32 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Singer Patti LaBelle also covered the song, which appeared on her 2007 Christmas album Miss Patti's Christmas. The LaBelle version was spoken at the end the song dedicated to Vandross.

"Never Let Me Go" is a blues ballad song by American R&B/blues singer Johnny Ace, written by Joseph Scott and released in 1954 under Duke Records. The song is featured on the albums My Songs and Memorial. "Never Let Me Go" was one of his eighth consecutive top ten R&B hits in a row, including "My Song", "Cross My Heart," "Please Forgive Me," "The Clock," "Pledging My Love," "Saving My Love for You," and "Anymore". The song was R&B hit and peaked to No. 9 in October 1954 on Billboards Rhythm & Blues Records chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Love (Stevie Wonder song)</span> 1966 single by Stevie Wonder

"Hey Love" is a 1966 song by Stevie Wonder, from his album Down to Earth. It was released as a B-side to "Travelin' Man," but it also reached the charts in its own right, peaking at number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number nine on the R&B Singles chart in the spring of 1967. It has been covered by other artists, including Bettye LaVette and R. Kelly.

References

  1. "The Friends of Distinction - Let Yourself Go / Going In Circles". 45cat.com. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  2. "The Friends Of Distinction - Grazing In The Grass / Going In Circles - RCA Gold Standard - USA - 447-0832". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  3. "The Friends of Distinction US singles archive". Billboard . Retrieved 2010-11-22.
  4. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top 40 Hits: 1955-2009. Record Research. p. 256.
  6. "1969: The Top 100 Soul/R&B Singles". Rate Your Music. Archived from the original on 2016-11-12. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  7. "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 597.