Ten Circle Songs That Should Be Going Round And Round On Your Record Player
Gordon Lightfoot Made The List Twice
Neither The Beatles Nor The Stones Made The List But An Artist Who Worked With Both Bands Did
Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke last week announced his candidacy for President of the United States, thus joining a crowded slate of Democrats hoping to win the nomination for the 2020 election. Six months before that proclamation he did something much more memorable, when he chose to join a revered music legend for a duet.
He appeared with nine other than Willie Nelson, and the two men sang a version of the classic hymn "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" The song was a great choice, since it has become part of American culture through its message and its very infectious chorus.
While it may be the best known circle song of all time, there have been others that share that particular shape in their titles. Folk songwriter Harry Chapin recorded a song using simply that one word as its title, while Manfred Mann's Earth Band made a completely different song with that same title to lead off their Watch album. Pierce The Veil, the Who, and Mariah Carey also released songs called by that one word as well.
Here are ten other tunes that include the word circle in their titles, including two by an artist whose name actually contains two pairs of circles.
1. The Width of a Circle by David Bowie
During a strange journey on The Man Who Sold The World Bowie encounters a monster who turns out to be himself, prompting him to quip, "I said hello, and I said hello."
2. The Circle Is Small by Gordon Lightfoot
Rumor is the subject to this piece from Endless Wire, when the man has heard through the close-knit grapevine that his woman is cheating on him.
3. Outside of a Small Circle of Friends by Phil Ochs
Based on a true story from 1959 about a woman who was severely bruised and abused while bystanders did nothing to help her, Ochs backed this sad statement with parody and an old time piano rag.
4. Will It Go Round In Circles? by Billy Preston
After working with The Beatles on the Let It Be sessions, as well as collaborating with the Rolling Stones, the popular keyboardist scored his first solo Top Ten hit with this catchy song.
5. Circle of Steel by Gordon Lightfoot
Sandwiched between classics like "Carefree Highway" and the title trackon the Sundown this ballad is too often overlooked in Lightfoot's discography.
6. Circle of Life by Elton John
Sir Elton penned this tune for the soundtrack of The Lion King, making it one of the last in a long line of hits he recorded over three decades.
7. The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell
On Court and Spark Mitchell pleaded "Help Me" and a few months later she received help from the L.A. Express to record this tune.
8. Circle Dance by Stevie Nicks
This recording can be find on the must-have Soundstage Sessions, which contains some of her best work since Bella Donna and Fleetwood Mac's Rumours.
9. Eternal Circle by Bob Dylan
Originally planned for the Slow Train Coming sessions, this gem did not become available until the Bootleg Series.
10. Circle of Hands by Uriah Heep
Demons and Wizards is the location of this classic, making it a fit companion for the "The Wizard" and the Top Forty hit "Easy Living."
