Jazz Fusion

The song “Spinning Wheel” was written by group member David Clayton-Thomas. He is a Canadian singer, who  was born in Surrey, England. The song was on their 1968 album Blood, Sweat & Tears and was also released as a single in 1969, with “More and More” on the B-Side. In 1969, the “Spinning Wheel” went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart,  and #45 on the U.S. R&B Chart.  Clayton-Thomas evoked the metaphor of the wheel of fortune, because the song was “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.'”

Blood, Sweat & Tears combines a number of genres, including pop rock, jazz rock, R&B/soul, psychedelic rock, as well as some big band stylings. They combine rock band and brass instrumentation. The story of the ever-changing personnel gets very complicated. However, they were started by Al Kooper, who gave them their name after Johnny Cash’s 1963 album Blood, Sweat and Tears. Group members for “Spinning Wheel” were David Clayton-Thomas,  Bobby Columby, Steve  Katz, Lew Soloff , Chuck Winfield, Fred Lipsius, Dick Halligan, Jim Fiedler , and Jerry Hyman. The group continues to tour and perform.

Here are the lyrics to “Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat and Tears:

“What goes up must come down
Spinning wheel got to go round
Talkin ’bout your troubles it’s a crying sin
Ride a painted pony let the spinning wheel spin

You got no money, and you got no home
Spinning wheel all alone
Talkin ’bout your troubles and you never learn
Ride a painted pony let the spinning wheel turn

Did you find the directing sign
On the straight and narrow highway
Would you mind the reflecting sign
Just let it shine
Within your mind
And show you the colors that are real

Someone is waiting just for you
Spinning wheel spinning through
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Catch a painted pony on the spinning wheel line

Someone’s waiting just for you
Spinning wheel spinning through
Drop all your troubles by the riverside
Ride a painted pony let the spinning wheel fly”
Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat and Tears.