Going in Circles

American R&B Song

"Going in Circles"

Single by The Friends of Distinction
from the album  Grazin'
A-side| "Let Yourself Go"
Released| July 1969[1]
Recorded| December 16, 1968[2] at RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California
Genre| R&B, soul
Length| 4:32
Label| RCA Victor
74-0204
Songwriter(s)| Jerry Peters, Anita Poree
Producer(s)| John Florez
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] In Canada, the song was the flip of the single "Let Yourself Go", which in turn reached number 34 on the charts, September 6, 1969.[5]

## Chart history

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1969)  | Peak
position

|

Canada RPM [6] | 24
US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 15
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles | 3

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1969)  | Rank

|

U.S. Soul/R&B (Billboard)[8] | 21
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[9] | 29

## Other notable versions

[edit]

In 1970 Detroit blue eyed soul band Flaming Ember led by singer Jerry Plunk recorded a cover for the album Westbound #9.

In 1971, American singer/songwriter Issac Hayes did a cover version for the Black Moses album.

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.[10]

## References

[edit]

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. ^ "RPM Magazine - September 6, 1969 - Page 5" (PDF).
6. ^ "RPM Magazine - November 8, 1969 - Page 7" (PDF).
7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top 40 Hits: 1955-2009. Record Research. p. 256.
8. ^ "Top Records of 1969". Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 52\. December 27, 1969. p. 17. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
9. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 597.

## External links

[edit]

* The Friends of Distinction - Going in Circles on YouTube
* Luther Vandross - Going in Circles on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

The Friends of Distinction

* Harry Elston
* Floyd Butler
* Jessica Cleaves
* Barbara Jean Love
* Charlene Gibson

Studio albums|

* Grazin' (1969)
* Highly Distinct (1969)
* Real Friends (1970)
* Whatever (1970)
* Friends & People (1971)
* Love Can Make It Easier (1973)

Singles|

* "Grazing in the Grass"
* "Going in Circles"
* "Love or Let Me Be Lonely"
* "Time Waits for No One"

* v
* t
* e

Luther Vandross

* Discography
* Tours

Studio albums|

* Never Too Much
* Forever, for Always, for Love
* Busy Body
* The Night I Fell in Love
* Give Me the Reason
* Any Love
* Power of Love
* Never Let Me Go
* Songs
* This Is Christmas
* Your Secret Love
* I Know
* Luther Vandross
* Dance with My Father

Compilation albums|

* The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love
* One Night with You: The Best of Love, Volume 2
* Love Is on the Way
* Always & Forever: The Classics
* Greatest Hits
* Smooth Love
* The Ultimate Luther Vandross
* Stop to Love
* The Very Best of Love
* The Essential Luther Vandross
* Artist Collection: Luther Vandross
* Love, Luther
* Lovesongs

Live albums|

* Live Radio City Music Hall 2003

Singles|

* "Never Too Much"
* "Don't You Know That?"
* "If This World Were Mine"
* "Bad Boy"/"Having a Party"
* "Since I Lost My Baby"
* "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye"
* "I'll Let You Slide"
* "Superstar"/"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (Medley)
* "Til My Baby Comes Home"
* "It's Over Now"
* "Wait for Love"
* "Give Me the Reason"
* "Stop to Love"
* "There's Nothing Better Than Love"
* "I Really Didn't Mean It"
* "So Amazing"
* "Any Love"
* "She Won't Talk to Me"
* "For You to Love"
* "Here and Now"
* "Treat You Right"
* "Power of Love/Love Power"
* "Don't Want to Be a Fool"
* "The Rush"
* "Sometimes It's Only Love"
* "The Best Things in Life Are Free"
* "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)"
* "Heaven Knows"
* "Never Let Me Go"
* "Endless Love"
* "Always and Forever"
* "Love the One You're With" / "Going in Circles"
* "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"
* "Every Year, Every Christmas"
* "Your Secret Love"
* "I Can Make It Better"
* "Nights in Harlem"
* "I Know"
* "Take You Out"
* "Can Heaven Wait"
* "I'd Rather"
* "Dance with My Father"
* "Think About You"
* "Buy Me a Rose"
* "The Closer I Get to You"
* "One Shining Moment"
* "Shine"

Other songs|

* "A House Is Not a Home"
* "Any Day Now"

Tribute albums|

* Forever, for Always, for Luther
* So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross
* Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II

Related articles|

* Luther (album)
* This Close to You
* Change (band)
* Luther Burger

* v
* t
* e

The Gap Band

* Charlie Wilson
* Ronnie Wilson
* Robert Wilson

Studio albums|

* Magicians Holiday (1974)
* The Gap Band (1977)
* The Gap Band (1979)
* The Gap Band II (1979)
* The Gap Band III (1980)
* Gap Band IV (1982)
* Gap Band V: Jammin' (1983)
* Gap Band VI (1984)
* Gap Band VII (1985)
* Gap Band 8 (1986)
* Straight From The Heart (1988)
* Round Trip (1989)
* Testimony (1994)
* Ain't Nothin' But a Party (1995)
* Y2K: Funkin' Till 2000 Comz (1999)

Live albums|

* Live & Well (1996)

Compilation albums|

* Gap Gold: The Best of The Gap Band (1985)
* The Best of Gap Band (1995)

Songs|

* "Oops Up Side Your Head"
* "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)"
* "Humpin'"
* "Yearning for Your Love"
* "Early in the Morning"
* "You Dropped a Bomb on Me"
* "Outstanding"
* "Party Train"
* "Going in Circles"
* "All of My Love"

Related articles|

* Discography
* Lonnie Simmons
* Total Experience Records

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

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