1969 Song of the Day– “Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat & Tears. Spinning Wheel was on the groups second album -the self-titled Blood, Sweat and Tears- the album went to #1- the single released in 1969 peaked at #2 in July 1969- it stayed at #2 for three weeks blocked out of #1 by  Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet by Henry Mancini  and In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans. The song was written by the groups vocalist at the time David Clayton-Thomas. It was produced by James William Guercio- who is most famous as Chicago’s producer. Joni Mitchell’s The Circle Game inspired the writing of the song.

Spinning Wheel would be nominated for three Grammy Awards-winning one for Best Instrumental Arrangement. The song had also been nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Incredibly- well considering it was the Grammy’s maybe not so shocking the album won the Grammy for Best Album.

In the summer of 1969 Blood, Sweat & Tears was a hot band- they would appear at Woodstock- being the second highest paid act at that music festival. At least on paper they didn’t get paid. They weren’t in the documentary Woodstock which not only cost them some money but they were also in a way cut out of history by not being in the movie. I never liked Blood, Sweat & Tears -except for Spinning Wheel.

David Clayton- Thomas has described 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.

Spinning Wheel has been covered by a variety of artists over the years from Benny Goodman to James Brown to Peggy Lee to Nancy Wilson.