Going in Circles

"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]

"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, 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)

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1969) Peak position Canada RPM 24 US Billboard Hot 100[5] 15 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles 3

Year-end charts Chart (1969) Rank U.S. Soul/R&B (Billboard) [6] 19 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] 29

Cover versions

• Dwight T. Ross (1968). Sampled in "ManyFacedGod" by Jay-Z featuring James Blake from his album 4:44.
• Carolyn Franklin, on Chain Reaction (1970)
• Isaac Hayes, on Black Moses (1971)
• The Gap Band, on Gap Band VII (1985)
• Maceo Parker, on Funk Overload (1998)
• Crime Mob, on "Circles" (2007)

Luther Vandross version

"Going in Circles"
Single by Luther Vandross
from the album Songs
A-side	"Love The One You're With"
Released	September 1994 (U.S., UK)
Genre	R&B, soul
Length	4:53
Label	Epic Records
Songwriter(s)	Jerry Peters, Anita Poree
Producer(s)	Walter Afanasieff Luther Vandross (co-producer)
Luther Vandross singles chronology
"Always and Forever" (1994) "Going in Circles" (1994) "Every Year, Every Christmas" (1995)

Several cover versions have been done; the most popularized version is R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross' cover. Vandross recorded a version that appears on his 1994 standards album Songs. In 1995, his cover version was released as the B-side single to "Love The One You're With". The song received heavy radio-rotation and became a top thirty hit on both Billboard's 'Hot R&B Singles' and 'Hot Adult Contemporary Songs'.[8]

Track list

US CD Single[9]

1. "Going In Circles" (Radio Edit) - 4:00
2. "Going In Circles" (Album Version) - 5:12
3. "Going In Circles" (Instrumental) - 4:00
4. "Love The One You're With" (Edit) - 3:43
5. "Love The One You're With" (Remix Edit) - 3:59

Charts

Chart (1995)	Peak position[10]
US Billboard Hot 100	95
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles	28

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. https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=FRIENDS+OF+DISTINCTION#search_section
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.
9. Vandross-"Going in Circles"/"Love The One You're With" - (US CD Single).discogs.com
10. Luther Vandross - Singles Chart history.Billboard.com