Circle
From The Harry Chapin Wiki
(Redirected from Circles)
Circle is a Harry Chapin song released on the Sniper and Other Love Songs album. This song has been described as the Chapin family theme song that's sung at weddings, funerals, and bar mitzvahs. It became the song that typically finished his concerts with. This song is also known as All My Life's a Circle and Circles.
Contents |
Inspiration
This song was originally written for brother Tom for use on his children's TV show Make a Wish. On the Mike Douglas Show Harry mentioned Circle was written one night in a greasy spoon in Brooklyn Heights. It was due the next day for a filming of Make a Wish.
Releases
First release
- Sniper and Other Love Songs (1972)
Live releases
- Greatest Stories Live (1976)
- Gold Medal Collection (1988) - from a performance at The Bottom Line in NYC.
Anthologies
- Anthology of Harry Chapin (1985)
- Story of a Life (1999)
- VH1: Behind the Music (2001)
- A Better Place to Be: The Songs of Harry Chapin (2002)
- Harry Chapin Classics (2003)
- Heads and Tales and Sniper and Other Love Songs (2004)
- Introducing Harry Chapin (2006)
- Cat's in the Cradle and Other Hits (2008)
Videos
- You Are the Only Song (1983)
- Rockpalast Live - 25th Anniversary (2002)
Various artist compilations
- Sold on Song - Radio 2 (CD) - UK
- Simple Living 2 (2001) - Warner - Canada
Covers
| Year | Artist | Album | Label | Format(s) | Country | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| circa 1972 | Tom Chapin | TV | US | performed on Children's TV show Make a Wish | ||
| 1972 | New Seekers | Polydor 2058-242 | vinyl 7" | UK | The single charted in the UK for 16 weeks, reaching as high as #4. | |
| 1972 | New Seekers | Philips 6000.058 | vinyl 7" | Unknown | ||
| 1972 | New Seekers | The Best of the New Seekers | vinyl LP | UK | live performance from a 1970 British TV show is available on YouTube. | |
| 1982 | Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie | Precious Friend | vinyl LP, CD | US | live version | |
| 1982 | Tom Chapin | In the City of Mercy | vinyl LP, CD | US | ||
| 1982 | Tom Chapin | Specter Records International | 7" | US | ||
| 1984 | Cast of Lies and Legends | Lies and Legends | vinyl LP | US | ||
| 1984 | Mason Dixon | Texas Records | vinyl 7" | US | The B side of the single was I Never Had a Chance. | |
| 1990 | Oscar Brand, Steve Chapin, Tom Chapin, and Pete Seeger | Harry Chapin Tribute | LP, CD, cassette | US | Live from the 1987 Harry Chapin Tribute Concert. The song was reprised by the entire cast including Peter, Paul, and Mary. | |
| 1991 | Limeliters | Alive! In Concert | LP, CD, cassette | US | From a 1985 concert on their also on a anthology release Until We Get It Right. | |
| 1996 | Tom Chapin | Join the Jubilee | CD, cassette | US | Live | |
| 1998 | New Seekers | Greatest Hits | CD | Anthology of 1972 release | ||
| 1999 | Rob Wynne | Wrote the filk lyrics "A Con Spent in Circle" to be sung to the tune of Circle. It was a 2001 Pegasus Award finalist. | ||||
| 2003 | New Seekers | The Singles | CD | Anthology of 1972 release | ||
| 2006 | New Seekers | The New Seekers Songbook 1970-1974 | CD | Anthology of 1972 release | ||
| 2006 | Eve Graham | The Mountains Welcome Me Home | Scotdisc | CD | Eve was originally with the New Seekers |
Video Performances
| Jason Colannino performing Circle on ukulele |
Cultural references
- San Juan Island Update blog by Ian Byington quotes a line from Circle.
