Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. When that group split in 1966, members Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore went on to co-found the enormously successful Fifth Dimension and Elston started the Friends, whose sound was similar to, and often confused with, the Fifth Dimension -- both included tightly harmonizing men and women dressed in late 60s "hip" clothing -- though the Friends' music was generally more soulful.
The newly formed Friends of Distinction was managed by football great Jim Brown and signed with RCA Records. Hitting the popular music scene when Motown and Stax were dominating, the Friends arrived with a breezy California pop/soul sound. Great harmonies and crossover arrangements backed the individually strong lead vocals of the group members. Combined with top notch material (both originals and covers), the group, like the Fifth Dimension, sounded like a breath of fresh air on Pop radio in 1969.
Their first single, "Grazin' In the Grass," was a Elston-sung vocal remake of a Hugh Masekela instrumental cut, and hit the top 5 on both Pop and Soul charts in 1969. The group's follow-up, "Going In Circles," was a brilliant ballad that also charted high. Love took some time off to have a baby, and Charlene Gibson stepped in and sang lead on the group's third big hit, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely." She also sang on the wonderful album cut, "Crazy Mary."
The Friends were quite prolific from 1969-71, releasing 5 albums (a sixth appeared in 1973). They also released a number of great singles, including "Check It Out" (later remade by Tavares) and a terrific cover of Neil Sedaka's "Time Waits for No One." Their best cuts are excellently compiled in The Best of the Friends of Distinction, which was released in 1996.
As popular music changed in the mid-70s, the Friends' fortunes declined. Jessica Cleaves was featured with Earth Wind and Fire,first appearance on the"Last Days and Time" release. A grueling touring schedule and the lack of a hit for several years led the group to call it quits in 1975. Elston and Butler continued to write and perform for a few years, then ultimately went their separate ways, taking jobs outside of music.
Over the next two decades, there was a rediscovery of the great music that the Friends had made together, and their biggest hits were remade by several artists, with "Going In Circles" charting for the Gap Band and Luther Vandross and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" for pop artist Paul Davis. Most recently, "Grazin In the Grass" was released by Disney star Raven.
In 1990, Elston and Butler decided to bring the Friends back together. Tragically, Butler died (at Elston's side) before the group reunion could be realized. After Butler's death, Elston spent several years forming a new Friends group, ultimately bringing together Geno Henderson, Wendy Bruné and Berlando Drake to sing with Elston. That lineup currently tours and continues to entertain audiences nearly 40 years after the world first heard the Friends of Distinction.
Going in Circles
The Friends of Distinction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm an ever spinning top, whirling around till I drop
Oh but what am I to do, my mind is in a whirlpool
Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to
You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)
You got me going in circles
(Oh round and round I go, I'm spun out over you)
I'm a faceless clock, with timeless hopes that never stop
Lord but I feel that way, of my soul, my soul is stay
Oh but what am I to do, my mind is in a whirlpool
Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to
You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)
You got me going in circles
(Oh round and round I go)
I'm spun out over you (I need you baby) over you (I need you baby)
Spun out over you (I need you baby, I need you baby (oh baby) baby)
I'm spun (I need you baby) I said I'm spun out over you (I need you baby)
Spun out over you (I need you baby, I need you baby
Baby, I need you baby I spun out over you
I need you baby
The Friends of Distinction's song Going in Circles is about being stuck in a state of uncertainty and confusion in one's life. The lyrics portray a feeling of being lost and without direction, and the desperation for something to hold on to. The main lyrics of the song, "You got me going in circles, oh round and round I go, I'm spun out over you," illustrate how the singer is caught in a cycle of hopelessness as they struggle to find their way. The metaphor of an "ever rollin' wheel" and "ever spinning top" is used to describe the cyclical nature of the singer's thoughts and emotions, which seem to never stop.
The singer feels like a "faceless clock" with "timeless hopes that never stop" and is trapped within a "whirlpool" of their own thoughts. They plead for "one small thing to cling to" as they search for something to anchor them and provide direction in their lives. Ultimately, the singer is "spun out over" the person they are addressing in the song, indicating an intense emotional attachment and dependency on them.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal experience of feeling lost and unsure of one's direction in life, while also celebrating the power of human connection and the ability for others to provide hope and direction in times of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm an ever rollin' wheel, without a destination real
I feel like my life is constantly moving forward without a clear purpose or direction.
I'm an ever spinning top, whirling around till I drop
I'm constantly moving and busy, but it's leading me nowhere and exhausting me.
Oh but what am I to do, my mind is in a whirlpool
I feel lost and overwhelmed, and I don't know how to break out of this cycle.
Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to
I just need something positive and uplifting in my life to hold onto.
You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)
You're causing me to constantly rethink and second-guess myself, and it's causing me stress and anxiety.
You got me going in circles
My thoughts and emotions about you are keeping me in a continuous loop.
(Oh round and round I go, I'm spun out over you)
I can't escape these thoughts and feelings I have about you, and they're beginning to consume me.
I'm a faceless clock, with timeless hopes that never stop
I feel like I'm just going through the motions of life without any real purpose, but I still have dreams and aspirations that I can't let go of.
Lord but I feel that way, of my soul, my soul is stay
I'm starting to feel like this emptiness inside of me is permanent and won't go away anytime soon.
Spun out over you (I need you baby) over you (I need you baby)
I'm so consumed by my feelings for you that I feel like I need you to be a part of my life in some way.
Spun out over you (I need you baby, I need you baby (oh baby) baby)
My thoughts and emotions about you are so overwhelming that it's almost like an addiction; I can't get enough of you.
I'm spun (I need you baby) I said I'm spun out over you (I need you baby)
My feelings for you are causing me to feel completely out of control and dizzying.
Baby, I need you baby I spun out over you
I feel like my life is revolving around thoughts of you, and it's overwhelming.
I need you baby
I can't shake these feelings I have for you, and I feel like I need you to make them go away or to be with you.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANITA POREE, JERRY PETERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gregorywilson7568
Listened to this in Vietnam, one of the few black artist they played on Armed Forces radio. Needed this so much then.
@lestersmith493
thank you for your service
@kidkully
I knew a guy who was at khe sanh during the ENTIRE siege, he said him and his buddies were listening to chain of fools by Aretha franklin then the shelling started 💥 💥 🧨 💣 now every time I hear chain of fools I think of khe sanh lol, thanks for your service sir!
@dragonmeddler2152
Oh yeah. We got this out on the Ticonderoga (CVA-14) when the EC-121 Super G Constellations were flying high enough with the signal. Couldn't listen up on the flight deck, but in the ordnance shop with our makeshift antenna, it came in good on FM.
@blake-qh9xp
thank you for your service brother and welcome home from a old grunt
@blake-qh9xp
@@kidkully my 87 yr old father inlaw flew ammo runs over khe sahn, he said when the rear door opened all hell was around him, he s a good man, ran 5 miles a day until his he turned 80 and the knees gave out, now he settles for walking 3 miles a day, he s down to 100 lbs and we are scared but there is no telling him nothing,he enlisted in the 50s and did 25 before retiring, god bless their souls
@joshualowe5800
Has anyone ever gotten a bit of chills down their spine when they listen to this song?
@kathyjohson1273
Always!! Greatness does that to us, cause we know💯
@billywalkabout5076
I hear you man
@davidtaylor2659
Back when music had meaning and class! When the summers were nice and long and most importantly, when us real men loved to enjoy & appreciate women! Especially the ones who played hard to get!!!