Roundabout (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Roundabout


Artist = Yes
from Album = Fragile
B-side = "Long Distance Runaround"
Released = January, 1972
Format = 7" 45 rpm
Recorded = 1971
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 8:29 (full-length version)3:27 (single edit)

8:33 (Early Rough Mix)
Label = Atlantic Records
Background = darkturquoise
Writer = Jon Anderson, Steve Howe
Producer = Yes, Eddie Offord
Chart position = * #13 U.S. Pop
Reviews =
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Fragile
Type = studio
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Roundabout"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Cans and Brahms"
next_no =2

"Roundabout" is the track which opens the 1971 album "Fragile" produced by British progressive rock band Yes. In 1972, an edited version of the song was released as a single with "Long Distance Runaround" on the B side. [ [http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/yes/roundabout___long_distance_runaround/ Roundabout / Long Distance Runaround] ] The single has been listed at #15 on one list of 1972s best songs, [ [http://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/single/1972 Top singles of 1972] ] and "Roundabout" has become one of the best-known songs by Yes. Live versions of the song are found on the albums Yessongs, Keys to Ascension, , and Live at Montreux 2003. "Roundabout" was written by Jon Anderson and Steve Howe.

Although the song's cryptic lyrics are believed by some to have philosophical themes, Anderson says that the words simply came to him while driving to the studio one early morning.

Howe's use of octave harmonics on the acoustic guitar introduction of the song, plucking the four notes that would comprise an Em chord on an open guitar, has become one of his signature pieces of guitar work.

In the film "School of Rock", "Fragile" is given to the keyboardist Lawrence as he is told to listen to the keyboard solo on "Roundabout".

"Roundabout" was also used in the 1999 film "Outside Providence" as it is heard through a sequence of two scenes. An acoustic arrangement of "Roundabout" was recorded for .

References