This Wheel's on Fire (song)

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“This Wheel's on Fire”
“This Wheel's on Fire” cover
Marmalade Recs picture sleeve
Single by Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and The Trinity
B-side "A Kind of Love In"
"Black Cat"
Released 1968
Format 7" single
Recorded 1968
Genre Psychedelic rock
Label Marmalade Records 598006 (UK)
Writer(s) Bob Dylan, Rick Danko
“This Wheel's on Fire”
“This Wheel's on Fire” cover
Single by Siouxsie & the Banshees
from the album Through the Looking Glass
B-side "Shooting Sun", "Sleepwalking (On the High Wire)", "She Cracked"
Released January 12, 1987
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded 1986
Genre Alternative rock
Label Polydor
Writer(s) Bob Dylan, Rick Danko
Producer Siouxsie & the Banshees
Mike Hedges
Siouxsie & the Banshees singles chronology
"Candyman"
(1986)
"This Wheel's on Fire"
(1987)
"The Passenger"
(1987)

"This Wheel's on Fire" is a song written by Bob Dylan and Rick Danko. It was recorded by Dylan and appeared on his 1975 album The Basement Tapes, as well as on The Band's 1968 album Music From Big Pink.

In 1968, a version by Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and The Trinity became a hit in the United Kingdom. It peaked at number five on the UK singles chart. With its use of distortion, the imagery of the title and the group's flamboyant dress and performance, this version came to represent the psychedelic era in British music. Driscoll recorded the song again in the early '90s with Adrian Edmondson as the theme to the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous, whose main characters are throwbacks to that era.

In 1987 the song was covered by English rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees for their all-covers album Through the Looking Glass. Released as the first single from that album, the Banshees' version climbed to number fourteen in the UK singles chart.

Other artists who have released their own versions, include The Byrds, Hamilton Camp, Phil Lesh, Golden Earring, The Hollies, Ian and Sylvia, Leslie West, Serena Ryder, and Guster.


[edit] See also