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Wheels (The String-A-Longs song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Wheels'" is the debut single by the String-A-Longs, issued in 1960. Their biggest hit single, it peaked at No. 3 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and was the number 8 single of 1961 according to 'Billboard'. The track reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
The song has covered by many artists, including charting versions by Joe Loss Orchestra and Billy Vaughn Orchestra.
Background
The tune is believed to have been originally composed as "'Tell the World'", although who wrote the song is disputed. One story suggests that it was written by Stephens and Torres of the String-A-Longs, who were called the Leen Teens in their early days. The song was recorded at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis. Keith McCormack, who was the singer for the band, became too hoarse after catching a cold to sing at the recording session, so they recorded instead two instrumentals. Petty took their master recording of the song to Warwick Records who then signed them. How "Tell the World" became "Wheels" is believed to the result of an error; according to one story, "Tell the World" was backed by Petty's composition entitled "Wheels", but the labels for the two sides were switched by accident by Warwick Records when the record was pressed, and "Tell the World" became "Wheels". However, Torres said that Petty switched the labelling of the song deliberately, and when the song became a hit, Petty claimed composition credit for a song he did not write on the basis of what was given on the label. In 1964, the parties agreed to share the credit, subsequently the Broadcast Music copyright agency recorded all three as the composers.
Another version of the origin of "Wheels" credited Norman Petty as the writer of the hit instrumental rather than Stephens and Torres. The String-A-Longs had composed a boogie instrumental titled "Wheels", while Petty's instrumental was initially called "Tell the World". The labels were then reversed, and it listed Torres and Stephens as the writers of Petty's instrumental, while Petty was credited as the writer on the flip-side.Plainview Daily Herald, June 25, 1995 issue, page 3A It seems that Petty was able to claim a credit for writing "Wheels" (some releases credited Johnny Flamingo and Petty as the writers, and some listed him as the only writer) but the confusion has never really been resolved.
It was originally released as "Wheels"/"Tell the World", but when both sides of the single started to take off, Warwick Record split the single into two: "Wheels"/"Am I Asking Too Much", and "Tell the World"/"For My Angel".
The String-A-Longs version sold 7 million copies, while all versions of the song sold 16 million combined. The band, however, received little royalty as Warwick Records declared bankruptcy when the band tried to get a settlement from Warwick. The band was owed $700,000, the equivalent of $ 7 million in 2004.
Charts
Other versions
In the UK later the same year, the tune was revived by the Joe Loss Orchestra as "Wheels Cha Cha", and reached No. 21. It became popular in France later in 1961 under the title "Dans le cur de ma blonde". It is remembered also as the music to which bodybuilder Tony Holland flexed his muscles and won 'Opportunity Knocks'.
Billy Vaughn's version was a No. 1 hit in Germany for 14 weeks in 1961, and in Argentina for 3 weeks. In the US, it reached No. 28.
The Dutch group The Jumping Jewels had a number-one hit single in the Netherlands with their version in 1961.
Johnny Duncan released a vocal version with lyrics by Johnny Flamingo in 1963.
The Ventures, Hot Butter and Jorgen Ingmann also recorded their versions.
References
*Joel Whitburn, 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'. 7th edn, 2000
Category:1960 debut singles
Category:1961 singles
Category:Songs written by Norman Petty
Category:1960 songs
Category:Song recordings produced by Norman Petty
Category:Number-one singles in Argentina
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
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