| "Roundabout" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Single by Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| from the album Fragile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B-side | "Long Distance Runaround" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Released | 4 January 1972[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format | 7" vinyl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 8:29 (full-length version) 4:54 (TM Gold Disc edit) 3:27 (single edit) 8:33 (Early Rough Mix) |
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| Label | Atlantic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Jon Anderson, Steve Howe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer | Yes, Eddie Offord | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes singles chronology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Roundabout" is the opening track for the 1971 album Fragile by British progressive rock band Yes. The song was written by singer Jon Anderson and guitarist Steve Howe. In January 1972, an edited version of the song was released as a single with "Long Distance Runaround" on the B-side. "Roundabout" has become one of the best-known songs by Yes. Live versions of the song are found on the albums Yessongs (1973), Classic Yes (1981), Keys to Ascension (1996), House of Yes: Live from House of Blues (2000), and Live at Montreux 2003 (2007). The Yessongs version was released as a single in 1974.[1] An acoustic arrangement of "Roundabout" was recorded for The Ultimate Yes: 35th Anniversary Collection, released in 2003.
With its #13 peak on the Billboard Hot 100, "Roundabout" ranks as the second highest charting US single for Yes, after their 1983 #1 hit "Owner of a Lonely Heart". The single version was edited down to 3:27 for American pop radio airplay, although many stations played the full version of the song. "Roundabout" peaked at #23 on the Dutch Top 40.[2]
Anderson has said the lyrics to the song were inspired by a long tour van ride from northern Scotland to north England, which featured many traffic-clogged roundabouts along with mountain and lake scenery.[3]
On the commentary track for the DVD release of School of Rock (2003), actor Jack Black states that the solo is his personal favourite keyboard solo. "Roundabout" was also used in the 1999 film Outside Providence as it is heard through a sequence of two scenes.
"Roundabout" is a playable track in the music game Rock Band 3, where it is the hardest song for Keys, Pro Guitar, and Band.
"Roundabout" was used as the first song in Episode 20, Season 2 of the TV Series Fringe.
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