Wheel in the Sky
"Wheel in the Sky" is a song by the American rock band Journey, recorded in 1977 and included on their fourth studio album, Infinity. It was written and composed by Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon and Diane Valory.
"Wheel in the Sky" | ||||
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Single by Journey | ||||
from the album Infinity | ||||
B-side | "Can Do" | |||
Released | April 8, 1978 | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | Hard rock | |||
Length | 3:31 (single) 4:12 (album) | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Robert Fleischman, Neal Schon, Diane Valory | |||
Producer(s) | Roy Thomas Baker | |||
Journey singles chronology | ||||
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At the time of the song's composition, the band had decided to follow a new direction into an edgier sound and began recording simple hard rock pieces with new lead vocalist Fleischman. He was replaced by Steve Perry once work on Infinity began in earnest. The song had started out as a poem called "Wheels In My Mind" by Diane Valory, the wife of Journey bassist Ross Valory.[1]
"Wheel In The Sky" reached #57 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978, becoming Journey's first song to chart on the Hot 100, and also reached #45 on the Canadian RPM 100.
Structure
The song opens with an instrumental that lasts for 28 seconds. Perry then sings the first verse, which is followed by the chorus, and the second verse with the chorus repeated once again. Neal Schon joins with a guitar solo which is filled with Perry's vocals. The chorus is repeated four times before the outro that closes the song.
Personnel
- Steve Perry – lead vocals
- Neal Schon – guitars, backing vocals
- Gregg Rolie – piano, backing vocals
- Ross Valory – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Aynsley Dunbar – drums
Chart performance
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canadian RPM 100 | 45 |
South Africa (Springbok)[2] | 12 |
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[3] | 57 |
U.S. Cash Box Top 100 [4] | 52 |
In popular culture
- The song can be heard blaring in the background of the closing scene of HBO's The Sopranos season 2, episode 23 "Bust Out."
- It also plays in the third episode of the second season of Supernatural.
- Klaus sings the song on a mix tape in "Stan's Best Friend," an episode of American Dad!