The Friends of Distinction vs. Luther Vandross | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 50^th edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2022), The Friends of Distinction and Luther Vandross contend for the best rendition of “Going in Circles.” 

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 50^th edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2022), 🎙 The Friends of Distinction and 🎙 Luther Vandross contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “Going in Circles”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. The Friends of Distinction, “Going in Circles”

💿 Grazin’ • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1969

“I’m an ever-rollin’ wheel, without a destination real / I’m an ever-spinning top, whirling around till I drop.” Soul collective 🎙 The Friends of Distinction (🎙 Floyd Butler, 🎙 Jessica Cleaves, 🎙 Harry Elston, and 🎙 Barbara Love), who were active in the late 1960s and disbanded in the 1970s, scored a hit with 🎵 “Going in Circles”. “Going in Circles” appeared in the collective’s 1969 album, 💿 Grazin’. The single peaked at no. 15 on the pop charts, earning gold certification from the RIAA.  Notably, numerous musicians have covered the gem penned by 🎼 ✍ Jerry Peters and 🎼 ✍ Anita Poree including 🎙 Isaac Hayes (💿 Black Moses, 1971), 🎙 The Gap Band (💿 Gap Band VII, 1985), and 🎙 Luther Vandross (💿 Songs, 1994).

As the excerpted lyrics suggest, The Friends are in a vicious circle.  In the second verse, the collective asserts, “I’m a faceless clock, with timeless hopes that never stop.” The effect of love is written all over this one, best summarized by the chorus: “You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go).” The poetic lyrics are high-flying vocals are utterly sublime.  Adding to the sheer excellence of  “Going in Circles” is the lush production work (🎛 John Florez), which was idiomatic of late 1960s-70s soul sound.  The orchestration is absolutely incredible. The Friends of Distinction may have been a short-lived soul collective, but the Los Angeles quartet ‘got it done’ releasing a couple of hits including 🎵 “Going in Circles”.  Sure, it’s a fifty-plus year-old song that sounds nothing like the music of the 2020s. Honestly, that’s a beautiful, truly refreshing thing.

Appears in 🔻:

• The Friends of Distinction, “Going in Circles”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 113 (2022)
• Circles: 5ive Songs No. 72 (2022)
• The Friends of Distinction vs. Isaac Hayes: Head 2 Head 🗣️ 46 (2022)
• 11 More Circular Songs to Keep You Goin’ ‘Round in Circles 

2. Luther Vandross, “Going in Circles”

💿 Songs • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 📅 1994 

When the late, great 🎙 Luther Vandross covers a song, WATCH OUT! Why? Well, the 🏆 Grammy winner possessed one of the most silky, smooth voices of all time.  He is the exemplification of a cool energy. With many covers of the 🎙 The Friends of Distinction classic, 🎵 “Going in Circles”, the Vandross take from his 1994 album, 💿 Songs, ranks among the crème de la crème.

In Luther’s hands, 🎵 “Going in Circles” gets an adult contemporary R&B makeover – a sound that was popular in the 1990s.  The unique harmonic scheme that graces the original written by 🎼 ✍ Jerry Peters and Anita Poree remains firmly intact.  With the smooth production of 🎛 Walter Afanasieff (a 1990s ‘it’ producer), “Going in Circles” sounds incredibly chill despite the fact that Vandross is singing about the plight of love.  Throughout the course of the record, Vandross sounds as if he never broke a sweat recording it, even when he amplifies the energy during the timeless chorus.  It is these cool-as-a-cucumber performances that define Vandross’ legacy.  Had The Friends of Distinction, 🎙 Isaac Hayes or  🎙 The Gap Band not recorded “Going in Circles” prior, you could swear this was a Vandross original, particularly given some of the distinct ad-libs and nuances incorporated.  Paired with 🎵 “Love The One You’re With”, “Going in Circles” peaked at no. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Appears in 🔻:

• Luther Vandross, “Going in Circles”: Covers No. 3 (2022)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️

🎙 The Friends of Distinction or 🎙 Luther Vandross? Much like the previous Head 2 Head 🗣️ that this song appeared in, it is a very, very tough decision to make. The Friends of Distinction own the best charting version, peaking at no. 15 on the pop charts.  Obviously, the no. 95 peak by Vandross’ version would instantly knock it out of contention if it was merely judged by chart success.  Listen to both, and honestly, both yield the utmost musical brilliance.  The right move is probably to award The Friends of Distinction outright, BUT there is just something about that Luther version that is giving draw or tie to me.

The Friends of Distinction vs. Luther Vandross: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 50 (2022) [📷: andresilva5, Antoni Shkraba via Pexels, Brent Faulkner, Kool Shooters, Layers, Mario Aranda, The Musical Hype, Pixabay, talha khalil, Sony Music Entertainment, Valentin Tikhonov, Nick Wang on Unsplash, Tima Miroshnichenko]