The Circle Game

Infobox Album |
Name = The Circle Game
Type = Album
Artist = Tom Rush


Released = December, 1968
Recorded = 1968
Genre = Folk rock
Length = 38:16
Label = Elektra
Producer = Arthur Gorson
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:pe5m963o3epo link]
Last album = "I Got a Mind to Ramble" (1968)
This album = "The Circle Game" (1968)
Next album = "Tom Rush" (1970)

"The Circle Game" is the 1968 album from pioneer Folk rock musician Tom Rush. He covers three songs from fellow folkie Joni Mitchell, as well as songs by Jackson Browne and James Taylor. Mr. Rush himself wrote "Rockport Sunday" and his classic, often-covered tune "No Regrets"; the song has become a folk standard, and has been covered by several dozen artists, including Emmylou Harris, indie-pop group Luna (band), Fairport Convention, Olivia Newton-John and Curtis Stigers. In addition to his "classic" rendition here, Rush himself later did a radically different version for Columbia Records featuring a screaming electric guitar solo.

The songs follow the cycle of a relationship from its beginning to an end, according to the lyric content and sequencing of songs. Joni Mitchell's "The Circle Game," recorded prior to her own release of the song, can be read as the turning point of the relationship while "Rockport Sunday" ends the romance using an instrumental piece, followed by the coda "No Regrets." Supporting this concept is the cover shot, which pictures then girlfriend Jill Lumpkin behind Tom Rush as photographed by Linda Eastman.

Track listing

#"Tin Angel" (Joni Mitchell) – 3:22
#"Something in the Way She Moves" (James Taylor) – 3:25
#"Urge for Going" (Joni Mitchell) – 5:50
#"Sunshine, Sunshine" (James Taylor) – 2:55
#"The Glory of Love" (Billy Hill) – 2:22
#"Shadow Dream Song" (Jackson Browne) – 3:24
#"The Circle Game" (Joni Mitchell) – 5:12
#"So Long" (Charlie Rich) – 2:55
#"Rockport Sunday" (Tom Rush) – 4:34
#"No Regrets" (Tom Rush) - 3:50

Personnel

*Tom Rush - guitar, vocals
*Hugh McCracken - electric guitar, keyboards
*Don Thomas - electric guitar, keyboards
*Jonathan Raskin - acoustic guitar, bass
*Bruce Langhorne - acoustic guitar
*Eric Gale - electric guitar
*Joe Grimm - bass, saxophone
*Joe Mack - bass, saxophone
*Bob Bushnell - bass, saxophone
*Paul Harris - keyboards
*Buddy Lucas - saxophone
*Herb Lovelle - drums
*Bernard Purdie - drums
*Richie Ritz - drums

Production

*Producer: Arthur Gorson
*Arranger: Paul Harris
*Recording Engineer: Bruce Botnick/Brooks Arthur
*Production Supervisor: Jac Holzman
*Mastering: Zal Schreiber
*Concept: Tom Rush
*Photography: Linda Eastman
*Cover Design: William S. Harvey