"Tight Rope" is the debut 1972 hit single by singer-songwriter Leon Russell. It was the lead track on his LP, Carney.

"Tight Rope"
side-A label
Side A of the US single
Single by Leon Russell
from the album Carney
B-side"This Masquerade"
ReleasedAugust 1972
GenreBlue-eyed soul[1]
Length2:59
LabelShelter 7325
Songwriter(s)Leon Russell
Producer(s)Denny Cordell
Leon Russell
Leon Russell singles chronology
"Tight Rope"
(1972)
"Queen of the Roller Derby"
(1973)

The song reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] and number 10 on the Cash Box Top 100.[3] In Canada, it reached number five.[4]

This song is a circus metaphor about clinging to life while being on a high wire.

In the instrumental section, this song quotes a couple of times, a slow version of the "Entrance of the Gladiators" March, played in a mysterious descending scale, before Russell finishes the last half of the bridge section.

The B-side of 45 RPM for "Tight Rope" was "This Masquerade", also penned by Russell, which became a Top 10 hit for George Benson in 1976.

Chart performance

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References

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  1. ^ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Color Blind: Blue-eyed Soul". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 42. ISBN 031214704X.
  2. ^ a b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  3. ^ a b "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, October 28, 1972". Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 262. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "1972 Year End". Bullfrogspond.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
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