Wheels (The String-A-Longs song)

"Wheels" is the debut single by the String-A-Longs, issued in 1960. Their biggest hit single, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the number 8 single of 1961 according to Billboard.[1] The track reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3]

The tune was composed as "Tell the World" by Stephens and Torres of the String-A-Longs, who were then called the Leen Teens. When it was recorded at Norman Petty's studio, the song was backed by Petty's composition entitled "Wheels". But when the single was issued by Warwick Records, the labels for the two sides were switched: "Tell the World" became "Wheels". When it became a hit, Petty claimed the composing credit, as shown by the label. In 1964, the parties agreed to share the credit, subsequently the Broadcast Music copyright agency recorded all three as the composers.[4][5]

Another version of the origin of "Wheels" suggests that Norman Petty had written the hit instrumental while the String-A-Longs had composed a boogie instrumental they had titled as "Wheels". Petty's instrumental was initially called "Tell the World". When the record was pressed, the labels were reversed. This listed Torres and Stephens as the writers of Petty's instrumental. Petty was credited as the writer on the flip-side, also in error. It seems that Petty was able to claim a credit for writing "Wheels", but the confusion has never really ended. However, since Stephens and Torres were never eliminated completely as 'co-writers' of the song, it seems possible that they did compose some part of the song, while recording it. Keith McCormack, one of the band members, stated that he got too hoarse to sing another song they'd brought from Plainview to Clovis to record on that day, so they instead recorded Petty's instrumental which became the hit.[6]