"Tight Rope" is the debut 1972 hit single by singer-songwriter Leon Russell. It was the lead track on his LP, '' Carney''. The song reached number 11 on the U.S. ''

Billboard Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streamin ...

''''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - and number 10 on the '' Cash Box'' Top 100. In Canada, it reached number five. 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 "This Masquerade" is a song written by American singer and musician Leon Russell. It was originally recorded in 1972 by Russell for his album '' Carney'' and as a B-side for the album's hit single " Tight Rope". The song was then covered on Helen ...

", also penned by Russell, which became a Top 10 hit for

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, play ...

in 1976.

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

* 1972 songs 1972 singles Leon Russell songs Songs written by Leon Russell Song recordings produced by Denny Cordell Shelter Records singles {{1970s-song-stub