Pop Archives

Flake - This Wheel’s On Fire (1970)

(Bob Dylan - Rick Danko)
Australia Australia
#4 Sydney #12 Melbourne #7 Adelaide

Single on Du Monde.

Sydney band Flake was formed in 1968 that went through several personnel changes and genres, from hard rock to psychedelia to Top 40 pop.

For recent news on Flake’s flautist and saxophonist Dave Allen see his blog Burning Mountain Studio, which links to his pages on Flake history.

Suggested by Mike Robbins.


The Band - This Wheel’s On Fire (1968)

(Bob Dylan - Rick Danko)
USA USA

On July 1968 album Music From Big Pink.

See the comprehensive This Wheel’s On Fire page by Peter Viney (at Jan Hoiberg’s The Band website) which lists many other versions of the song.


Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & Trinity - This Wheel’s On Fire (1968)

(Bob Dylan - Rick Danko)
UK UK
Original version
#5 UK #40 Melbourne #31 Brisbane #29 Perth

Single on Marmalade April 1968.


Bob Dylan - This Wheel’s On Fire (1975)

(Bob Dylan - Rick Danko)
USA USA

Original unreleased recording.

Recorded in 1967, released in July 1975 on the album The Basement Tapes.


Julie Driscoll & Adrian Edmondson - This Wheel’s On Fire (1992)

(Bob Dylan - Rick Danko)
UK UK
Later version

Recorded as the theme to the British comedy TV series Absolutely Fabulous.

During the course of the series, various other guests in various combinations performed the song, including P.P. Arnold, Marianne Faithful and Debbie Harry.