Music fans were still reeling from the brutal slaying of former Beatle John Lennon five months earlier when "Watching The Wheels" was released as the third single from his album Double Fantasy (which had been released just weeks before his murder). With Double Fantasy being the singer's first album in six years, there had already been considerable anticipation for it and the tragic circumstances so soon after its release only served to heighten the attention it received. The album sold millions of copies in the wake of Lennon's death and the first two singles, "(Just Like) Starting Over" and "Woman," had peaked at #1 and #2, respectively.

"Watching The Wheels" followed suit, becoming the album's third Top Ten pop hit in the US, peaking at #10 in June of 1981. The graceful, mid-tempo song seemed to explain Lennon's absence from the music world for so long and expressed an air of contentment in leading a more normal life and even bemusement at those who would begrudge him such sumple delights. Simple and direct, both musically and lyrically, the song served as a fitting (and bittersweet) coda to Double Fantasy's successful run.

As "Watching The Wheels" was climbing the charts, Double Fantasy would capture a Grammy award for Album Of The Year, making the final release while Lennon was alive possibly his greatest critical and commercial success of his solo years. Unreleased material from the album's sessions would surface several years later when they were culled together for the Milk And Honey set.

To hear this song, and many more hits from the '80s, log on to Pop Go The '80s

What You Can Expect If You Give Pop Go The '80s A Listen

Quick Reference To Pop Go The '80s Blog