Sunwheel Dance

Sunwheel Dance
Studio album by Bruce Cockburn
Released	1972
Recorded	September to December 1971
Studio	Thunder Sound
Genre	Folk
Length	34:24
Labels	True North, Rounder
Producer	Eugene Martynec
Bruce Cockburn chronology
High Winds, White Sky (1971) Sunwheel Dance (1972) Night Vision (1973)
Singles from Sunwheel Dance
"It's Going Down Slow" Released: 1972 "Up On the Hillside" Released: 1972

Sunwheel Dance is the third studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. It was released in April 1972 by True North Records and reached the top 20 of the RPM Canadian albums chart, his first to do so. It also spawned two singles that made the Canadian adult contemporary chart.

Release

The album was remastered and released by Rounder Records in 2005 with two bonus tracks. For the most part, Cockburn's lyrics here continue to be primarily introspective and spiritual, bolstered by sparse acoustic arrangements. Cockburn made his first foray into political commentary on the anti-war diatribe "Going Down Slow," which also marks the artist's first utilization of a full band on record. The album has sold steadily through the years, receiving a Canadian gold record award in 1988.

When the album was still on the charts, Cockburn participated in the Maple Music Junket Concerts. The event spanned multiple days and venues, with Cockburn performing at the second concert held at Massey Hall in Toronto on June 6, 1972. The event, which was financed by entities including the Canadian Recording Manufacturer's Association and the Composers, Authors and Publishers Association of Canada was labeled by RPM as "the largest gathering of European press people to ever take place on Canadian soil", having been organized with the intention of showcasing Canadian talent to Europeans.

Cockburn also played at the Mariposa Folk Festival that year, which attracted 14,000 attendees on the final day of the event. During his Sunday performance, Cockburn opted to forgo some of his set to give Neil Young the opportunity to play.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

In a contemporary review of Sunwheel Dance, RPM referred to the album as "flawless". AllMusic music critic James Chrispell wrote retrospectively, "Cockburn has begun to show that he couldn't be categorized, and while that made listening to his music so enjoyable, he had a hard time at the retail level. But if you're willing to take a little time and listen with an open ear, you'll find much here to celebrate."

Track listing

All songs by Bruce Cockburn

1. "My Lady and My Lord" – 2:15
2. "Feet Fall on the Road" – 2:41
3. "Fall" – 2:58
4. "Sunwheel Dance" – 1:42
5. "Up On the Hillside" – 3:00
6. "Life Will Open" – 4:06
7. "It's Going Down Slow" – 3:35
8. "When the Sun Falls" – 2:21
9. "He Came from the Mountain" – 3:12
10. "Dialogue with the Devil (or Why Don't We Celebrate)" – 6:20
11. "For the Birds" – 2:14

2005 bonus tracks

12. "Morning Hymn" - 2:39
13. "My Lady and My Lord (Solo Version)" - 2:19

Personnel

Musicians

• Bruce Cockburn – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dulcimer, mandolin, piano, slide guitar
• Eugene Martynec – piano and electric guitar
• Dennis Pendrith – bass guitar
• John Savage – drums
• Trisha Cullen – accordion
• Ian Guenther – violin
• Carol Marshall – cello
• Eric Nagler – jaw harp
• Michael Ferry, Anne and Mose Scarlett, Eric and Marty Nagler – chorus on "For the Birds"

Production

• Eugene Martynec – producer
• Bill Seddon – engineer at Thunder Sound Studios

Chart performance

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Canada Top Albums (RPM)	19

Certifications

Certifications and sales for Sunwheel Dance

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)	Gold	50,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.