The Wheel (Asleep at the Wheel album)

The Wheel is the fifth album by American western swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Produced by Tommy Allsup at Sumet-Bernet Studios in Dallas, Texas, it was released on March 14, 1977, as the group's third album on Capitol Records. Unlike the band's previous releases, all of which included covers of songs originally recorded by popular country and jazz artists, The Wheel features entirely original material (save for one traditional song), most of which was written by band member LeRoy Preston.

Following the release of Wheelin' and Dealin' the previous year, Asleep at the Wheel expanded to an 11-piece unit with the addition of second saxophonist Patrick "Taco" Ryan. For the recording of The Wheel, the band and Allsup opted to work entirely in Texas for the first time, rather than returning to Nashville, Tennessee. As well as being the first all-original album by the band, it is also their first not to feature multiple additional musicians, with Leon Rausch the sole guest on just one track.

The Wheel was Asleep at the Wheel's third consecutive album to register on the US Billboard 200 albums chart (on which it peaked at number 162) and to reach the top 40 of the Top Country Albums chart (on which it peaked at number 31). Just one single was issued from the record – the Rausch-featured "Somebody Stole His Body", which failed to chart. Reviews for the album were generally positive, with critics praising the "fun" nature of the music alongside the high quality of the performances.