"You Are My Friend" is a ballad co-written and recorded by American singer Patti LaBelle, released as the second single off her self-titled debut album, in 1978 on the Epic label. While it only reached as high as number sixty-one on the Billboard Hot-Selling Soul Singles chart upon its initial release,[1] it has gone on to become one of the singer's signature anthems.
Patti LaBelle ended an eighteen-year association with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash as their group Labelle had decided to break up. LaBelle reluctantly carried on with a solo career with the support of then-husband Armstead Edwards, who signed on as her personal manager. In the middle of recording her debut album in New Orleans with Chameleon producer David Rubinson, Labelle and Edwards wrote lyrics to a James "Budd" Ellison composition they called "You Are My Friend". The song was a tribute to the couple's only child, Zuri Edwards. The song was one of the last to be recorded for LaBelle's debut self-titled solo album.
Background and compositionEdit
"You Are My Friend" was musically composed by James Ellison, otherwise known as "Budd". Ellison was a longtime background musician for Labelle and had befriended the singer following Labelle's split. Prior to recording the song, Ellison and another Labelle musician, Edward Batts, co-wrote the song, "What Can I Do For You", for Labelle's 1974 album, Nightbirds, which became a modest hit. The lyrics were by Edwards and LaBelle themselves. Edwards and LaBelle wrote on previous Labelle albums together. The majority of the song was recorded under E major. Rubinson, who produced the song, included rhythm guitar, bass, drums and strings. Ellison played piano on the song and some of the background vocals were handled by The Waters and members of The Valentinos (Bobby Womack's former family group). One of its members, Cecil Womack, would later collaborate with LaBelle on her material with Philadelphia International Records in the early eighties. While the majority of the song was arranged as a pop ballad, gospel elements were included. This inclusion wouldn't be noticed until LaBelle's live performances of the song, which she and Ellison arranged.
ReceptionEdit
Released in early 1978 as the second single from Patti LaBelle, the song was a relative failure on the R&B chart only peaking as high as number 61 and failing to even enter the Billboard Hot 100. The success of the song in its early years was due to LaBelle's live performances of the song. When she first performed the song in her first solo concert in London, LaBelle received a standing ovation, she received a similar one when she performed the song on TV the first time on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert as the last song she performed before leaving the stage.
The song received radio airplay on urban radio stations, which still continues today, and is regarded as one of LaBelle's signature songs.
CoversEdit
One of the covers of the song was from singer Sylvester, recorded in San Francisco for his live album Living Proof. During the song, Sylvester was joined by The Weather Girls, who started off as Sylvester's backup singers, Two Tons Of Fun. While he dedicated the song to LaBelle, it was clear that it was a love about him and The Weather Girls.[2] That same year, disco group Kenny & Friends did a dance version of the song. In 2003 gospel singer Shirley Caesar recorded the song for her album Shirley Caesar & Friends which featured Patti LaBelle on the recording. Faith Evans did a live version paying tribute to LaBelle in 2001. LaBelle re-recorded the song for her album The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle, in 2006, as a tribute to her deceased collaborator, James Ellison.
Live performancesEdit
Patti LaBelle hardly leaves the stage without singing "You Are My Friend". In the early 1980s Labelle would include "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" which would lead her into "You Are My Friend".
Background vocals by James Gadson, Norma Harris, Ray Parker Jr., Rosie Casals, Sherri Barman, Yvonne Fair, Cecil Womack, Curtis Womack, Friendly Womack, Julia Waters & Maxine Waters
Lyrics written by Patti LaBelle and Armstead Edwards
Music written and arranged by James "Budd" Ellison
Produced by David Rubinson
ReferencesEdit
^Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 337.
^Gamson, Joshua (2005). The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, The Music, The Seventies in San Francisco. Picador. p. 175.
October 21, 2023
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For the Fred Rogers biographical drama film announced with the same name see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood You Are My Friend is a ballad co written and recorded by American singer Patti LaBelle released as the second single off her self titled debut album in 1978 on the Epic label While it only reached as high as number sixty one on the Billboard Hot Selling Soul Singles chart upon its initial release 1 it has gone on to become one of the singer s signature anthems You Are My Friend Single by Patti LaBellefrom the album Patti LaBelleReleased1978Recorded1977 New OrleansGenreR amp BLength4 36LabelEpicSongwriter s Patti LaBelleArmstead EdwardsJames Budd EllisonProducer s David RubinsonPatti LaBelle singles chronology Joy to Have Your Love 1977 You Are My Friend 1978 Dan Swit Me 1978 Contents 1 Overview 1 1 Background 1 2 Background and composition 1 3 Reception 1 4 Covers 2 Live performances 3 Credits 4 ReferencesOverview EditBackground Edit Patti LaBelle ended an eighteen year association with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash as their group Labelle had decided to break up LaBelle reluctantly carried on with a solo career with the support of then husband Armstead Edwards who signed on as her personal manager In the middle of recording her debut album in New Orleans with Chameleon producer David Rubinson Labelle and Edwards wrote lyrics to a James Budd Ellison composition they called You Are My Friend The song was a tribute to the couple s only child Zuri Edwards The song was one of the last to be recorded for LaBelle s debut self titled solo album Background and composition Edit You Are My Friend was musically composed by James Ellison otherwise known as Budd Ellison was a longtime background musician for Labelle and had befriended the singer following Labelle s split Prior to recording the song Ellison and another Labelle musician Edward Batts co wrote the song What Can I Do For You for Labelle s 1974 album Nightbirds which became a modest hit The lyrics were by Edwards and LaBelle themselves Edwards and LaBelle wrote on previous Labelle albums together The majority of the song was recorded under E major Rubinson who produced the song included rhythm guitar bass drums and strings Ellison played piano on the song and some of the background vocals were handled by The Waters and members of The Valentinos Bobby Womack s former family group One of its members Cecil Womack would later collaborate with LaBelle on her material with Philadelphia International Records in the early eighties While the majority of the song was arranged as a pop ballad gospel elements were included This inclusion wouldn t be noticed until LaBelle s live performances of the song which she and Ellison arranged Reception Edit Released in early 1978 as the second single from Patti LaBelle the song was a relative failure on the R amp B chart only peaking as high as number 61 and failing to even enter the Billboard Hot 100 The success of the song in its early years was due to LaBelle s live performances of the song When she first performed the song in her first solo concert in London LaBelle received a standing ovation she received a similar one when she performed the song on TV the first time on Don Kirshner s Rock Concert as the last song she performed before leaving the stage The song received radio airplay on urban radio stations which still continues today and is regarded as one of LaBelle s signature songs Covers Edit One of the covers of the song was from singer Sylvester recorded in San Francisco for his live album Living Proof During the song Sylvester was joined by The Weather Girls who started off as Sylvester s backup singers Two Tons Of Fun While he dedicated the song to LaBelle it was clear that it was a love about him and The Weather Girls 2 That same year disco group Kenny amp Friends did a dance version of the song In 2003 gospel singer Shirley Caesar recorded the song for her album Shirley Caesar amp Friends which featured Patti LaBelle on the recording Faith Evans did a live version paying tribute to LaBelle in 2001 LaBelle re recorded the song for her album The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle in 2006 as a tribute to her deceased collaborator James Ellison Live performances EditPatti LaBelle hardly leaves the stage without singing You Are My Friend In the early 1980s Labelle would include What A Friend We Have In Jesus which would lead her into You Are My Friend Credits EditLead vocals by Patti LaBelle Background vocals by James Gadson Norma Harris Ray Parker Jr Rosie Casals Sherri Barman Yvonne Fair Cecil Womack Curtis Womack Friendly Womack Julia Waters amp Maxine Waters Lyrics written by Patti LaBelle and Armstead Edwards Music written and arranged by James Budd Ellison Produced by David RubinsonReferences Edit Whitburn Joel 2004 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 2004 Record Research p 337 Gamson Joshua 2005 The Fabulous Sylvester The Legend The Music The Seventies in San Francisco Picador p 175 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title You Are My Friend amp oldid 1123834131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
