You've Got a Friend
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"You've Got a Friend" is a Grammy Award winning song from the early 1970s which marked the singer-songwriter movement. The song was written by Carole King and appeared on her 1971 album Tapestry. It has been named one of the The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
James Taylor sang a version of "You've Got a Friend" on his 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. The most famous version of the song, Taylor's rendition hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 31, 1971, and won Grammy Awards both for Taylor (Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male) and King (Song of the Year). It also reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart, giving Taylor his only Top 20 entry in the United Kingdom. The song was also recorded in 1971 by Dusty Springfield, a recording that predates Taylor's version. It was recorded for her third album for Atlantic Records, but a falling-out with the company meant the album was unreleased. The song was left unissued until 1999, when it was issued as a bonus track for the Rhino Records deluxe re-release of Dusty in Memphis.
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[edit] Other cover versions
Other than King, Springfield and Taylor's versions, a number of artists have covered "You've Got a Friend". A partial list includes:
- Country singer Lynn Anderson on her album How can I Unlive You.
- Gospel singers Angelo & Veronica on their album Angelo & Veronica.
- Rhythm and blues singer LaVern Baker on her album Woke Up This Mornin'.
- Jazz saxophonist Bob Belden on his King tribute album Tapestry.
- Jazz clarinetist Acker Bilk on his album All The Hits Plus More.
- Acid jazz and alternative hip hop Group Brand New Heavies on their album Shelter.
- Petula Clark on her album Live in London.
- Reggae musician Jimmy Cliff on his album Humanitarian.
- Gospel singer Jim Cole on his album An Evening in Cincinnati.
- Instrumental jazz group Common Ground on their Taylor tribute album Fire & Rain.
- Pop singer Billy Crawford on the Japan edition of his self-titled album.
- Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and pop singer Emily Osment on his album Home at Last.
- Country music singer Skeeter Davis on her album Love Takes A Lot Of My Time.
- Jazz pianist Xavier Davis on his album The Dance of Life.
- Guitarist Alex de Grassi on his Taylor tribute album Alex de Grassi's Interpretation of James Taylor.
- Reggae singer Adina Edwards on her album Don't Forget to Remember.
- Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald on her album Ella in London.
- Gospel singers The Blind Boys of Alabama on their album Bridge Over Troubled Water.
- Roberta Flack on her albums Heavy Soul and Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway.
- Al Green on his album Soul Survivor.
- American actor/singer Scott Grimes on his self-titled 1989 debut album.
- Ofra Haza on her album Ofra Haza 1997.
- British indie rock group The Housemartins on their album Now That's What I Call Quite Good.
- R&B singer Javine on her double A-side single "Don't Walk Away"/"You've Got A Friend". Her version was also taken from the movie soundtrack for Garfield the Movie.
- Guitar player Ryan Volsen has performed the song with singer-songwriter Logan Heftel.
- Michael Jackson on his album Got to Be There.
- Tom Jones on his album ...Sings the Ballads.
- Stacey Kent on her album The Boy Next Door.
- Country singer Anita Kerr on her album Daytime Nighttime.
- Labelle covered the song on their 1971 self-titled album.
- Lucero sings a Spanish version on her 1986 Lucerito album.
- Russell Malone on his album Playground.
- Easy-listening artist Mantovani on his album Magical Moods of Mantovani.
- Jazz saxophonist Eric Marienthal on his covers album Got You Covered.
- Johnny Mathis on his album You've Got a Friend.
- Miki Matsubara on her album Blue Eyes.
- Pop group McFly on their double A-side single "All About You/You've Got a Friend".
- Punk music band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their album Turn Japanese.
- Mina recorded an Italian version on her album Cinquemilaquarantatre.
- Lucio Dalla recorded an instrumental version on his album Lucio Dalla (Q Disc).
- Anne Murray on her album Talk It Over in The Morning.
- Pianist Peter Nero on his album Peter Nero's Greatest Hits.
- Vincent Price & Monsters on an episode of The Muppet Show.
- Scott Skweres
- Cliff Richard on his album Wanted.
- Barbra Streisand on her album Barbra Joan Streisand.
- Pop singer Andy Williams on his album The Andy Williams Show/You've Got a Friend.
- Many AA employees on a 2006 AA advert.
- Various Disney artists on this album Winnie The Pooh — Friends Forever.
- Lisa Ono on her 2007 album Soul & Bossa.
- Ventriloquist Terry Fator sang this song on the 2007 Finale of America's Got Talent with his Idol Kermit the Frog.
- Maggie Pie & The Impostors alias Wet Wet Wet on their 1992 cover album Cloak & Dagger.
- Bebi Dol on her 2007 album Bebi Dol.
- Aled Jones on his 2007 album Reason to Believe.
- Barry Manilow and Melissa Manchester on the 2007 album The Greatest Songs of the Seventies.
- The Brand New Heavies with vocals by Siedah Garrett covered the song in 1997.
- Korean ballad singer Cho Kyuchan on his 2002 best album 무지개(Rainbow).
- American Idol Season 7 contestant Brooke White on the April 8, 2008 show (Idol Gives Back)
[edit] 1998 VH1 Divas version
| “You've Got a Friend” | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan and Carole King from the album VH1 Divas Live |
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| Released | November 9, 1998 | ||||
| Format | Radio single | ||||
| Recorded | Beacon Theatre, New York City | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 5:28 | ||||
| Label | Columbia, Epic | ||||
| Writer(s) | Carole King | ||||
| Céline Dion chronology | |||||
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"You've Got a Friend" was performed by Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan and Carole King at the VH1 Divas Live concert on April 14, 1998. The event took place in New York City's Beacon Theatre. The whole concert was released on CD and DVD on October 6, 1998. Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin also took part in this event.
"You've Got a Friend" was issued as the second radio single to promote it, after "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." It peaked at #74 on the Belgian Flanders Airplay chart.
[edit] Formats and track listings
Promotional 1-track CD-single
- "You've Got a Friend" (live) – 5:28
[edit] Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Flanders Airplay Chart | 74 |
| Preceded by "Indian Reservation" by The Raiders |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (James Taylor version) July 31, 1971 |
Succeeded by "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" by Bee Gees |
