Friends and Lovers (album)
Encyclopedia
Friends and Lovers is the second album from English singer Bernard Butler
released in 1999.
The album is a lot different to his debut as it is more upbeat and sounds more like a pop-rock record. Butler trimmed away the folkier elements of his debut, which relied a lot on strings. Instead, Friends and Lovers sees Butler bring the guitar to the forefront of the musical output. The album was recorded in London and Chipping Norton, and mixed in New York by Andy Wallace
.
David Simutis of Phoenix New Times
concurred that the record is an upbeat affair. He wrote that "the main emotion captured on Friends & Lovers is happiness. From the up-tempo power chords, organ and handclaps of "I'd Do It Again If I Could," to the bouncing beat and guitar textures of "What Happened to Me," it's a powerful record of hope."
Some critics have seen it as a step forward from his debut. One review wrote that, "Friends and Lovers is more anthemic and self-assured than People Move On
, as though Butler has been steadily gaining confidence in himself as a frontman." Another review felt that Butler has greater focus on this record, however felt that the music needed "a larger-than-life personality, a vocalist on the level of Brett Anderson
."
The album was not a commercial success, this was mainly due to the breakup of Creation Records
shortly before Butler was due to embark on a UK tour. As a result the tour was cancelled and he was unable to fully complete his promotional duties for the album.
Singles released from the album were "Friends and Lovers" and "You Must Go On". "Friends and Lovers" had a limited release of one thousand 10" vinyl one sided singles. These were given out to visitors to Butlers website on a first come first served basis. "I'd Do It Again If I Could" was released as a single in the U.S. through Columbia Records
.
.
Bernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
released in 1999.
The album is a lot different to his debut as it is more upbeat and sounds more like a pop-rock record. Butler trimmed away the folkier elements of his debut, which relied a lot on strings. Instead, Friends and Lovers sees Butler bring the guitar to the forefront of the musical output. The album was recorded in London and Chipping Norton, and mixed in New York by Andy Wallace
Andy Wallace (producer)
Andy Wallace is a Grammy Award-winning music studio engineer with a long track record of successful productions, beginning with the 1986 production of the Run-DMC/Aerosmith collaboration on "Walk This Way" with Rick Rubin...
.
David Simutis of Phoenix New Times
Phoenix New Times
The Phoenix New Times is a free, weekly Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, put out every Thursday. It is the founding publication of the New Times Media , but The Village Voice is now the flagship publication of that company....
concurred that the record is an upbeat affair. He wrote that "the main emotion captured on Friends & Lovers is happiness. From the up-tempo power chords, organ and handclaps of "I'd Do It Again If I Could," to the bouncing beat and guitar textures of "What Happened to Me," it's a powerful record of hope."
Some critics have seen it as a step forward from his debut. One review wrote that, "Friends and Lovers is more anthemic and self-assured than People Move On
People Move On
People Move On is the debut album from English singer Bernard Butler released in 1998.Following his split from soul singer David McAlmont in 1995 and a three-year absence from the public eye, Butler re-emerged on Alan McGee's Creation label for his debut solo album. A year earlier McGee had, in...
, as though Butler has been steadily gaining confidence in himself as a frontman." Another review felt that Butler has greater focus on this record, however felt that the music needed "a larger-than-life personality, a vocalist on the level of Brett Anderson
Brett Anderson
Brett Lewis Anderson is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Suede. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he briefly fronted The Tears, and has released four solo albums...
."
The album was not a commercial success, this was mainly due to the breakup of Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
shortly before Butler was due to embark on a UK tour. As a result the tour was cancelled and he was unable to fully complete his promotional duties for the album.
Singles released from the album were "Friends and Lovers" and "You Must Go On". "Friends and Lovers" had a limited release of one thousand 10" vinyl one sided singles. These were given out to visitors to Butlers website on a first come first served basis. "I'd Do It Again If I Could" was released as a single in the U.S. through Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Bernard ButlerBernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
.
- "Friends & Lovers" - 4:13
- "I'd Do It Again If I Could" - 3:26
- "Cocoon" - 4:17
- "Smile" - 4:02
- "You Must Go On" - 3:32
- "No Easy Way Out" - 4:26
- "Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart" - 4:18
- "What Happened To Me" - 3:18
- "Let's Go Away" - 4:03
- "Precious" - 3:54
- "Has Your Mind Got Away?" - 8:12
- "You'll Feel It When You're Mine" - 2:31
- "70 Miles" - 4:23 (bonus track on Japanese editions)