You Are My Friend
Encyclopedia
"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, it has gone on to become one of the singer's signature anthems.
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.
, 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, the climatic vamp brought in gospel
elements though it wouldn't be noticed until LaBelle's live performances of the song, which she and Ellison arranged.
. 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 song
s.
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
, released as the second single off her self-titled debut album, in 1978 on the Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
label. While it only reached as high as number sixty-one on the Billboard Hot-Selling Soul Singles chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
upon its initial release, it has gone on to become one of the singer's signature anthems.
Background
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 ChameleonChameleon (Labelle album)
Chameleon is the sixth album by American singing trio Labelle. Though Patti LaBelle's autobiography Don't Block The Blessings revealed that LaBelle planned a follow-up to Chameleon entitled Shaman, the album never materialized. The trio would not release another new recording until 2008's Back to Now...
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
"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, NightbirdsNightbirds
Nightbirds is an acclaimed album by the all-female singing group Labelle, released in 1974 on the Epic label. Notable for their biggest hit, the number-one song, "Lady Marmalade", it became the group's most successful album to date.-Background:...
, 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
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, with the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps .Its relative minor is C-sharp minor, and its parallel minor is E minor....
. Rubinson, who produced the song, included rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drums and strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
. Ellison played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on the song and some of the background vocals were handled by The Waters and members of The Valentinos
The Valentinos
The Valentinos , was a Cleveland, Ohio-based family R&B group, mainly famous for launching the careers of brothers Bobby Womack and Cecil Womack, the former brother finding bigger fame as a solo artist and the latter finding success as a member of the husband and wife team of Womack & Womack with...
(Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack
Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
's former family group). One of its members, Cecil Womack
Cecil Womack
In 1983, under the name of Womack & Womack, Cecil and Linda released a successful album, Love Wars, and continued to make albums until 1993. Their song "Love Wars" was covered by The Beautiful South for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát. Their most successful single was "Teardrops" in 1988.-Albums:*...
, would later collaborate with LaBelle on her material with Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
in the early eighties. While the majority of the song was arranged as a pop ballad, the climatic vamp brought in gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
elements though it wouldn't be noticed until LaBelle's live performances of the song, which she and Ellison arranged.
Reception
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 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. 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
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert is a television music variety show that ran during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Don Kirshner and syndicated to television stations...
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 song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
s.
Covers
One of the famous 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. That same year, disco group Kenny & Friends did a dance version of the song. Faith EvansFaith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
did a live version paying tribute to LaBelle in 2001. LaBelle re-recorded the song for her album, The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle
The Gospel According to Patti LaBelle
The Gospel According To Patti LaBelle is the first gospel album released by singer Patti LaBelle, released in November 2006.This project began three years ago when Patti's late musical director and close friend Budd Ellison told a skeptical LaBelle that "it's now or never, Patti." The album is...
, in 2006, as a tribute to her deceased collaborator, James Ellison.
Live Performances
- Patti LaBellePatti LaBellePatricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
hardly leaves the stage without singing "You Are My Friend". In the early 1980's Labelle would include "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" which would lead her into "You Are My Friend". LaBelle would kick off her shoes and get down on her knees, this would be a special part of her live shows to Thank God, saying that she's not tired of praising Him yet. "You Are My Friend" has also received success in her live concerts with her high belting, passionate and humble performances.
Credits
- Lead vocals by Patti LaBellePatti LaBellePatricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
- Background vocals by James Gadson, Norma Harris, Ray Parker, Jr.Ray Parker, Jr.Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
, Rosie Casals, Sherri Barman, Yvonne FairYvonne FairYvonne Fair was an African American singer, best known for her 1976 recording of "It Should Have Been Me".-Biography:...
, Cecil WomackCecil WomackIn 1983, under the name of Womack & Womack, Cecil and Linda released a successful album, Love Wars, and continued to make albums until 1993. Their song "Love Wars" was covered by The Beautiful South for the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát. Their most successful single was "Teardrops" in 1988.-Albums:*...
, 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