You've Got a Friend

"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 number 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 number 4 on 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". Another version was recorded in 1971 by the late Donny Hathaway, which was released posthumously on his album "These Songs For You, Live!"

Other cover versions

A number of other 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 "(Rainbow)".
* American Idol (season 7) contestant Brooke White on the April 8, 2008 show (Idol Gives Back)
* Emily Osment and Billy Cyrus
* Barbara Windsor and Steve McFadden, EastEnders co-stars performed this on Barbara Windsor's 1999 album titled You've Got a Friend.

1998 VH1 Divas version

Infobox Single
Name = You've Got a Friend

---

Artist = Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan and Carole King
from Album = VH1 Divas Live
Released = Start date|1998|11|9
Format = Radio single
Recorded = Beacon Theatre, New York City
Genre = Pop
Length = 5:28
Label = Columbia, Epic
Writer = Carole King
Producer =
Chronology = Céline Dion
Last single = "Zora sourit"
(1998)
This single = "You've Got a Friend"
(1998)
Next single = "I'm Your Angel"
(1998)

"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. [cite book | author=Glatzer, Jenna| title=Céline Dion: For Keeps | publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing| year=2005 | id=ISBN 0-7407-5559-5]

"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 number 74 on the Belgian Flanders Airplay chart.

Formats and track listings

Belgian promotional CD single
#"You've Got a Friend" (live) – 5:28

Charts

References