Friends (Shalamar album)

Last updated

Friends
Shalamarfriends.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 29, 1982
Recorded1981
StudioStudio Masters
Larrabee Sound
The Record Plant
Kendun Recorders
(Los Angeles)
Genre
Length44:55
Label SOLAR
Producer Leon Sylvers III
Shalamar chronology
Go for It
(1981)
Friends
(1982)
The Look
(1983)

Friends is the sixth album by American R&B group Shalamar, released in 1982 on the SOLAR label. The album, which features the 'classic' Shalamar line-up (Jeffrey Daniel, Howard Hewett and Jody Watley), topped the R&B chart and peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard chart. It has been certified Gold in the United States for sales over 500,000. It would eventually go Platinum. In the United Kingdom Friends gained impetus from a demonstration of body-popping by Daniel during a performance of "A Night to Remember" on the BBC programme Top of the Pops . It reached No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart and produced four top 20 singles.

Contents

In 2002, Friends was re-released by Sanctuary Records in the United Kingdom in a double-CD package with Shalamar's previous album Go for It .

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
BBC favorable [2]
Robert Christgau B− [3]

In The Boston Phoenix , Mike Freedberg wrote that the album "presents [Howard] Hewitt again and again overmatched by roseate fugues, overmatching lyrics so glib they vanish. He doesn't know whether to drive ahead or scat back--but neither would a Shalamar fan. Hewitt's stabs at sincerity fit into the I-can't-manage atmosphere that has all but replaced the buoyant bravado of soul, funk, and disco from today's black-teen music." [4]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Night to Remember" Dana Meyers, Charmaine Sylvers, Nidra Beard 5:08
2."Don't Try to Change Me"William Bryant, Tina Scott, Roberta Stiger 4:10
3."Help Me"Joey Gallo, Leon Sylvers III, Jody Watley, Nidra Beard 5:10
4."On Top of the World" Dana Meyers, Richard Randolph 4:06
5."I Don't Wanna Be the Last to Know" Kevin Spencer, William Shelby, Linda Carriere, Nidra Beard 4:02
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Friends" William Shelby, Glen Barbee, Nidra Beard 5:00
7."Playing to Win" Jody Watley, Ralph E. Clayborne, Charmaine Sylvers 4:24
8."I Just Stopped By Because I Had To"Stephen Shockley, Joey Gallo, Leon Sylvers III, Nidra Beard 4:08
9."There It Is" Nidra Beard, Dana Meyers, Charmaine Sylvers 4:27
10."I Can Make You Feel Good" William Shelby, Howard Hewett, Renwick Jackson4:20

Personnel

Shalamar

Musical personnel

Charts

See also

References

  1. Elias, Jason. "Shalamar – Friends". AllMusic . Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  2. Easlea, Daryl. "Shalamar – Friends". BBC Music . Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  3. Christgau, Robert. "Shalamar – Friends". Robert Christgau . Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  4. Freedberg, Mike (April 13, 1982). "Know-nothing soul". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  5. "Dutchcharts.nl – Shalamar – Friends" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  6. "Shalamar | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  7. "Shalamar, TLP" . Billboard . Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  8. "Shalamar, BLP" . Billboard . Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  9. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1982". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  10. "Albums of the Year" (PDF). Record Mirror . January 1, 1983. p. 4. Retrieved August 11, 2025 via World Radio History.
  11. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  12. "UK Albums '83" (PDF). Record Mirror . January 7, 1984. p. 37. Retrieved August 11, 2025 via World Radio History.
  13. "Shalamar US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  14. "Shalamar full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  15. "British album certifications – Shalamar – Friends". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  16. "American album certifications – Shalamar – Friends". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 14, 2021.