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)
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]

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 #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 now-legendary demonstration of body-popping by Daniel during a performance of "A Night to Remember" on the BBC programme Top of the Pops . It reached #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 .

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

Reception

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]

Charts

See also

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References

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  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. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  11. "Shalamar US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
  12. "Shalamar full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. "British album certifications – Shalamar – Friends". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  14. "American album certifications – Shalamar – Friends". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 14, 2021.