Friends (Terry Reid song)

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"Highway 61 Revisited/Friends/Highway 61 Revisited"
Song by Terry Reid
from the album Terry Reid
ReleasedAugust 1969 (1969-08)
Recorded1969
Genre
Length8:00
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mickie Most

"Friends" is a song written and originally recorded by British vocalist and musician Terry Reid, released on his eponymous album in August 1969. It was included as a medley with a cover of Bob Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited", in which "Friends" was sandwiched in between the two halves of the Dylan song.[1]

Arrival version[edit]

"Friends"
Single by Arrival
from the album Arrival
B-side"Don't Take His Love Away"
Released28 November 1969 (1969-11-28)
Recorded1969
GenrePop
Length4:14
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Terry Reid
Producer(s)Alex Murray
Arrival singles chronology
"Friends"
(1969)
"I Will Survive"
(1970)

In November 1969, pop rock band Arrival released a cover of "Friends" as their debut single. The song featured lead vocals by Dyan Birch and was arranged by Arrival and Paul Buckmaster. It peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart in January 1970.[2]

Reception[edit]

Reviewing for New Musical Express, Derek Johnson wrote that Birch has a "great presence and her vital soul-flecked styling is enhanced by powerful harmonies from the rest of the team. The backing piano, underlying deep-throated strings and walloping beat is impressive and the material is way above average. A very good disc indeed".[3] However, guest reviewing for Melody Maker, Jon Lord of Deep Purple wrote that "there are so many songs with that sort of beginning and that sort or chorus line" and that "there is nothing special about it".[4]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1970) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[5] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[2] 8
Rhodesia (Lyons Maid)[6] 13

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Friends (Arrival) – Jon Kutner". Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  2. ^ a b "Arrival: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ "Singles" (PDF). New Musical Express. 6 December 1969. p. 8. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Jon Lord on the latest sounds in Blind Date" (PDF). Melody Maker. 6 December 1969. p. 20. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  5. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Friends". Irish Singles Chart.
  6. ^ Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: Singles Chart Book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000