You've Got a Friend

Not to be confused with You've Got a Friend in Me.

"You've Got a Friend"
Song by Carole King from the album Tapestry
Released	January 30, 1971
Recorded	January 1971, A&M Recording Studios
Genre	Folk pop
Length	5:09
Label	Ode
Writer	Carole King
Producer	Lou Adler
Tapestry track listing
Way Over Yonder (6) "You've Got a Friend" (7) Where You Lead (8)

"You've Got a Friend"
Single by James Taylor
from the album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
B-side	"You Can Close Your Eyes"
Released	1971
Format	7"
Genre	Rock/Pop rock
Length	4:29
Label	Warner Bros.
Writer(s)	Carole King
Producer	Peter Asher
James Taylor singles chronology
"Country Road" (1971) "You've Got a Friend" (1971) "Long Ago and Far Away" (1971)
Music sample "You've Got a Friend"

"You've Got a Friend"
Single by The Brand New Heavies
from the album Shelter
Released	October 6, 1997
Format	CD 7 inch vinyl
Recorded	1997
Genre	Acid jazz–Funk
Label	FFRR London Records
The Brand New Heavies singles chronology
You Are the Universe (1997) You've Got a Friend (1997) Shelter (1997)

"You've Got a Friend"
Single by Céline Dion, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan and Carole King
from the album VH1 Divas Live
Released	November 9, 1998 (1998-11-09)
Format	Promotional recording
Recorded	Beacon Theatre, New York City
Genre	Pop
Length	5:28
Label	Columbia, Epic
Writer(s)	Carole King
Céline Dion singles chronology
"Zora sourit" (1998) "You've Got a Friend" (1998) "I'm Your Angel" (1998)

"You've Got a Friend"
Single by X Factor Finalisterne 2009
Released	February 20, 2009 (2009-02-20)
Format	Downloads
Genre	Pop
Label	Sony
Writer(s)	Carole King

"You've Got a Friend" is a song from 1971, originally written and performed by Carole King. It was included in her album Tapestry of 1971, but was made famous by James Taylor's cover version the same year. Taylor's rendition, released as a single from his own 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. The James Taylor version also spent one week at the top of the Easy Listening charts. "You've Got a Friend" won Grammy Awards both for Taylor (Best Male Pop Vocal Performance) and King (Song of the Year). Joni Mitchell sings harmony.

The song was recorded also during 1971 by Dusty Springfield, a recording that predates Taylor's version. It was recorded for her third album for Atlantic Records, but a dispute 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 live version was recorded by Donny Hathaway on his 1972 Live album and the posthumously released These Songs for You, Live!.

Barry Manilow performs the song along with Melissa Manchester on his album Duets. Japanese singer-songwriter, Onitsuka Chihiro performed the song during her 2008 tour and it also appears in her live DVD "Nine Dirts and Snow White Flickers".

James Taylor and Carole King perform "You've Got a Friend" together in 2010 during their Troubadour Reunion Tour, as video screens show the two as they looked when the song was first written and recorded.

1998 VH1 Divas version

"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 entire concert was released on CD and DVD on October 6, 1998. Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin also participated with this event.

"You've Got a Friend" was issued as the second radio single to promote VH1 Divas Live, after "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." It peaked at number 74 on the Belgian Flanders Airplay chart.

Formats and track listings

European promotional CD single

1. "You've Got a Friend" (live) – 5:28

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Belgian Flanders Airplay Chart	74

Danish X Factor Finalisterne 2009 version

In 2009, "You've Got a Friend" was performed collectively by the finalists of Season 2 of Danish X Factor, namely Tårnhøj, Claus, Seest, Asian Sensation, Lucas, Sidsel, Mohamed, ABC (Alien Beat Club) and Linda Andrews. It became very popular and as a result of downloads of the song following the show, and credited to "X Factor Finalisterne 2009", it topped Tracklisten (the Danish Singles Charts) for weeks 8 and 9 in 2009.

Charts

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Danish Singles Chart	1

Other cover versions

A number of other artists have covered "You've Got a Friend." A partial list includes:

• Michael Jackson on his album Got to Be There with Motown Records in 1972.
• Aretha Franklin recorded a live version of the song for her album Amazing Grace (1972) as a medley with "Take My Hand, Precious Lord".
• Pop Punk group McFly on their double A-side single "All About You/You've Got a Friend" and that single scored number 1 in UK and Ireland.
• French singer Claude François on his 1971 album Il fait beau, il fait bon (title: Un jardin dans mon coeur)
• Country singer Lynn Anderson on her album "How Can I Unlove You".
• Gospel singers Angelo & Veronica on their album Angelo & Veronica.
• Alanis Morissette covered the song in 1992.
• Pop Oboist/English hornist Anna Fisher covered You've Got A Friend, released on radio in 1994, released on the Molin Music label in 1995, released to the public as a full length debut CD and tape release, "RENAISSANCE IN FORMATION".
• 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.
• English singer Petula Clark on her album Live in London.
• Japanese pop singers Pink Lady on their 1980 American variety show Pink Lady and Jeff.
• 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.
• Israeli singer Ofra Haza on her 1997 album Ofra Haza.
• British indie rock group The Housemartins on their post-breakup greatest hits album Now That's What I Call Quite Good (1988).
• 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.
• Tom Jones on his album ...Sings the Ballads.
• Jazz singer Stacey Kent on her album The Boy Next Door (2008).
• 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.
• Pop Oboist/English hornist Anna Fisher covered this in Spanish, TU AMIGA FIEL (You've Got A Friend) released 1998 as a CD single and promotional cassette release and spun in six continents to date MOLIN MUSIC
• Miki Matsubara on her album Blue Eyes.
• Punk music band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their album Turn Japanese.
• Mina recorded an Italian version on her album Cinquemilaquarantatre.
• Italian singer Lucio Dalla recorded an instrumental version on his album Lucio Dalla (Q Disc).
• Canadian singer Anne Murray on her album Talk It Over in The Morning.
• Texas singer Trini Lopez as "Tu Amigo Fiel" (You've Got a Friend) on his Capital Records album Viva.
• Pianist Peter Nero on his album Peter Nero's Greatest Hits.
• Vincent Price & Muppet Monsters on an episode of The Muppet Show.
• Cliff Richard on his album Wanted.
• Barbra Streisand on her album Barbra Joan Streisand.
• Yo La Tengo as an iTunes bonus track on their album Popular Songs.
• 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.
• Saxophonist Michael Lington on his 2006 renditions album A Song for You.
• Bossa nova singer 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.
• British group Maggie Pie & The Impostors alias Wet Wet Wet on their 1992 cover album Cloak & Dagger.
• Serbian pop singer Bebi Dol on her self-titled 2007 album Bebi Dol.
• Welsh singer Aled Jones on his 2007 album Reason to Believe.
• Barry Manilow and Melissa Manchester on the 2007 album The Greatest Songs of the Seventies.
• Korean ballad singer Cho Kyuchan on his 2002 best album 무지개 (Rainbow).
• American Idol (season 7) contestant Brooke White on the April 8, 2008 show Idol Gives Back.
• English actress Barbara Windsor and Steve McFadden, EastEnders co-stars performed this on Barbara Windsor's 1999 album titled You've Got a Friend.
• Gospel singer Susie Luchsinger on her album You've Got A Friend (2004).
• Lisya Alalu, live exclusively on her brother's Bar Mitzvah
• Actress and Country singer Jennette McCurdy did a cover of it on her official YouTube channel. It has since been deleted.
• "You've Got a Friend" is also the most covered English pop song ever in Hong Kong pop music history: Agnes Chan (1971, Will The Circle Be Unbroken), Joe Chen (1972, Joe Chen's 1st), Frances Yip (1970s, All I Ever Need Is You), Jenny Tseng (1982, Star On Jenny), Elisa Chan (1994, Impossible), Albert Au (2001, Top Folk), Leslie Cheung (2002, Best of Leslie Cheung's English Collection), Ada To (2003, 人間定格), Chet Lam & Kay Tse (2006, Camping in Hong Kong Live), Mimi Lo (2007, You're My Everything), Susan Wong (2007, Someone Like You), Peter Cheung & Andrew Cheung (2007, Duets), Khalil Fong & Fiona Sit (2007, This Love Live 2007)
• R&B singer Erykah Badu at the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend
• American Idol season ten contestant Scotty McCreery performed the song during the music of Carole King week.
• Andrea Corr offers the song as a downloadable bonus track for her album Lifelines.
• Billy Crawford on his album Groove with his partner Nikki Gil.
• Mirror Ball Associates on their 2008 album Mirror Ball Associates: Covers, Vol. 1
• Mnozil Brass on their 2009 album What are you going to do the rest of your life

References

Preceded by "Indian Reservation" by The Raiders	Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (James Taylor version) July 31, 1971	Succeeded by "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by Bee Gees
Preceded by "It's Too Late" by Carole King	Billboard Easy Listening number-one single (James Taylor version) July 31, 1971	Succeeded by "If Not for You" by Olivia Newton-John
Preceded by "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga	Danish Singles Chart number-one single (X Factor Finalisterne 2009 version) November 6, 2008	Succeeded by "Kun for mig" by Medina