You've Got a Friend

For other uses, see You've Got a Friend (disambiguation).

"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" is a friendship song from 1971, written by Carole King, and included in her album Tapestry and James Taylor's album Mud Slide Slim, which were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians. Taylor's version was released as a single, and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.

"You've Got a Friend" won Grammy Awards both for Taylor (Best Male Pop Vocal Performance) and King (Song of the Year). Various artists have recorded the song over the years, including Dusty Springfield, Michael Jackson, and Donny Hathaway. Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, and Carole King performed the song at the VH1 Divas Live concert in 1998.

History

James Taylor and Carole King at the 2010 Troubadour Reunion Tour

"You've Got a Friend" was written by Carole King during the January 1971 recording sessions for her own album Tapestry, and James Taylor's album Mud Slide Slim. King's album was recorded in an overlap with Taylor's, and King, Danny Kortchmar, and Joni Mitchell perform on both. The song is included on both albums; King said in a 1972 interview, that she "didn't write it with James or anybody really specifically in mind. But when James heard it he really liked it and wanted to record it".

Taylor's version was released as a single, and 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.

James Taylor and Carole King performed "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.

Other recordings

A number of other artists have recorded "You've Got a Friend." Barbra Streisand included it in her album Barbra Joan Streisand, released in August, 1971. The song was also recorded during 1971 by Dusty Springfield 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.^{[citation needed]} A live version was recorded by Donny Hathaway on his 1972 Live album and the posthumously released These Songs for You, Live!.^{[citation needed]} Barry Manilow performs the song along with Melissa Manchester on his album Duets.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, the song was performed collectively by the finalists of Season 2 of Danish X Factor - Alien Beat Club and Linda Andrews, and topped Tracklisten (the Danish Singles Charts) for weeks 8 and 9 in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

"You've Got a Friend" was performed by Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, and Carole King at the VH1 Divas Live concert in Beacon Theatre, New York, 1998. It was released as a single and reached number 74 on the Belgian Flanders Airplay Chart.

• 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".
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Punk music band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their album Have Another Ball.
• 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.
• 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.
• Saxophonist Michael Lington on his 2006 renditions album A Song for You.
• Bossa nova singer Lisa Ono on her 2007 album Soul & Bossa.
• British group Maggie Pie & The Impostors alias Wet Wet Wet on their 1992 cover album Cloak & Dagger.
• Serbian pop singer Bebi Dol on her 2006 cover album Čovek rado izvan sebe živi.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.
• Mnozil Brass on their 2009 album What are you going to do the rest of your life
• Joanna Wang on her 2-CD Things We Do for Love album.
• Joe McBride on his 2001 album A Gift for Tomorrow.^{[citation needed]}

References

Preceded by "Indian Reservation" by The Raiders	Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (James Taylor version) July 31, 1971 (one week)	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 (one week)	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) February 27, 2009 (two weeks)	Succeeded by "Kun for mig" by Medina