"Friends"
Single by Bette Midler
from the album The Divine Miss M
B-side"Chapel of Love"
Released1973
Recorded1972
StudioAtlantic Recording Studios, New York City
GenrePop rock, vocal
Length2:59
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Buzzy Linhart
Mark "Moogy" Klingman
Producer(s)Ahmet Ertegun, Barry Manilow, Joel Dorn, Geoffery Haslam
Bette Midler singles chronology
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"
(1972) 		"Friends"
(1973) 		"In the Mood"
(1973)

"Friends" (also titled "(You Got to Have) Friends") is a 1973 hit single by Bette Midler. It was written by Buzzy Linhart and Mark "Moogy" Klingman. In the United States, the song reached No. 9 on the Adult Contemporary chart[1] and reached No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2]

Background

A version of "Friends" was recorded by one of the song's co-writers, Buzzy Linhart. More of a rock sound than a pop sound, Linhart's version had an alternative title, "(You Got to Have) Friends". Bette Midler was one of Linhart's close friends during the early 1970s. While rehearsing for an audition for a Broadway show called Mirror Cracked, Linhart sang to Midler a song that he and his songwriting partner Mark "Moogy" Klingman had just written, called "Friends". After hearing the song, Midler asked Linhart if she could sing "Friends" during a show that she was performing in at the Continental Baths in New York. Klingman and Linhart attended the show and were impressed with the performance. Soon after, Midler recorded the song on her debut album The Divine Miss M, which was a nickname she always wanted to be known as having personified.[3]

Charts

Chart (1973) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[4] 57
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[5] 17
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 40
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[1] 9
US Cash Box Top 100[6] 40

In popular culture

The song "Friends" can be heard during the final scene and closing credits of the 1973 mystery film The Last of Sheila.

It was covered by Barry Manilow on his 1973 debut album.

The song was also sung by the 1974-75 cast of Zoom during the "ZOOM was presented by" end credits reintroducing the cast members.

Also, the song was performed on The Muppet Show Episode 115 by the Muppets and Candice Bergen, who is the guest star on that episode in 1976.

The song was used as a commercial outro for the unsold Jay Wolpert produced game show pilot called Fast Friends[7][8]hosted by Bob Goen in 1984.

A cover version of this song is played during a car chase in a Hardcastle and McCormick episode called "Duet for Two Wind Instruments" (Season 3 Episode 12) in 1985.

A rendition of the song is heard on the film Shrek, performed by Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy in 2001.

References

  1. ^ a b "Bette Midler Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  2. ^ a b "Bette Midler Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  3. ^ "The Official Buzzy Linhart Website". Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4929." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  5. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4942." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  6. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles (Week ending NOVEMBER 3, 1973)". Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  7. ^ Fast Friends Pilot with Special Intro by Bob Goen
  8. ^ Fast Friends @ Game Show Pilot Light
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