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"You've Got a Friend" is a Grammy Award winning song from 1971. The song, written by Carole King, 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, and won Grammy Awards both for Taylor (Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male) and King (Song of the Year).

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 soulful, gospel-tinged live version was recorded by Donny Hathaway on his 1972's Live album and the posthumously released These Songs For You, Live!.

The Brand New Heavies version

The Brand New Heavies with vocals by Siedah Garrett covered the song in 1997. The Carole King-penned song "You've Got a Friend" that was originally made famous by James Taylor. This song did not appear on the US version of the album.

Track listing

UK CD Single BNCDP 10

1. "You've Got a Friend" (Radio Version) - (3:27)
2. "You Are the Universe" (Live) - (4:07)
3. "Midnight at the Oasis" (Live) - (4:43)
4. "Sometimes" (Live) - (4:18)

UK CD Single 570 013-2

1. "You've Got a Friend" (Radio Version) - (3:27)
2. "You've Got a Friend" (Brooklyn Funk R&B Remix) - (4:58)
3. "You've Got a Friend" (Ballistic Brothers Mix) - (5:00)
4. "You've Got a Friend" (Brooklyn Funk Club Mix) (Featuring Jemini) - (4:54)
5. "You've Got a Friend" (Tee's club Mix) - (6:27)
6. "You've Got a Friend" (Original Mix) - (3:48)

1998 VH1 Divas version

"You've Got a Friend"
Single by Céline Dion, 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" 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.^[1]

"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

Other cover versions

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

• Michael Jackson In his album Got to Be There with Motown Records in 1971.
• Aretha Franklin recorded 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.
• Country singer Lynn Anderson on her album "How Can I Unlive You".
• Gospel singers Angelo & Veronica on their album Angelo & Veronica.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ofra Haza on her album Ofra Haza 1997.
• British indie rock group The Housemartins on their album Now That's What I Call Quite Good.
• 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.
• Stacey Kent on her album The Boy Next Door.
• 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.
• 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.
• Lucio Dalla recorded an instrumental version on his album Lucio Dalla (Q Disc).
• Anne Murray on her album Talk It Over in The Morning.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Maggie Pie & The Impostors alias Wet Wet Wet on their 1992 cover album Cloak & Dagger.
• Bebi Dol on her 2007 album Bebi Dol.
• 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)
• Billy Cyrus and Emily Osment on his album Home at Last.
• 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
• Jennette McCurdy did a cover version of it on her official Youtube.
• 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)

References