Friends (The Beach Boys song)

"Friends"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album Friends
B-side	"Little Bird"
Released	April 8, 1968
Format	Vinyl
Recorded	March 1968
Genre	Rock, pop
Length	2:30
Label	Capitol
Writer(s)	Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine
Producer(s)	The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Darlin'" (1967) "Friends" (1968) "Do It Again" (1968)
Friends track listing

"Friends" is a song written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1968 album Friends. It was also released as a single, with the B-side of the single being "Little Bird". The single peaked at #47 in the U.S. and #25 in the U.K. The song was recorded in March 1968.

Background

The song was recorded in 4/4 time for its first take. Immediately after, Brian rearranged the song after realizing that there weren't many waltzes on the radio. Brian Wilson once stated, "The cut 'Friends' was, in my opinion, a good way to keep waltzes alive. Carl had sung...before and now he spearheaded this cut with a heavy vocal performance." As Peter Reum, a Beach Boys historian, stated "'Friends' is a waltz, and it's been used at the Berklee College of Music to teach students how to write in 3/4 time."

Brian has since claimed that the song was his favorite from the Friends album.

Other releases

Its a cappella mix is sold temporarily as analog single with Al Jardine's Beach Boys reunion song "Don't Fight the Sea" for the charity of 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in April 2011.

Personnel

• Carl Wilson: lead vocals
• Brian Wilson: vibraphone, backing vocals
• Al Jardine: guitar, backing vocals
• Mike Love: backing vocals
• Bruce Johnston: piano, backing vocals
• Dennis Wilson: drums, backing vocals

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics