One of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60s and early 70s, the Friends of Distinction are too often forgotten in retrospectives of that era, but their music has continued to live on. Formed by Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love in 1968, the group had a relatively short life in its original incarnation, but made some of the most memorable pop/soul music of all time.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. Read Full BioOne of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60s and early 70s, the Friends of Distinction are too often forgotten in retrospectives of that era, but their music has continued to live on. Formed by Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love in 1968, the group had a relatively short life in its original incarnation, but made some of the most memorable pop/soul music of all time.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. When that group split in 1966, members Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore went on to co-found the enormously successful Fifth Dimension and Elston started the Friends, whose sound was similar to, and often confused with, the Fifth Dimension -- both included tightly harmonizing men and women dressed in late 60s "hip" clothing -- though the Friends' music was generally more soulful.
The newly formed Friends of Distinction was managed by football great Jim Brown and signed with RCA Records. Hitting the popular music scene when Motown and Stax were dominating, the Friends arrived with a breezy California pop/soul sound. Great harmonies and crossover arrangements backed the individually strong lead vocals of the group members. Combined with top notch material (both originals and covers), the group, like the Fifth Dimension, sounded like a breath of fresh air on Pop radio in 1969.
Their first single, "Grazin' In the Grass," was a Elston-sung vocal remake of a Hugh Masekela instrumental cut, and hit the top 5 on both Pop and Soul charts in 1969. The group's follow-up, "Going In Circles," was a brilliant ballad that also charted high. Love took some time off to have a baby, and Charlene Gibson stepped in and sang lead on the group's third big hit, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely." She also sang on the wonderful album cut, "Crazy Mary."
The Friends were quite prolific from 1969-71, releasing 5 albums (a sixth appeared in 1973). They also released a number of great singles, including "Check It Out" (later remade by Tavares) and a terrific cover of Neil Sedaka's "Time Waits for No One." Their best cuts are excellently compiled in The Best of the Friends of Distinction, which was released in 1996.
As popular music changed in the mid-70s, the Friends' fortunes declined. Jessica Cleaves was featured with Earth Wind and Fire,first appearance on the"Last Days and Time" release. A grueling touring schedule and the lack of a hit for several years led the group to call it quits in 1975. Elston and Butler continued to write and perform for a few years, then ultimately went their separate ways, taking jobs outside of music.
Over the next two decades, there was a rediscovery of the great music that the Friends had made together, and their biggest hits were remade by several artists, with "Going In Circles" charting for the Gap Band and Luther Vandross and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" for pop artist Paul Davis. Most recently, "Grazin In the Grass" was released by Disney star Raven.
In 1990, Elston and Butler decided to bring the Friends back together. Tragically, Butler died (at Elston's side) before the group reunion could be realized. After Butler's death, Elston spent several years forming a new Friends group, ultimately bringing together Geno Henderson, Wendy Bruné and Berlando Drake to sing with Elston. That lineup currently tours and continues to entertain audiences nearly 40 years after the world first heard the Friends of Distinction.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. Read Full BioOne of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60s and early 70s, the Friends of Distinction are too often forgotten in retrospectives of that era, but their music has continued to live on. Formed by Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love in 1968, the group had a relatively short life in its original incarnation, but made some of the most memorable pop/soul music of all time.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. When that group split in 1966, members Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore went on to co-found the enormously successful Fifth Dimension and Elston started the Friends, whose sound was similar to, and often confused with, the Fifth Dimension -- both included tightly harmonizing men and women dressed in late 60s "hip" clothing -- though the Friends' music was generally more soulful.
The newly formed Friends of Distinction was managed by football great Jim Brown and signed with RCA Records. Hitting the popular music scene when Motown and Stax were dominating, the Friends arrived with a breezy California pop/soul sound. Great harmonies and crossover arrangements backed the individually strong lead vocals of the group members. Combined with top notch material (both originals and covers), the group, like the Fifth Dimension, sounded like a breath of fresh air on Pop radio in 1969.
Their first single, "Grazin' In the Grass," was a Elston-sung vocal remake of a Hugh Masekela instrumental cut, and hit the top 5 on both Pop and Soul charts in 1969. The group's follow-up, "Going In Circles," was a brilliant ballad that also charted high. Love took some time off to have a baby, and Charlene Gibson stepped in and sang lead on the group's third big hit, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely." She also sang on the wonderful album cut, "Crazy Mary."
The Friends were quite prolific from 1969-71, releasing 5 albums (a sixth appeared in 1973). They also released a number of great singles, including "Check It Out" (later remade by Tavares) and a terrific cover of Neil Sedaka's "Time Waits for No One." Their best cuts are excellently compiled in The Best of the Friends of Distinction, which was released in 1996.
As popular music changed in the mid-70s, the Friends' fortunes declined. Jessica Cleaves was featured with Earth Wind and Fire,first appearance on the"Last Days and Time" release. A grueling touring schedule and the lack of a hit for several years led the group to call it quits in 1975. Elston and Butler continued to write and perform for a few years, then ultimately went their separate ways, taking jobs outside of music.
Over the next two decades, there was a rediscovery of the great music that the Friends had made together, and their biggest hits were remade by several artists, with "Going In Circles" charting for the Gap Band and Luther Vandross and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" for pop artist Paul Davis. Most recently, "Grazin In the Grass" was released by Disney star Raven.
In 1990, Elston and Butler decided to bring the Friends back together. Tragically, Butler died (at Elston's side) before the group reunion could be realized. After Butler's death, Elston spent several years forming a new Friends group, ultimately bringing together Geno Henderson, Wendy Bruné and Berlando Drake to sing with Elston. That lineup currently tours and continues to entertain audiences nearly 40 years after the world first heard the Friends of Distinction.
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Check It Out
The Friends of Distinction Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Check It Out' by these artists:
A Split Second Old and sage The mafu cage The reason to target But you k…
After the Fire Time and tide they wait for no-one, disbelieve it if…
B Legit Ft. E-40 Kurupt [Featuring E-40, Kurupt] From a nickel and dime ass nigg…
B-Legit [Featuring E-40, Kurupt] From a nickel and dime ass nigga…
B-Legit featuring E-40 and Kurupt [Featuring E-40, Kurupt] From a nickel and dime ass nigg…
b.l.i.m. chris carter We go back and forth, sending this out to my…
Beastie Boys All you Trekkies and TV addicts Don't mean to diss don't…
Beyonce f. Slim Thug Swiss Beats D.C. Destiny's Child You need to stop play…
Beyoncé Ft Slim Thug You need to stop playing 'round with all them clowns…
Biz Markie Yo this is kinda slow But I know the Jeeps goin'…
Bobby Womack Featuring E-40, Kurupt] From a nickel and dime ass…
Cheryl Cole will.i.am & Nicki Minaj Stepped in the party like my name was "that bitch". All…
Chichi Peralta Mire a vei’ Check it Out Mire a vei’ Check it Out Si tu…
D.Action Why are you so frightened - we're getting in the…
Danny! [Verse 1:] Messin' me up, my whole head Teasin' me just li…
Das EFX Ah ha ha ha (Check this out!) Woo! Check it out…
Day/Four Try to see it my way, Do I have to keep…
Dr. Flowershirts We wanna go back to the old school for a…
Dynasty I've been around i had a lot of good things…
Ferry Corsten Let's jet out , will cruise at hyperspeed, I've got the…
Grand Puba Flippin' the script, page one We got the real McCoy's in…
Grand Pupa Flippin the script, page one We got the real mccoy's in…
Illogic Yo yo yo What I want you to do on this…
Jahba vs. Beastie Boys All you Trekkies and TV addicts Don't mean to diss don't…
John Cougar Mellencamp feat. Kenny Aronoff A million young poets screaming out their words To a world…
John Mellencamp Million young poets Screamin' out their words To a world fu…
John Mellencamp Cougar A million young poets, screamin' out their words To a world…
Karmadelic Can't hold me down Here I am, here I am There ain't…
Kool DJ E.Q. Can't you see the new light? And, we go!! 例えばの話 終わってたなら 何を思…
Markie Biz Yo this is kinda slow But I know the Jeeps goin'…
Mike Gold The V.K. I think you know what I'm getting at I find it…
Minaj Nicki Stepped in the party like my name was "that bitch". All…
Mr. Fang feat. Violet Bongo is a rastaman And I man a sing a…
Mr. Joker Check it deeply Dutty I man saw nuffa dem a posse, me…
Nicki Minaj Stepped in the party like my name was "that bitch". All…
Oh The Larceny Ooh. I'm in a Sweet Spot I'm Feeling Good The Sun is Shining…
P.l.a.t.e We go back and forth, sending this out to my…
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth [CL Smooth] We go back and forth, sending this out to…
Pete Rock / C.L. Smooth We go back and forth, sending this out to my…
Popium Gather around, hear that lovely sound So many folks come fr…
Show & A.G. Check it out huh this is how it's going…
Sisyfuss Yellow striped sofa becomes my bead Brand new estate, no tv…
Super Furry Animals Check it out Check it out Check it out Check it out Chec…
Tavares If you need a strong hand To guide you through the…
The Nields want to be beautiful, so I got a magazine But it…
The Osmonds There's a girl down on the corner, check it out. There's…
UnoTheActivist Real shit Pimp shit Baby like how I kick shit Say she wanna…
Various Artists Oh-a-ooh Stepped up in the party like my name was…
will.i.am Stepped in the party like my name was "that bitch". All…
Womack Bobby Featuring E-40, Kurupt] From a nickel and dime ass…
ニッキー・ミナージュ & will.i.am Stepped in the party like my name was "that bitch". All…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Friends of Distinction:
And I Love Him Never, never doubt Never, never doubt I give him all my …
Crazy Mary They call me crazy, Crazy Mary Because I still love him Thou…
Eli's Comin' Eli's comin' Eli's comin' Whoa you better hide your heart …
Goin In Circles I'm an ever rollin' wheel, without a destination real I'm a…
Going in Circles I'm an ever rollin' wheel, without a destination real I'm a…
Grazing In The Grass It sure is mellow grazin' in the grass (Grazin' in…
Great Day (spoken) It's kind of a nice day isn't it? I don't know …
I Really Hope You Do My imagination starts working over time when you come near O…
It Don't Matter To Me It don't matter to me If you really feel that You need…
Lonesome Mood Oh yes you gone now What is there for me to…
Love Me Or Let Me Be Lonely Love me let me be lonely Part time love I can…
Love or Let Me Be Lonely Love me let me be lonely Part time love I can…
Time Waits For No One Time waits for no one And nobody gets away There's no except…
When A Little Love Began To Die Ay, this for you, baby, you know who I'm talkin'…
The lyrics can frequently be found in the comments below, by filtering for lyric videos or browsing the comments in the different videos below.
windel12002
They did it before Tavares.
Chris Carpenter
I think the Tavares did it better
Maria Antonia Madayag
I just love the friends of distinction. Their style is the best for me . I started hearing their songs when I was 7 years old and up to this time now that I’m 59 I still love their songs