One of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60… Read Full Bio ↴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. 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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It Don't Matter To Me
The Friends of Distinction Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It don't matter to me
If you really feel that
You need sometime to be free
Time to go out searching for yourself
Hoping to find time to go to find

It don't matter to me
If you take up with someone
Who's better than me
'Cause your happiness is all I want
For you to find peace your piece of mind

A lotta people have an ego hang-up
'Cause they want to be the only one
How many came before it really doesn't matter
Just as long as you're the last
Everybody's moving on and try to find out
What's been missing in the past

It don't matter to me
If your searching brings you back together with me
'Cause there'll always be
An empty room waiting for you
Our open hearts waiting for you
Oh Oh Oh time is on your side

A lotta people have an ego hang-up
'Cause they want to be the only one
How many came before it really doesn't matter
Just as long as you're the last
Everybody's moving on and try to find out
What's been missing in the past

It don't matter to me
If your searching brings you back together with me
'Cause there'll always be
An empty room just waiting for you
Our open hearts waiting for you
Oh Oh Oh time is on your side

'Cause it don't matter to me
And it don't matter to me
It don't matter to me
It don't matter to me
It don't matter to me
It don't matter to me

'Cause there'll always be
An empty room just waiting for you
Our open hearts waiting for you
Oh Oh Oh time is on your side
'Cause it don't matter to me

Overall Meaning

The Friends of Distinction's song "It Don't Matter To Me" is a song about love and selflessness. The singer is telling their significant other that it doesn't matter if they need time to be free or if they take up with someone who is better than them. The singer wants nothing more than for their significant other to find happiness and peace of mind. The song is about putting someone else's needs above your own and accepting that love sometimes means letting go.

The lyrics also touch on the idea of ego and jealousy. The singer acknowledges that a lot of people have an ego hang-up and want to be the only one. However, the singer argues that it doesn't matter how many people came before them, as long as they are the last. The song is about letting go of ego and putting someone else's happiness before your own.

Overall, "It Don't Matter To Me" is a soulful and romantic song about love, selflessness, and accepting the impermanence of romantic relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

It don't matter to me
I don't mind what you do

If you really feel that
If that's how you truly feel

You need sometime to be free
You need some time to be independent

Time to go out searching for yourself
Time to explore and discover who you are

Hoping to find time to go to find
Hoping to find the time to look for

If you take up with someone
If you get into a relationship with someone

Who's better than me
Who is a better match for you than I am

'Cause your happiness is all I want
Because I only want you to be happy

For you to find peace your piece of mind
For you to find inner peace and clarity

A lotta people have an ego hang-up
Many people are held back by their ego