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.
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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Just A Little Lovin'
The Friends of Distinction Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Just A Little Lovin'' by these artists:
Arnold Eddy Just a little lovin' will go a long way And you'll…
Atlantiquity & Carmen McRae Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Barbra Streisand Just a little lovin' Early in the morning Beats a cup of…
Bing Crosby Just a little lovin', early in the mornin' Beats a cup…
Carmen Electra "What you gonna play now?" (Tasty) (Let me) Just a littl…
Carmen McRae Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
David Houston Just a little lovin' will go a long way and…
Dean Martin Just a little lovin,' yeah Will go a long way Well you…
Dianne Reeves Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Doc Watson & Friends When you heard me say That I don’t think that We could…
Don & Dewey All we wanna do, all we wanna do All we wanna…
Dusty Springfield Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a cup of…
Eddie Fisher Just a little lovin', yeah Will go a long way Well you…
Eddy Arnold Just a little lovin' will go a long way And you'll…
Eddy Arnold The Tennessee Plowboy and his Guitar Just a little lovin' will go a long way And you'll…
Horn Shirley Just a little lovin,' yeah Will go a long way Well you…
Irfane Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Janis Siegel Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Lynne Shelby Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a cup of…
Nelson Riddle Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Nicole Henry Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a cup of…
Outlines Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Ray Charles Just a little lovin,' yeah Will go a long way Well you…
Rick Nelson Sometimes I think I love you, aw, just a little…
Riddle Nelson & Orchestra Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
Sarah Vaughan Just a little lovin' early in the mornin' Beats a cup…
Shelby Lynne Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a cup of…
Shirley Horn Just a little lovin,' yeah Will go a long way Well you…
T.S. Monk Just a little lovin' Early in the mornin' Beats a…
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 Yo…
Goin In Circles I'm an ever rollin' wheel, without a destination real I'm an…
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 Need You 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…
Let Yourself Go Hey you You say you got a problem If you don't mind I'd…
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…
This Generation Inspiration flows (from river to river) And grows (by leaps …
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'…
Why Did I Lose You? Why did I lose you, Baby What did I do wrong Just…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos