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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On & on
The Friends of Distinction Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'On & on' by these artists:
3 Feet Smaller When I see you I feel something inside that I can't…
Abra Cadabra feat. Odeal Stand up for ya Man 'nuff for ya Better dancer Time off for…
Agnes On and on This love I feel for you goes…
Akcent Estaba tan loco Te hacia llorar todo el tiempo Caminaste lej…
Aki. My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
All Together Separate Backstreets on a Sunday night Running from the fear into th…
Alok Where have all the pictures gone This place was home was…
Alok & Dynoro Body to body with you in the dark Say that you…
Angel As time goes on I feel the morning light it seems, Seems…
Angel Aki 信じていた 人に裏切られた事 あなたはありますか？ 全てを奪われてから 一人で眠る部屋には 希望の欠片さえ 残らない ど…
Anthony David Good morning You caught me starin at you again While you s…
Aria Bléu Oh You can plead your case but I don't have all day If…
Aswad & Sweetie Irie Down in Jamaica They got lots of pretty women Steal your m…
B. Motion Come on Come and get it, come and get it Come on…
B.E.Mann Oh, oh Every hour, every day Every minute you are away Ev…
Badu Oh my my my I'm feeling high My moneys gone I'm all alone Th…
Badu Erykah "On and On" Oh my my my I'm feeling high My money's gon…
Ben Lee Without a gun, id be defenseless against you. Without a doub…
Blind Oh, I haven't been here for a while In blindness and…
Blu Mar Ten vs. Erykah Badu Oh my my my I'm feeling high My moneys gone I'm all alone Th…
Boy Kill Boy Closer than you ever knew on and on and on…
Cartoon Hold me close til I get up Time is barely on…
Cartoon (feat. Daniel Levi) Hold me close 'til I get up Time is barely on…
Cartoon; Daniel Levi Hold me close 'til I get up Time is barely on…
Chris de Luca vs. Phon.o I always thought we'd be together And that our love could…
Clover I saw her today, I saw her face, it was…
Cobra Skulls On and on and on How can we keep holding on? On…
Cool For August Bet your life I'll be...yeah A better woman you see All b…
Crayon feat. Jordan Lee Mary did you know that your baby boy will some…
Crayon Jordan Lee On and on On and on In spite of everything that I′ve…
David Anthony Good morning You caught me starin at you again While you sle…
Direct Hit! We woke up today to find that all of us were…
DJ Sammy feat. Do Why? Why? How many times do I have to try to…
Dro Kenji Census, what you cookin'? I know that it's gettin' confusin…
DuM Avoiding my head The hole in my heart I fill them with…
Dyemond Lewis; Joey Bada$$; Maverick Sabre I can still taste you on my lips, your tenderness You…
Dymond and T-Sound Cold empty bed, springs hard as lead Pains in my head,…
E.B Uh huh, yeah, yeah Uh huh, yeah Ayo, Al, I got you Ayo,…
Eamon On and on and on, On and on and on…
Erykah Badu Oh, my, my, my I'm feeling high My money's gone I'm all a…
Erykah Badu - On & On Oh my my my I'm feeling high My moneys gone I'm all alone Th…
Film School We got down tonight With words and with wine And as you…
Flo Rida You and me (just you and me) Just me and you You…
Flo Rida Feat. Kevin Rudolf Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh yeah yeah yeah [Ne-Yo Chorus] I said…
Flo Rida Feat. Kevin Rudolph You and me (just you and me) Just me and you You…
Floorfilla With P. Moody (Mike Pinder) I look around at other people But all…
Fossil Collective Try to remember how the story goes I′m by the side…
Futuro Pelo Oh when the girl gets busy (girl gets busy) I'm on…
Gil Remember lying side by side All through a summer night Tim…
Gladys Knight Bet your life I'll be...yeah A better woman you see All b…
Goldhouse I wonder if you stay the night Keep me up when…
Her Saving my pictures And all of my work Saving my pictures …
HouseClap What are words worth? What are words worth? Words Words …
Huckleberry Flint Traveling down this long lonesome highway I'm so lonesome I …
Illy 1 Here we go Yeah, life's a song it plays once through,…
Inna Hello, Do you miss me? I don?t know. My soul, Miss you b…
J-Wiz Right here, let's get ratchet, uh huh Trippy like Bombay …
Jay Sean Thinking bout all of those days I left behind Nowadays it…
Jay Sean/Rishi Rich Project Beep, beep on Now there goes my phone And once again I'm …
Jillian Merce Please Don′t make it harder than it seems Just tell me what…
Joey Bada$$ My mind just booked a first class ticket to my…
Jordan Lee Mary did you know that your baby boy will some…
Justine Skye Where Brookyln, where Brookyln, where Brookyln Where Brooky…
Karizma You give sweet, and how easily, I, I fall deep Your…
killa t Imbambolato alla finestra come un gatto mentre fuori piove …
Kirin & Sumin 왜 나는 사랑을 다 안다고 느꼈나 그 때 만든 노래가 왜 나는…
Laura Marie The moment you took the stage I was yours Every…
Longpigs All the songs that I've sung here More often than you…
M.O Where did all mutherfuckers go? Attention please, attenti…
Mac Miller I wanna walk into the mall And i better take it…
Macy Gray I've been drinking, I'm high I have a lot to say I…
Mat Kearney If tonight is your last train out of here How you…
Mercy Arms On & On You'll take my love And On & On You'll fake…
MF Doom and Erykah Badu Oh my my my I'm feeling high My moneys gone I'm all alone Th…
Mike Stud It goes on and on, goes on and on, yeah 'Till…
Mims I got one question is he still around Been a little…
Mint Condition I'd say that its going well You and me Feels…
Missy Elliott [Pharrell] Beware, you're now listening to the sounds Of M…
Mr.Dero Shades of night are falling and I'm lonely Standing on the…
N.O.R.E Feat. Sean Kingston I walk the lonely streets, I watch the people passing…
nicole feat. mannie fresh Ok I'm finally perfect, ya know Y'all already know what it…
Nicole Ft. Mannie Fresh Okay I'm finally perfect, you know Y'all already know what i…
Nicole Scherzinger [Chorus:] Get your body on the floor, let's do this! I've …
Nikka Costa Make your mama proud like a real man should Scream so…
Number One Gun Could you be my answer Could you tell me that…
On & On [Chorus] It goes on and on We won't stop to…
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth [cl smooth] The nightcap was exiled, steadily profiled As …
PLTS I'm leaving this town gonna row far way Dig through the…
robin thicke feat jadakiss Yea niggas So this is what it all boils down…
Shamoon Ismail Tenu dassaan kivain gallain jeri rehndi on my Mind(how do I…
Sly & Robbie Rosalita, now our summer`s gone and you`ve left me all…
Snake Hips You, you, you, you Pretend that I don’t see you Look the…
Snoww & DJ T.H. Feat. Di Tale as old as time True as it can be Barely even…
Souleye No matter how clear the vision or distorted No matter if…
SWV [Chorus] It goes on and on We won't stop to…
The Caldwell Drive Meet me at the corner of hope and hopeless Try To f…
The Emotions Dance, boogie wonderland. Ha, ha, dance, boogie wonderland …
The Sweeplings Cover the silence With blankets of pain Put up your walls …
Tom and Jerry The broken glass And the rusty nails Where the violets gro…
Tvxq [영웅] 그런 사랑해 본적 있나요 한 사람만을 끝없이 원하고 기다리고 사랑하는 영화…
Vanilla Sky Hello it's a beautiful day and I'm searching for the…
X-Session Partypeople put your hands in the air and slap some skin…
Yanou f/Do We're breaking promises we thought we could keep We trigger…
Yuk Ji Dam 첨부터 길을 잃었던 아이 세상과 마주하기에 너무 어렸던 나이 너넨 모르겠지 TV에 웃는 내…
Yuk Jidam Ft. Baek Yerin 1 (jidam) cheombuteo gireul ilheotdeon ai sesanggwa majuhagi…
zwall Y-Y-You got me tweakin′ Stayed up all weekend My mind goes o…
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 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 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…
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 can frequently be found in the comments below or by filtering for lyric videos.
Darweshi Blackwell
Funky