Customer Reviews

The Best Of Friends Of Distinction

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful collection of hits from the Friends of Distinction, however it is marred by the poor sound quality of the reissue. The sound is thin, and the mix diminishes their vocals. Also, the dynamic range of this cd is closer to that of an LP. Sad, because their full sound doesn't come across on this reissue. This is truly unfortunate since the Friends were an incredible sounding quartet. In spite of the sound quality, this is still a valuable collection of hits from the early '70's. Besides, this stuff was produced before the crystal clarity of cd's. Enjoy it anyway!

You'll probably recognize GRAZING IN THE GRASS as the backround music from that TV commercial with the Chinese-American lady from the View. I forget whether its for khakis or golf, and I most certainly don't watch the View, but this is great music. - - You might remember Issac Hayes making fun of the million mile an hour "I can dig it" conjugations in "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka" - -My point is, they're songs like KUNG FU FIGHTING and a lot of tunes in those GAP commercials... you may not have actually bought the album or even know the words (personally, I have a sealed copy of Kung Fu), but if you're a certain age, you you're bound to remember them or perk up when you hear them. I tend to think of this group as kind of a slightly more soulful take off on the Fifth Dimension. When I'm in the mood I like both groups. They are cheery yet soulful at the same time. While Grazing was their big hit, I'd have to say the winner for me is LOVE OR LET ME BE LONELY... especially the way it starts out all slow and dramatic then goes into that brassy uptempo part. - - Anyway, these songs make great listening (and sometimes backround music) for the key of life. For sure they were definitely the "Have a Nice Day/*smile*" side of the '70s. I would definitely reccomend exploring them.

great cd, but it's missing, "soulful people," "willa faye," and a couple of other tracks from "whatever."

This CD reminds me of the good times "back in the day". I remember when "Grazing In the Grass" was first played on the radio. It was The Jam. Then, I turned it over to the flip side, and there was "Going In Circles." To this day, "Going in Circles" is one of my favorite songs. "Check it Out", "Great Day" and "I Really Hope You Do" -- all classics. The only song missing is "Willa Faye."

The Friends of Distinction were one of the Best Soul Groups of the 60's and early 70's. You actually cannot put them in just one category, because they delved into Pop music and some of the more soulful R&B ballads with expertise that was unsurpassed in that era. "Grazin In the Grass" was a monster hit and you could not help but sing along every time you heard the song("and the bir-hir-hir-hirrrrrds dartin'... in and out of the trees!!!")...PERIOD. It was a fun song to listen to and to sing. My favorite for this group of all time is the very blusey "I Really Hope You Do" and "You Got Me Going In Circles" which in my estimation riveled some other soul groups like The Delfonics and the The Temptations with it's silky smooth delivery. Mannnn!!! I could listen to that a million times. I also liked "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" which was a great pop smash hit in it's own right(the horn and string arrangements were simply fabulous). They were absolutely... "the BOMB."

Back in the late 60's and early 70's, there were of course some great records from many diverse groups from The Beatles to The Fifth Dimension. One of my favorites was The Friends of Distiction. At first glance, they might have been perceived as another Fifth Dimension minus one but that was not the case. While The fifth Dimension recorded some unique productions of Jimmy Webb songs, The Friends of Distinctiion were more R&B for the most part. Of couse, I think most remember them for the vocal version of the instrumental great "Grazing in the Grass" but there was so much more to them than just that. This CD represents the best of this group which not only includes some great R&B songs and productions but also a gospel flavored one as well as some Manhatan Transfer style vocal blend. I highly reccomend this CD as it will bring back some great memories and it still holds up as a collection of feel good grooves from one of music's great vocal groups.
Richard Law

this is some of my favorite music someone stole my my 33 rpm record so I had to have the CD actually the creep,my brother, did me a favor cause now I can play it in my car.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CD. NOT ONLY DOES IT CONTAIN THE
FEW SONGS THAT I KNOW, BUT ALL THE OTHERS ARE REALLY
GOOD TOO. DIFFERENT TYPES OF SONGS FOR DIFFERENT MOODS.
THE CLASSIC MOTOWN SOUND REALLY GETS YOU GOING, AND THE
SLOWER ONES ARE VERY COMPELLING FOR THOSE MOMENTS WHEN
YOU JUST WANT TO RELAX, ALONE OR WITH SOMEONE ELSE!

I love the Fifth Dimension, but in some ways, the Friends Of Distinction are even better.

Even though they covered some of the same material, "Working On A Groovy Thing," an example, the Friends at times seemed more geared towards a popped take on pure soul than the 5Ds specialty, singer, songwriter pop.

Listen to "Going In Circles," "I really Hope You Do," or the accelerated take on "Grazin' In The Grass." There is a clear soul balladry here that the Fifth did not always specialize in, and although there are mistakes-the MOR "Love Or Let Me Be Lonley," this collection will be a great introduction to a band that too often coasts under the Dimension Five radar.

THOUGH I LIKE MANY OF THE SONGS ON THIS COMPILATION I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE THE ALBUMS FROM WHICH THEY WERE OBTAINED. THERE ARE THREE ALBUMS THAT I THINK SHOULD BE IN CD FORMAT AND THEY ARE "REAL FRIENDS", "WHATEVER" AND "FRIENDS AND PEOPLE". WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE THESE MARKETERS THINKING? THERE ARE SONGS ON THESE ALBUMS THAT REALLY SHOULD BE HEARD AND INCLUDE "LADY MAE", "WILLA FAY" AND A WONDERFUL VERSION OF THE SONG "PEOPLE".