Customer Reviews

Friends in Love

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all the album is titled friends in love and not of love .
It is one of the hardest dionne albums to find.
This japanese import is a real treat at no matter what cost.
This is the 3rd album ms Warwick recorded with arista after her much awaited return in 1980.
It is to my opinion the very best album she has recorded in that period.
2 duets with Johnny Mathis,an incredible earth wind and fire cover,a steevie wonder ballad and a bit of diva torch singing complete this jazzy flavoured album.

I guess 'cause "Breakin' Away" kicked such commercial AND artistic ass in '81,this album got overlooked,which is understandable.As far as I'm concerned,this album is a kind of "best kept secret",like Bill Champlin's "Runaway",a solo album he cut between being front man for Sons Of Champlin and co-lead vocalist/writer/guitarist for Chicago.His backgrounds in "Can't Hide Love" on "Friends In Love" are surely amongst his best.This album,for me,is a kind of summation of genius musicality hitting its stride--studiomonsters at their absolute heighth of groovicality.*****!!!!

I used to love this album on vinyl. It's a crime that it has never been released except as an import. This was Dionne's best, most musical album ever. It was always a pleasure to hear how Jay Graydon could create a new vehicle for different artists during this era, e.g. Dionne Warwick, Al Jarreau, Manhattan Transfer. Jay's production values were always apparent, along with lots of tasty playing and kickin' horns. "For You," "With a Touch" and "Can't Hide Love" are some of my favorites. Especially "Can't Hide Love" a great Earth Wind and Fire cover.

This is one of the 3 best albums Dionne made for Arista, along with the Barry Manilow produced, "Dionne," and the Barry Gibb produced, "Heartbreaker." There is not a single bad cut on "Friends In Love." Jay Graydon's production shines as do Dionne's out front vocals. Dionne seems to be enjoying herself throughout this project. The musical arrangements are breezy and spare, not overdone. Dionne pairs with Johnny Mathis on two cuts, with the title track in particular, being one of the high points of this CD. You can listen to this CD repeatedly and hear something different each time. This is a must have for any Dionne fan and is worth the extra import price.

I remember buying this during its' original vinyl release. It was classic "80s Comeback" Dionne fare. Just before all the buzz of Whitney Houston, Clive Davis used to get the goods for Warwick when she was successfully selling LPs along with other former Arista artists such as Angela Bofill, Phyllis Hyman and Melissa Manchester. Most all of the Arista releases of the late 70s and early 80s had similiar cover art and song material. It was the golden time of the label before BMG took over and made it into a mega artist label with over hyped and under-developed talent. Sorry Whitney Houston and Tony Braxton!

To rate a complete disc for one song? "For You" is such a musical gem that I cannot express in words how good this one selection makes the whole disc. To go into the realm of post disco, Dionne really hit it with "Friends In Love." It is not applauded nearly enough.

Ms. Warwick's treatment of Earth, Wind and Fire's "Can't Hide Love" is pure ear candy too. I feel that by 1982 Dionne had hit her true "selective" height, in terms of songs. "Friends In Love" showed me that she had finally broken off from the wonderful Bacharach "umbilical". Produced by Jay Graydon, and beautifully backed by the Jerry Hey horns, this is a must have for true Dionne collectors. Sadly it's availability is thin and the "For You" is only available here.

Finally, note the very identifiable Stevie Wonder entry "With A Touch", which could only be considered a bonus. I had never heard the tune before or since, except on this disc. This is truely a "best of" album for me, and until Dionne's Brazilian disc, this was her most artistic effort for Arista. I am glad I own it, and know you will be too.

First of all, it is "Friends In Love", not "Friends Of Love". I must say this has been one of the hardest albums to find over the years since it came out... This album was great because of the REAL talent of the musicians on the sessions. You can hear David Foster playing Piano & Rhodes and NOT a mountain of digital sounds... plus Jay Graydon is providing some tasty guitar (that we all don't hear enough of anymore) on this as well as great producing skills. Jeff Porcaro is even on a cut, and what a delight to hear and feel his spirit again on the CD. All in all it's a blend of several styles that fit very well together.