Customer Reviews

Friends

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unfortunately, this CD/Album has not gone down in R&B history along with Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" or Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (which came out at about the same time), but those of us who heard this the first time around have fond memories of it. At a time when much of R&B was synthetic... "Freinds" was a compilation of real feel-good music. The song "I Can Make You Feel Good" does just that, as well as the title cut "Friends" and "A Night To Remember." It's a shame that this version of Shalamar with Jeffery Daniels, Jody Watley, and Howard Hewitt, broke up not long after this. But at least they left behind this wonderful collection for us to enjoy today.

This release in '82 has got to go down as one of the all time classic soul/pop albums. Anyone who doesn't have a copy in their collection at the mo' needs to add one asap! All 10 tracks ooze quality, stand-outs being "There It Is", " Night To Remember" & the title track "Friends". Howard Hewett, lead vocalists, who went on to a successfull solo career, shows why he's still regarded as being one of the few distinct voices in soul.....as once said, he could make the reading of the yellow pages sound sweet....anyway, don't take my word for it, spend a few $'s no disappointments I swear!!

"BEAUTIFUL music by beautiful people" was SOLAR's (Sound of Los Angeles Records) bold motto. And nowhere was this declaration better displayed than on Shalamar's 1982 album. It was an album that sent Howard Hewett, Jeffrey Daniels and the beautiful Jody Watley into the Megastar stratosphere, and it made a lasting impression in the pop/R&B consciousness.

You have to hand it to Dick Griffey (Executive Producer and record label head). He had a knack of drafting together the right blend of songwriters and producers who brought out the best of Shalamar's talents. Howard Hewett has one of the finest tenor voices in the business and it was put to good use here. Jody was also blossoming into a stylish vocalist. However, it was the blending of Howard and Jody's voices that made Shalamar's sound different.

Every artist/group has a defining album in their repertoire, and "Friends" was Shalamar at their best. It's worth pointing out that the whole Shalamar experience was different in the UK than in the US. Shalamar were HUGE in the UK, and all the released singles were massive hits on the pop charts. "A Night To Remember", "I Can Make You Feel Good", "There It Is" and the title track became anthems and the us Brits adopted the trio as our own

The album opens with the classic "A Night to Remember", which is perhaps the most famous Shalamar song of all time. Jody and Howard take the lead here. This gem of a track is still getting airplay today. "Don't Try To Change Me" is an all-Jody lead song, and she did a fine job. "Help Me" is a fabulous, funky mid-tempo number.

Other tracks worth mentioning are the title track, the awesome "There It Is" and "I Can Make You Feel Good". No other Shalamar album encapsulates a period better than "Friends". If, like me, you wore your vinyl version out, treat yourself to a CD and take a trip down memory lane.

p.s. here's a little Shalamar trivia for the younger music fans who may not be aware. It was Shalamar's Jeffrey Daniels who introduced the Moonwalk to the masses, and NOT Michael Jackson on the Motown 25 concert! This is one fact the Mr Jackson failed to point out, and Jeffrey never received the credit he deserved.

In teaming with producer extrodinaire Leon Sylvers, III, R&B's trio sensation Shalamar generates another mega-smash album proving that consistency is a definite factor in staying on top. Like the group's two successful previous albums, the hits are endless. Monstrous jams like the smooth and delightful "I Can Make You Feel Good," "There It Is," "I Don't Want To Be The Last To Know," later sampled by hit group Blaque, and the funky R&B Top 10 gem "A Night to Remember," instantly pushed this masterpiece to gold status making Solar's infamous three an even still listenalble delight.

My Japan made cd with K2 24 Bit Mastering is absolutely mind blowing...slaming bass and blistering clarity.. absolute masterpiece...iam in heaven .

Being a great fan of the group Shalamar this album was played in 82 a whole lot,great songs well arranged by Leon sylvers (of the family sylvers fame)for folks who said that black music lost it's edge in the 80's becuase of synths i say bollocks,bad musicians will make bad music.Howard Hewett, who is a very underrated singer sang his face off on this album and Watley and Daniels make great vocal contributions on this album this is great dance pop music. this is a very entertaining album with good moments.

There was NO better R&B album around in 1982 than THIS one...
Close to this one came Imagination's In The Heat Of The Night (which contains 4 hitsingles: Just An Illusion, Music & Lights, In The Heat Of The Night and Changes) which was released at the same time.
Shalamar's 1982 album Friends includes 3 hitsingles, rich lyrics, rich melodies, rich instruments AND (finally) those voices!, which sounded very recognisable at the time. A Night To Remember was a stomper, just like There It Is, and I Can Make You Feel Good kept it's promise in the title. Back in those days of summer in 1982, I played them over and over again, simply unstoppable! The rest of the album is almost equal to those 3 singles. Look for the Solar-version which contains 2 bonus-tracks: There It Is (12" version) and A Night To Remember (M&M mix). Outstanding!!!
This record will make you feel good.

I was 14 when I bought this album and it is arguably the best R&B/disco album ever made. It is of a kind that simply is not made anymore. Totally danceable, totally made for singing along to and no matter how down you are, this record will cheer you up. All tracks bring memories with them and I do go all misty eyed whenever I hear Shalamar do their thang.

I Have always Dug Shalamar.and this Disc showcases the Powerful Voice of Howard Hewett really well.A Night To Remember is a Classic cut.that I Have Heard Sampled so Much and that it's Amazing how Fresh it still sounds to this day.there it is is a good cut as well.this is a Good Disc by a Very Important Trio.they had alot of Influence.

This is an excellent pop-soul album that bubbles vibrant, lively songs and the personality that made Shalamar so popular. The Jody Watley, Jeffery Daniel, Howard Hewett line-up hit a homerun in a major way with this one, clocking a top ten hit with "A Night to Remember," a wonderful showcase for the soulful Hewett and Watley's airy delivery. Her growth as a vocalist really comes through on this record. She goes all the way on "Don't Try to Change Me," showing a confidence seemingly held back since her defining lead on "Right in the Socket" three years before. The album has two pearls in "There It Is" and "I Can Make You Feel Good," both colorful numbers full of melody and spirit. The UK really loved those two, and they made them a big act over there. Great stuff. This record is great work from an act that never really got its due. This is without a doubt Shalamar at its peak.