The Friends of Distinction

The Friends of Distinction were an American vocal group best known for their late 1960s hits, "Grazing in the Grass", "Love or Let Me Be Lonely", and "Going in Circles". Founded by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, The Friends of Distinction also included Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Jean Love, who was replaced by Charlene Gibson during her pregnancy.

The Friends of Distinction
The Friends of Distinction in 1973.
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresR&B, pop, soul, sunshine pop, psychedelic soul
Years active1968–1975
LabelsRCA Records
MembersHarry Elston
Floyd Butler
Jessica Cleaves
Barbara Jean Love
Charlene Gibson

Career

The Friends of Distinction formed in 1968 in Los Angeles with original members Floyd Butler (June 5, 1937 – April 29, 1990), Harry Elston (born November 4, 1938), Jessica Cleaves (December 10, 1948 – May 2, 2014), and Barbara Jean Love (born July 24, 1941). Butler and Elston had worked together in The Hi-Fi's in the mid 1960s, often opening for Ray Charles. Other members of the Hi-Fi's were Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore, who would later co-found The Fifth Dimension.

The Friends of Distinction were discovered by American football player Jim Brown, who also discovered Earth, Wind & Fire , and were signed to RCA Records.

The Friends' first major hit, "Grazing in the Grass", was an Elston-sung vocal cover version of an instrumental hit by Hugh Masekela, with lyrics written by Elston. Released in March 1969, this gold record went Top 5 on both the pop and soul charts in the U.S., peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in June.[1] The follow-up ballad "Going in Circles" also charted highly, hitting #15 in November.[1]

When Love took time off during her pregnancy, Charlene Gibson replaced her, singing lead on the Friends' third hit, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely", which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 2-9 May 1970. The Friends were prolific between 1969 and 1971, releasing five albums, with a sixth in 1973. They also released numerous singles, including "Check It Out" and a cover of Neil Sedaka's "Time Waits For No One".

The group quit touring in 1975, and broke up soon afterward. Cleaves sang with Earth, Wind & Fire for a number of years.

"Going in Circles" has been covered by Isaac Hayes, The Gap Band and Luther Vandross, and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" by Paul Davis.

In 1990, Elston and Butler planned to revive the Friends of Distinction, but Butler suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 52 on April 29 of that year. He had already written songs for the group and one composition he co-wrote, "Check It Out", was a hit for the group Tavares. Elston formed a new quartet, also called the Friends of Distinction, and the group continues to give live performances.

Jessica Cleaves died on May 2, 2014, from a stroke at the age of 65.[2]

Legacy

Artists such as Jagged Edge have been influenced by The Friends of Distinction.[3]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Record label
US Pop
[4]		 US
R&B
[5]		 CAN
[6]
1969 Grazin' 35 10 17 RCA
Highly Distinct 173 14 —
1970 Real Friends 68 9 49
Whatever 179 42 —
1971 Friends & People 166 — —
1973 Love Can Make It Easier — — —
1975 Reviviscence – Live to Light Again — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums
  • Greatest Hits (1973, RCA)
  • Golden Classics (1989, Collectables)
  • Best of the Friends of Distinction (1996, RCA)
  • Going in Circles (2005, Sony BMG)

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US Pop
[7]		 US
R&B
[8]		 US
A/C
[9]		 AUS
[10]		 CAN
[6]
1969 "Grazing in the Grass" 3 5 — 98 5 Grazin'
"Going in Circles" (A-side) 15 3 — — 24
"Let Yourself Go" (B-side) 63 — — — 34 Highly Distinct
1970 "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" 6 13 9 55 2 Real Friends
"Time Waits for No One" 60 37 — — 37 Whatever
1971 "I Need You" 79 28 — — — Friends & People
"Down I Go" — — — — —
"Let Me Be" — — — — —
1972 "Love Is the Way of Life (The Humble Stranger)" — — — — — N/A
"Thumb Tripping (I'll Be Movin' On)" — — — — — Love Can Make It Easier
1973 "Easy Evil" — — — — —
"Love Can Make It Easier" — — — — —
1975 "Honey Baby Theme" — — — — — Honey Baby, Honey Baby
"Love Shack (Opened Up a Shop) Pt. 1" — — — — — Reviviscence – Live to Light Again
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References
  1. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 259. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  2. "Former Earth Wind & Fire and Friends of Distinction singer Jessica Cleaves dies at age 65". soultracks.com. Retrieved May 3, 2014.
  3. "For Jagged Edge, it's about sounding raw". baltimoresun.com.
  4. "The Friends of Distinction: Billboard 200". billboard.com.
  5. "The Friends of Distinction: Top R&B Albums". billboard.com.
  6. "The Friends of Distinction". bac-lac.gc.ca. RPM.
  7. "The Friends of Distinction: Hot 100". billboard.com.
  8. "The Friends of Distinction: Hot R&B Songs". billboard.com.
  9. "The Friends of Distinction: Adult Contemporary Songs". billboard.com.
  10. David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. "US Certifications > The Friends of Distinction". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2014-09-26.
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