Friends (Beach Boys song)


"Friends" is a song written by Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1968 album Friends. It was also released as a single, with "Little Bird" as the B-side. The single peaked at No. 47 in the United States and No. 25 in the United Kingdom. The song was recorded on March 13, 1968.

Background

The song was recorded in time for its first take. Immediately after, Brian rearranged the song after realizing that there were not many waltzes on the radio. Brian Wilson once stated, "The cut 'Friends' was, in my opinion, a good way to keep waltzes alive. Carl had sung...before and now he spearheaded this cut with a heavy vocal performance." As Peter Reum, a Beach Boys historian, stated "'Friends' is a waltz, and it's been used at the Berklee College of Music to teach students how to write in time."
Brian called the song his favorite from the Friends album. An a cappella mix was sold as a vinyl single backed with Al Jardine's Beach Boys reunion song "Don't Fight the Sea" for the charity of 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in April 2011.

Personnel

Per Craig Slowinsky.
The Beach Boys
Session musicians