Abraham Laboriel Sr, Alan Pasqua, Carlos Vega, Dann Huff, David Foster, Dean Parks, Dionne Warwick, Ed Greene, Fred Washington, Greg Phillinganes, Jeffrey Porcaro, Jim Keltner, JR Robinson, Lenny Castro, Mike Baird, Mike Landau, Narada Michael Walden, Nathan East, Paulinho Da Costa, Richard Page, Robbie Buchanan, Steve George, The Waters
Friends is a Gold-plus album recorded by Dionne Warwick, her seventh for the Arista label. It was recorded during the fall of 1985 and was released that December. The LP was originally issued as number AL 8-8398 in the Arista Catalog. It stands as one of Warwick’s most successful albums.
The album was executive produced by Clive Davis. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard album chart in March 1986. It was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, at the 1987 Grammy Awards, eventually selling 900,000 US copies. The album yielded the single “That’s What Friends Are For”, which became Dionne’s biggest career hit, spending four weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
“On My Own”, a song recorded by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald, was originally written for Warwick (as the writers are Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager). She recorded the song to be released on this album. However, it wasn’t included in the final track list. It was later released by the above mentioned singers and it turned out to be a hit. Warwick did sing the song live on several occasions. A second single the song “Whisper in the dark” was released.(source)
Tracks
1 That’s What Friends Are For (Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach) 4:16
2 Whisper In The Dark (Bruce Roberts, Edgar Bronfman Jr) 4:36
3 Remember Your Heart (Dan Navarro, David Paul Bryant) 3:44
4 Love At Second Sight (David Foster, Paul Gordon) 4:40
5 Moments Aren’t Moments (Stevie Wonder) 4:34
6 Stronger Than Before (Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach, Bruce Roberts) 3:23
7 Stay Devoted (Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach) 3:36
8 No One There (To Sing Me A Love Song) (Narada Michael Walden, Preston Glass, Randy Jackson, Walter Afanasieff) 4:28
9 How Long? (Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach) 4:12
10 Extravagant Gestures (Carole Bayer Sager, Burt Bacharach) 4:57
Musicians
1 That’s What Friends Are For
Bass |
Freddie Washington |
Drums |
Carlos Vega |
Drums |
JR Robinson |
Guitar |
Mike Landau |
Keyboards |
Randy Kerber |
Synthesizer |
David Foster |
Harmonica |
Stevie Wonder |
Percussion |
Paulinho Da Costa |
Vocals |
Elton John |
Vocals |
Gladys Knight |
Vocals |
Stevie Wonder |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
2 Whisper In The Dark
Bass |
Nathan East |
Drums |
Jeffrey Porcaro |
Guitar |
Dann Huff |
Synthesizer |
Peter Wolf |
Synthesizer |
Peter Wolf |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
Percussion |
Mike Fisher |
Background Vocals |
Bruce Roberts |
Background Vocals |
Marty McCall |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
3 Remember Your Heart
Bass |
Nathan East |
Drums |
Jeffrey Porcaro |
Guitar |
Dann Huff |
Synthesizer |
Peter Wolf |
Synthesizer |
Robbie Buchanan |
Percussion |
Lenny Castro |
Percussion |
Mike Fisher |
Background Vocals |
Clydene Jackson |
Background Vocals |
Marty McCall |
Background Vocals |
Debbie Hall |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
4 Love At Second Sight
Drums |
Mike Baird |
Guitar |
Mike Landau |
Keyboards |
David Foster |
Keyboards |
Tom Keane |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
5 Moments Aren’t Moments
Drums |
Stevie Wonder |
Synclavier |
Stevie Wonder |
Synthesizer |
Stevie Wonder |
Trumpet |
Larry Gittens |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
6 Stronger Than Before
Bass |
Freddie Washington |
Drums |
JR Robinson |
Guitar |
David Williams |
Keyboards |
John Barnes |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
7 Stay Devoted
Bass |
Freddie Washington |
Drums |
JR Robinson |
Guitar |
David Williams |
Keyboards |
John Barnes |
Keyboards |
Randy Kerber |
Percussion |
Paulinho Da Costa |
Background Vocals |
Julia Tillman Waters |
Background Vocals |
Maxine Willard Waters |
Background Vocals |
Stephanie Spruill |
Background Vocals |
Richard Page |
Background Vocals |
Steve George |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
8 No One There (To Sing Me A Love Song)
Bass |
Nathan East |
Drums |
Ed Greene |
Guitar |
Charles Fearing |
Fender Rhodes |
Greg Phillinganes |
Piano |
Artie Butler |
Percussion |
Alan Estes |
Background Vocals |
Tom Kelly |
Background Vocals |
Richard Page |
Background Vocals |
Tommy Funderburk |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
9 How Long?
Bass |
Freddie Washington |
Drums |
JR Robinson |
Guitar |
David Williams |
Keyboards |
Randy Kerber |
Keyboards |
John Barnes |
Sax |
David Boruss |
Background Vocals |
Richard Page |
Background Vocals |
Steve George |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
10 Extravagant Gestures
Bass |
Abraham Laboriel Sr |
Drums |
Jim Keltner |
Guitar |
Dean Parks |
Guitar |
Alan Pasqua |
Strings |
Sidney Sharp |
Vocals |
Dionne Warwick |
Liner Notes
Producer – Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager (Tracks 1, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Producer – Albhy Galuten (Tracks 2, 3)
Producer – David Foster (Track 4)
Producer – Stevie Wonder (Track 5)
Producer – Barry Manilow (Track 8)
Producer (Executive) – Clive Davis
Arranged By – Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager (Tracks 1, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Arranged By – Albhy Galuten (Tracks 2, 3
Arranged By – David Foster (Track 4)
Arranged By – Stevie Wonder (Track 5)
Arranged By – Artie Butler, Barry Manilow (Track 8)
Art Direction – Donn Davenport
Photography – David Vance, Ron Batzdorff
Phonographic Copyright Arista Records Inc
Copyright Arista Records Inc