you've got a friend

James Taylor had his biggest success with his rendition of this classic ballad written by Carole King. Taylor recalls the first time he heard the song at the Troubadour in Los Angeles: "I stood outside a little dressing room up on the balcony and I just had to find my guitar and figure out how that song went. I said: 'She's written it. That's The Star-Spangled Banner right there'." Released the same year that she put it out on 'Tapestry', the song was the centerpiece of his third album 'Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon'. His warm, sincere delivery propelled the single to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Easy Listening charts, and number four on the UK Singles Chart. 'You've Got a Friend' went on to win Grammy Awards for Taylor for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and for King for Song of the Year.

http://www.jamestaylor.com/

When you're down and troubled

And you need a helping hand

And nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.

Close your eyes and think of me

And soon I will be there

To brighten up even your darkest nights.

You just call out my name,

And you know where ever I am

I'll come running to see you again.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall,

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there, yeah, yeah,

You've got a friend.

If the sky above you

Should turn dark and full of clouds

And that old north wind should begin to blow,

Keep your head together

And call my name out loud.

Soon I will be knocking upon your door.

You just call out my name,

And you know where ever I am

I'll come running to see you again.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall,

All you have to do is call

And I'll be there, yeah, yeah,

You've got a friend.

Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?

People can be so cold.

They'll hurt you and desert you.

Well, they'll take your soul if you let them,

Oh yeah, but don't you let them.

You just call out my name,

And you know where ever I am

I'll come running to see you again.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall,

All you have to do is call,

Lord, I'll be there, yeah, yeah,

You've got a friend. You've got a friend.

Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.

Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.

Oh, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend.

The single hit version features backing vocals by Joni Mitchell.

 'Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon'

full album:




1. Love Has Brought Me Around (0:00 to 2:43)
2. You've Got A Friend (2:44 to 7:13)
3. Places In My Past (7:14 to 9:16)
4. Riding On A Railroad (9:17 to 11:59)
5. Soldiers (12:00 to 13:14)
6. Mud Slide Slim (13:15 to 18:35)
7. Hey Mister That's Me Up On The Jukebox (18:36 to 22:23)
8. You Can Close Your Eyes (22:24 to 24:53)
9. Machine Gun Kelly (24:54 to 27:31)
10. Long Ago And Far Away (27:32 to 29:52)
11. Let Me Ride (29:53 to 32:37)
12. Highway Song (32:38 to 36:31)
13. Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again (36:32 to 37:27)