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Grazin'
''Grazin is the debut studio album by music group The Friends of Distinction, released in 1969 on RCA Victor. Commercial performance The album peaked at No. 10 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 35 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The album features the single, "Grazing in the Grass", which peaked at No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. A second single, "Going in Circles" also charted at No. 15 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. Track listing Personnel *Ray Cork Jr. - arrangements, conductor *Floyd Butler, Harry Elston, Jessica Cleaves, Barbara Jean Love – vocals * Al Casey – guitar *Arthur G. Wright – guitar * Max Bennett – electric bass * Jim Gordon – drums, percussion *King Errison – congas *Gary Coleman – percussion *Jack Arnold – percussion *John Audino – trumpet, flugelhorn *Buddy Childers – trumpet, flugelhorn *Dalton Smith &ndash ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Friends Of Distinction
The Friends of Distinction were an American vocal group founded by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, best known for their late 1960s hits, "Grazing in the Grass", "Love or Let Me Be Lonely", and " Going in Circles". 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, w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Going In Circles
"Going in Circles" is a song written by Jerry Peters and Anita Poree, and originally performed by The Friends of Distinction on their 1969 album ''Grazin''', reaching number 15 on the U.S. Hot 100, and number three on the R&B chart. The song has since been covered numerous times by other artists, including Isaac Hayes and Luther Vandross. In addition, the song's co-composer, Jerry Peters released his own version of the tune on his 1972 solo album ''Blueprint for Discovery''. The Friends of Distinction's original version is an R.I.A.A. Certified Million-Seller. Chart history Weekly charts Year-end charts Cover versions * Dwight T. Ross (1968). Sampled in "ManyFacedGod" by Jay-Z featuring James Blake from his album '' 4:44''. * Carolyn Franklin, on ''Chain Reaction'' (1970) * Isaac Hayes, on '' Black Moses'' (1971) * The Gap Band, on ''Gap Band VII'' (1985) * Maceo Parker, on '' Funk Overload'' (1998) * Crime Mob, on "Circles" (2007) Luther Vandross version Several ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eli's Comin'
"Eli's Comin" is a song written and recorded in 1967 by American singer-songwriter and pianist Laura Nyro. The song was first released in 1968 on Nyro's album, ''Eli and the Thirteenth Confession''. Other versions *The song was recorded by Three Dog Night in 1969, on their 1969 albums ''Suitable for Framing'' (for which see note on piano outro) and '' Captured Live at the Forum''. Their studio version reached number 10 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 4 in Canada's RPM Magazine charts. *Don Ellis released a version in 1969 on his album ''The New Don Ellis Band Goes Underground''. *The Friends of Distinction released a version in 1969 on their album '' Grazin'''. *Honey Ltd. released a version in 1969 as a single on the LHI label. *Maynard Ferguson released a version in 1970 on his album '' M.F. Horn''. * Affinity released a version in 1970 as a single (also included in later pressings of their self-titled album). *The 5th Dimension released a version on their 1971 alb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peaceful (song)
"Peaceful" is a song written by Kenny Rankin, and recorded by several artists. It is best known as hit singles for Georgie Fame (1969) and Helen Reddy (1973). Introduced by Rankin on his 1967 debut album ''Mind Dusters'' on Mercury Records, "Peaceful" was recorded by Bobbie Gentry for her 1968 album '' Local Gentry'' on Capitol Records. A 1969 single recording by Georgie Fame, produced by Mike Smith and arranged/conducted by Keith Mansfield for CBS, reached number 16 in UK that summer. Fame's version of "Peaceful" had a concurrent single release in the US by Epic Records, prompting Mercury to issue Rankin's original track as a single, but neither single charted. "Peaceful" was also recorded in 1969 by The Friends of Distinction for their ''Grazin album on RCA. Rankin re-recorded the song in 1972, in a new arrangement for his album ''Like a Seed'', his Atlantic Records debut and first chart appearance. That same year Helen Reddy recorded "Peaceful" for her 1972 ''I Am Woman'' a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grazing In The Grass
"Grazing in the Grass" is an instrumental composed by Philemon Hou and first recorded by the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Released in the United States as a single in 1968, it followed United States trumpeter Herb Alpert's vocal performance of "This Guy's in Love with You" to the top spot on the Hot 100 chart, ranking it as the 18th biggest hit of the year. The song also reached #15 Adult Contemporary. Masekela included the song in his albums '' Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela'' (2001), '' Still Grazing'' (2004), and '' Live at the Market Theatre'' (2006). Masekela’s recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018. A vocal version by The Friends of Distinction, with lyrics by band member Harry Elston, was a US chart hit in 1969. "Grazing in the Grass" has been recorded by many other musicians. Hugh Masekela recording The music was inspired by an earlier novelty recording, "Mr. Bull No. 4", by Freddie Gumbi, which Masekela had heard in Zam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Highly Distinct
''Highly Distinct'' is the second studio album by R&B group The Friends of Distinction, released in September 1969 on the RCA Victor label. The album reached No. 14 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart. Covers On this album The Friends of Distinction covered The Doors' "Light My Fire". Track listing Personnel *Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves Jessica Marguerite Cleaves (December 10, 1948 – May 2, 2014) was an American singer and songwriter. Cleaves was a lead singer of the Friends of Distinction, Earth, Wind & Fire, Parliament Funkadelic and Raw Silk. Early life Jessica Cleaves was ..., Barbara Jean Love – vocals Charts Album Singles References {{Authority control 1969 albums The Friends of Distinction albums RCA Records albums ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jessica Cleaves
Jessica Marguerite Cleaves (December 10, 1948 – May 2, 2014) was an American singer and songwriter. Cleaves was a lead singer of the Friends of Distinction, Earth, Wind & Fire, Parliament Funkadelic and Raw Silk. Early life Jessica Cleaves was born to Mary Gladys Cleaves (née Wilkerson), a librarian, and Lane C. Cleaves II, a US Postal employee. Cleaves' paternal grandfather, Lane C. Cleaves Sr., was Presiding Bishop over Phillips Temple, CME. Cleaves attended the California Institute of The Arts School of Music and went on to attend The University of California, Los Angeles. One of her classmates was the famed songwriter Skip Scarborough. Career The Friends of Distinction was founded by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, and beside Cleaves, it included Barbara Jean Love (plus Charlene Gibson, who replaced Love during her pregnancy). During 1971, Cleaves became a member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. She went on to appear on EWF's 1972 LP '' Last Days and Time'' and 1973 album ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roy Porter (drummer)
Roy Lee Porter (July 30, 1923 – January 24, 1998) was an American jazz drummer. Early life Born in Walsenburg, Colorado, Porter moved to Colorado Springs when he was eight and began playing drums in rhythm and blues bands while a teenager. He attended Wiley College in Texas briefly, where trumpeter Kenny Dorham was a fellow student. He joined Milt Larkin's band in 1943, replacing Joe Marshall.Campbell, Robert L. and Leonard J. Bukowski, and Armin Büttner "The Tom Archia Discography" Retrieved July 3, 2013. Career After military service, Porter settled in Los Angeles, and his services were soon in demand by some of the pioneers of |
Kenny Rankin
Kenneth Joseph Rankin (February 10, 1940 – June 7, 2009) was an American singer and songwriter in the folk rock and singer-songwriter genres; he was influenced by jazz. Rankin would often sing notes in a high range to express emotion. Biography Rankin was from the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. He was raised and introduced to music by his mother, who sang at home and for friends. Early in his career he worked as a singer-songwriter. Three of Rankin's albums entered the ''Billboard'' magazine Album Chart. Most of his career was in pop music. He was a guitarist on the album ''Bringing It All Back Home'' by Bob Dylan. He appeared on ''The Tonight Show'' more than twenty times. Late night TV host Johnny Carson wrote the liner notes to Rankin's 1967 debut album, ''Mind Dusters'', which included the single " Peaceful." Georgie Fame had had a UK hit with the song in 1969. This was Rankin's only songwriting credit to make the British charts, reaching No. 16 and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Al Casey (rock Guitarist)
Alvin Wayne Casey (October 26, 1936 – September 17, 2006) was an American guitarist. He was mainly known for his work as a session musician, but also released his own records and scored three ''Billboard'' Hot 100 hits in the United States. His contribution to the rockabilly genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Early life Casey was born in Long Beach, California and moved to Phoenix, Arizona when he was two years old. His father played the guitar and tried to teach six-year-old Casey to play, but when he realized his son's fingers were too small, he gave him a ukulele instead. At the age of eight, Casey switched to the steel guitar and began taking formal music lessons. By the time he was 14, he was playing the steel guitar for various clubs in Phoenix, and in his later teens he performed five to six nights a week. When Casey was 20 he became serious about playing a traditional guitar. Career "The Fool" In his teens, Casey joined a local group, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lennon–McCartney
Lennon–McCartney was the songwriting partnership between English musicians John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (born 1942) of the Beatles. It is the best-known and most successful musical collaboration ever by records sold, with the Beatles selling over 600 million records worldwide as of 2004. Between 5 October 1962 and 8 May 1970, the partnership published approximately 180 jointly credited songs, of which the vast majority were recorded by the Beatles, forming the bulk of their catalogue. Unlike many songwriting partnerships that comprise a separate lyricist and composer, such as George and Ira Gershwin, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, or Elton John and Bernie Taupin, both Lennon and McCartney wrote lyrics and music. Sometimes, especially early on, they would collaborate extensively when writing songs, working "eyeball to eyeball" as Lennon phrased it. During the latter half of their partnership, it became more common for either of them to write most ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arthur G
Arthur is a common male given name of Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. Another theory, more widely believed, is that the name is derived from the Roman clan '' Artorius'' who lived in Roman Britain for centuries. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Italian it is Arturo. Etymology The earliest datable attestation of the name Arthur is in the early 9th century Welsh-Latin text ''Historia Brittonum'', where it refers to a circa 5th to 6th-century Briton general who fought against the invading Saxons, and who later gave rise to the famous King Arthur of medieval legend and literature. A possible earlier mention of the same man is to be found in the epic Welsh poem ''Y Gododdin'' by Aneirin, which some scholars assign to the late 6th century, though this is still a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
