Friends Of Distinction - Grazin’/Highly Distinct

Rainbow-hued soul-jazz from the age of Aquarius

Fronted by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, both onetime members of Ray Charles’ band The Hi-Fi’s, and featuring fellow vocalists Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Jean Love, the bright and breezy sound of Friends Of Distinction is hard to resist. A meeting place between West Coast pop, soul and jazz, with the sophisticated arrangements and classy production to match, it’s a dazzlingly rich mix.

With both albums originally released on RCA in 1969, the highlights on Grazin’ include the title track. FOD’s first major chart hit, it was a reworking of trumpeter Hugh Masekela’s instrumental hit of the same name. They followed it up with Going In Circles, and a memorable remodelling of Lennon & McCartney’s And I Love Her.

Several shades jazzier, Highly Distinct sets its stall out on the opening track. Impressions is a two-minute sequence of trippy vocal improvisations, before FOD hit the spot on We Got A Good Thing Going, a reworking of Neil Sedaka’s Working On A Groovy Thing. and a live in the studio romp through The Doors’ Light My Fire. The Friends would release a further four albums before going their separate ways in 1973, but they would never again shine as brightly as they do here.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Rev-Ola | CR REV 205

Reviewed by Grahame Bent
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