View source for You've Got a Friend

{{Short description|1971 single by Carole King}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Other uses}}{{Distinguish|text=Randy Newman's song, [[You've Got a Friend in Me]]}}
{{Infobox song
| name     = You've Got a Friend
| cover    = You've Got a Friend Carole King label.jpeg
| alt      =
| caption  = Norwegian single with "[[Beautiful (Carole King song)|Beautiful]]" as B-side
| type     = single
| artist   = [[Carole King]]
| album    = [[Tapestry (Carole King album)|Tapestry]]
| released = 1971{{cn|date=June 2025}}
| recorded =
| studio   =
| genre    = [[Soft rock]]
| length   = 5:09
| label    = {{hlist|[[Ode Records|Ode]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]}}
| writer   = Carole King
| producer = [[Lou Adler]]
| misc     = {{External music video|header=Official audio|{{YouTube|eAR_Ff5A8Rk|"You've Got a Friend"}}}}
}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = You've Got a Friend
| cover      = James Taylor You've Got a Friend.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[James Taylor]]
| album      = [[Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon]]
| B-side     = [[You Can Close Your Eyes]]
| released   = May 1971
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Folk rock]]|[[soft rock]]|pop<ref>{{cite news|first= Troy L. |last= Smith |title= Every No. 1 song of the 1970s ranked from worst to best |website= [[Cleveland.com]] |date= December 14, 2021 |access-date= January 30, 2023|url= https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2021/12/every-no-1-song-of-the-1970s-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html}}</ref>}}
| length     = 4:29
| label      = [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
| writer     = [[Carole King]]
| producer   = [[Peter Asher]]
| prev_title = [[Country Road (song)|Country Road]]
| prev_year  = 1971
| next_title = [[You Can Close Your Eyes]]
| next_year  = 1971
| misc       = {{Audio sample
 | type        = single
 | file        = You've Got A Friend sample.ogg
 | description = "You've Got a Friend"
}}
}}

"'''You've Got a Friend'''" is a 1971 song and single by American singer-songwriter [[Carole King]]. It was first recorded by King and included on her second studio album, ''[[Tapestry (Carole King album)|Tapestry]]'' (1971). Another well-known version by [[James Taylor]] appears on his album ''[[Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon]]'' (1971). His version, which features backing vocals by [[Joni Mitchell]], was released as a single in 1971, reaching number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and number four on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. The two versions were recorded simultaneously in 1971 with some shared musicians, though Taylor plays on King’s version, and king on Taylor’s version.

"You've Got a Friend" won [[Grammy Award]]s for both Taylor ([[Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance|Best Male Pop Vocal Performance]]) and King ([[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]) at the [[14th Annual Grammy Awards]] in 1972. Dozens of other artists have recorded the song over the years, including [[Dusty Springfield]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[Anne Murray]], and [[Donny Hathaway]].

In 2001, Taylor's version was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame]]. King's version was inducted in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#y|title=GRAMMY Hall Of Fame &#124; Hall of Fame Artists &#124; GRAMMY.com|website=grammy.com}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:You've Got a Friend JT CK 2010.jpg|thumb|left|James Taylor and Carole King at the 2010 [[Troubadour Reunion Tour]]]]

[[Carole King]] wrote "You've Got a Friend" during the January 1971 recording sessions for her album ''[[Tapestry (Carole King album)|Tapestry]]'', when [[James Taylor]] was also recording his album ''[[Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon]]''. She has said that "the song was as close to pure inspiration as I've ever experienced. The song wrote itself. It was written by something outside myself, through me."<ref name=mojo/> According to Taylor, King told him that the song was a response to a line in his earlier song "[[Fire and Rain (song)|Fire and Rain]]" ("I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend").<ref name="15songs">{{cite magazine |last1=Greene |first1=Andy |title=James Taylor: My Life in 15 Songs |url=https://www.jamestaylor.com/rollingstone-com-james-taylor-my-life-in-15-songs/ |access-date=August 23, 2021 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=August 13, 2015 |via=James Taylor Official Site}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=James Taylor Looks Back on His Classics|date=August 4, 2015|author=White, T.|url=http://www.easy931.com/james-taylor-looks-back-on-his-classics/|publisher=Easy 93.1 FM|access-date=August 10, 2015}}</ref> King said in a 1972 interview that she "didn't write it with James or anybody really specifically in mind. But when James heard it he really liked it and wanted to record it".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/troubadours-carole-king-james-taylor-the-rise-of-the-singer-songwriter/carole-king%E2%80%99s-monumental-tapestry-album/1776/ |title=Troubadours – Carole King's Monumental Tapestry Album &#124; American Masters |first=Harvey |last=Kubernik |work=pbs.org |year=2008 |access-date=March 20, 2013}}</ref> Both King and Taylor recorded the song for their respective albums, and Taylor and [[Danny Kortchmar]] perform on both versions.

Taylor's version was released as a single and reached number 1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] (his only song to do so) and number 4 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]. Taylor's version also spent a week atop the [[Hot Adult Contemporary|Easy Listening]] charts.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=239}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' ranked it as [[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1971|the No. 16 song for 1971]].

Taylor's [[Apple Records]] labelmate [[Mary Hopkin]] has said that he gave her a chance to record the song, which she declined, a decision she later regretted.<ref>Interview with Mary Hopkin, ''Record Collector'' nr. 108, August 1988</ref>{{dubious|date=December 2016}}

Taylor and King performed "You've Got a Friend" together in 2010 during their [[Troubadour Reunion Tour]]. In 2015, Taylor performed an acoustic rendition of the song at [[Hôtel de Ville, Paris]], at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] and Paris mayor [[Anne Hidalgo]] in tribute to the victims of the [[January 2015 Île-de-France attacks]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Megan |last=Gibson |url=https://time.com/3671375/james-taylor-john-kerry-paris/ |title=Watch James Taylor Sings "You've Got a Friend" with John Kerry |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=January 16, 2015 |access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> King performed the song at the 2021 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] Induction Ceremony.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jennifer-hudson-natural-woman-carole-king-rock-hall-1250884/ |title=Jennifer Hudson Stuns With Virtuosic 'Natural Woman' During Carole King's Rock Hall Induction |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=October 30, 2021}}</ref>

==Reception==
According to author James D. Perone, the song's themes include an expression of "a universal, sisterly/brotherly, [[agape]]-type love of one human being for another, regardless of gender."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Words and Music of Carole King|author=Perone, J.D.|page=40|year=2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing|isbn= 9780275990275}}</ref> The "reassuring" lyrics have long made the song popular with lonely people needing a boost of self-confidence.<ref name=fire/><ref name=long>{{cite book|title=Long Ago and Far Away|author=White, T.|page=190|year=2009|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857120069}}</ref> The song's messages of friendship having no boundaries and a friend being there when you are in need have universal appeal.<ref name=dean>{{cite book|title=Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush|url=https://archive.org/details/rocknrollgoldrus00dean|url-access=limited|author=Dean, M.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rocknrollgoldrus00dean/page/n285 254]–255|year=2003|publisher=Algora|isbn=0875862071|author-link=Maury Dean}}</ref> The lyrics had particular resonance for Taylor due to the depression he had recovered from shortly before hearing King play the song.<ref name=fire>{{cite book|title=Fire and Rain: The James Taylor Story|author=Halperin, Ian|pages=128–129|year=2003|publisher=Citadel|isbn=978-0806523484|author-link=Halperin, Ian}}</ref> The music moves between a [[major key|major]] and [[minor key]], which according to music critic [[Maury Dean]] gives it a "sympathetic mood".<ref name=dean/>

In his review of ''Tapestry'', ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[Jon Landau]] called "You've Got a Friend" King's "most perfect new song".<ref name=rs>{{cite magazine|title=Tapestry|author=Landau, J.|date=April 29, 1971|access-date=November 28, 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/tapestry-184476/|author-link=Jon Landau}}</ref> He particularly praised how the melody and lyrics support each other and the "gorgeous, righteous [[Rock music|rock]] melody" of the ending lyrics.<ref name=rs/> ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' called the song probably "the core of ''Tapestry''".<ref name=mojo>{{cite book|title=The Mojo Collection|edition=4th|chapter=Tapestry|isbn=9781847676436|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVQbF9lTBwgC&q=%22smackwater+jack%22&pg=PA229|date=November 2007|last1=Magazine |first1=Various Mojo |publisher=Canongate Books }}</ref> [[AllMusic]] critic Stewart Mason noted the "plainspoken intimacy" of King's performance,<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|title=You've Got a Friend|author=Mason, S.|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/youve-got-a-friend-mt0014884086|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=2014-04-22}}</ref> writing that the "shyness" of her voice gives her recording a sincerity that he finds Taylor's to lack.<ref name=allmusic/> Mason also praises the "depth and shading" the [[string instruments]] provide on King's recording.<ref name=allmusic/>

In his review of ''Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon'', ''Rolling Stone'' critic Ben Gerson called "You've Got a Friend" an "affirmative song" but suggested that Taylor's version was too similar to King's to have been worth including on his album.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon|author=Gerson, B.|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/mud-slide-slim-the-blue-horizon-106067/|date=June 24, 1971|access-date=November 28, 2021|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> Music critic Maury Dean called Taylor's performance style on the song minimalist and [[folk music|folkish]] and noted his "star-spangled sincerity."<ref name=dean/> ''[[Cash Box]]'' praised the "tasty material and Taylor's stunning interpretation".<ref>{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=June 5, 1971|page=22|accessdate=December 10, 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-06-05.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said, "there's no way [Taylor] can miss with this gem."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=June 5, 1971|page=1|accessdate=April 22, 2023|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-06-05.pdf}}</ref>

==Charts (James Taylor single) ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1971)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Argentina<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cash Box - International Best Sellers|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1972/Cash-Box-1972-05-06.pdf|website=worldradiohistory.com|publisher=Cash Box. 6 May 1972. p. 46.}}</ref>
|align="center"|16
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|first= David |last= Kent |author-link= David Kent (historian) |title= Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |publisher= Australian Chart Book |location= [[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives]], N.S.W. |year= 1993 |isbn= 0-646-11917-6|title-link= Kent Music Report }}</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|25
|-
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|12|artist=James Taylor|song=You've Got a Friend|chartid=5333|access-date=April 4, 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|artist=James Taylor|song=You've Got a Friend|chartid=5362|access-date=April 4, 2020}}
|-
|{{singlechart|Ireland2|3|song=You've Got a Friend|access-date=January 14, 2018|refname=ireland3}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|20|artist=James Taylor|song=You've Got a Friend|access-date=January 17, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|14|artist=James Taylor|song=You've Got a Friend|access-date=January 17, 2021}}
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|4|artist=James Taylor|artistid=14197|access-date=November 30, 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=James Taylor|song=You've Got a Friend|access-date=January 17, 2021}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=James Taylor|access-date=November 30, 2018}}
|-
|US [[Cash Box Top 100 Pop Singles|''Cash Box'' Top 100]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19710807.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 8/07/71|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608011245/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19710807.html|archive-date=June 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align="center"|1
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1971)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=RPM 100 – Top Hits of '71|work=collectionscanada.gc.ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020224403/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7590&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|archive-date=October 20, 2012}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|33
|-
|UK{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|32
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1971.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1971/Top 100 Songs of 1971|website=www.musicoutfitters.com}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|16
|-
|US ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1971YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1971|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006205612/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1971YESP.html|archive-date=October 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|27
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==

=== Carole King version ===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Carole King|title=You've Got A Friend|award=Gold|relyear=1971|certyear=2024|access-date=March 7, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

=== James Taylor version ===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=James Taylor|title=You've Got a Friend|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|id=17117-1927-1|access-date=March 29, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=James Taylor|title=You've Got a Friend|award=Gold|relyear=1971|certyear=1971|access-date=March 29, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
{{-}}

==Personnel==
===Carole King version===
{{small|Source: <ref>{{cite web |url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/32a15869-6f9b-4709-b109-6f21dffa1219 |title="Tapestry – release by Carole King" |website=MusicBrainz |access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref>}}
*[[Carole King]]&nbsp;– piano, vocals
*[[James Taylor]]&nbsp;– acoustic guitar
*[[Danny Kortchmar|Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar]]&nbsp;– [[conga]]s
*Charles Larkey&nbsp;– [[string bass]]
*Barry Socher&nbsp;– violin
*[[David Campbell (composer)|David Campbell]]&nbsp;– viola
*Terry King&nbsp;– cello

===James Taylor version===
*[[James Taylor]]&nbsp;– vocals, acoustic guitar
*Danny Kortchmar&nbsp;– acoustic guitar, congas
*[[Russ Kunkel]]&nbsp;– drums, congas, [[cabasa]]
*[[Leland Sklar]]&nbsp;– bass guitar
*[[Joni Mitchell]]&nbsp;– backing vocals{{cn|date=June 2025}}

==Brand New Heavies version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = You've Got a Friend
| cover      = Brand_New_Heavies-You've_Got_a_Friend.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Brand New Heavies|the Brand New Heavies]]
| album      = [[Shelter (Brand New Heavies album)|Shelter]]
| released   = {{start date|1997|10|6}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-10-04.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=37|date=October 4, 1997|access-date=December 6, 2022}}</ref>
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      =
* [[Acid jazz]]
* [[House music|house]]
| length     = {{duration|m=3|s=27}}
| label      = [[FFRR]]
| writer     = [[Carole King]]
| producer   = The Brand New Heavies
| prev_title = [[You Are the Universe]]
| prev_year  = 1997
| next_title = Shelter
| next_year  = 1998
| misc       = {{External music video|{{YouTube|r-UAT0N4lo0|"You've Got a Friend"}}}}
}}

"'''You've Got a Friend'''" was covered by British [[acid jazz]] and [[funk]] group [[the Brand New Heavies]] for their fourth album, ''[[Shelter (Brand New Heavies album)|Shelter]]'' (1997), and released as the third single from the album in October 1997. It reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and number 13 in Scotland in October 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/|title=Home Design ~ officialcharts|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref> The song also peaked within the top 10 in Hungary and was a top 30 hit on the [[Irish Singles Chart]]. The group performed the song on the music chart television program ''[[Top of the Pops]]''.

===Critical reception===
Scottish ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' felt that here, "[the] London's [[Soul music|soul]] [[funk]] band are back on form".<ref>"Chart Slot". ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''. October 24, 1997.</ref> A reviewer from ''[[Music Week]]'' gave it four out of five, declaring it as "a soulful cover", that "should have their usual specialist impact as well as crossover success."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-09-27.pdf|title=Reviews: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=September 27, 1997|page=33|accessdate=September 13, 2022}}</ref> Alan Jones stated, "Recruiting [[Siedah Garrett]] has given the Brand New Heavies a new lease of life."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Jones|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-09-13.pdf|title=Talking Music|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=September 13, 1997|page=14|accessdate=September 13, 2022}}</ref> Daisy & Havoc from the ''[[Record Mirror|RM]]'' Dance Update named it "one of the best tracks on the recent BNH album (which either says something about their songwriting or our age), and now it appears with the compulsory remixes."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Daisy & Havoc|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1997/Music-Week-1997-09-20.pdf|title=Hot Vinyl|magazine=[[Music Week]], in [[Record Mirror|RM]] (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=September 20, 1997|page=8|accessdate=September 13, 2022}}</ref>

===Track listings===
* '''CD single, UK and Europe (1997)'''
# "You've Got a Friend" (radio version)	
# "[[You Are the Universe]]" (recorded live at [[O2 Forum Kentish Town|The Forum]])	
# "[[Midnight at the Oasis#Brand New Heavies version|Midnight at the Oasis]]" (recorded live at The Forum)	
# "[[Sometimes (Brand New Heavies song)|Sometimes]]" (recorded live at The Forum)

* '''CD single, UK and Europe (1997)'''
# "You've Got a Friend" (radio version) – 3:27
# "You've Got a Friend" ([[Brooklyn Funk Essentials|Brooklyn Funk]] R&B mix) – 4:58
# "You've Got a Friend" ([[Ballistic Brothers]] mix) – 5:00
# "You've Got a Friend" (Brooklyn Funk club mix) – 4:54
# "You've Got a Friend" ([[Todd Terry|Tee]]'s club mix) – 6:27
# "You've Got a Friend" (original mix) – 3:48

===Charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1997)
!Peak<br />position
|-
|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-11-01.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=14|issue=44|page=16|date=November 1, 1997|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|24	
|-
{{single chart|Germany|77|artist=The Brand New Heavies|song=You've Got A Friend|songid=13848|access-date=January 15, 2020}}					
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|79|artist=The Brand New Heavies|song=You've Got A Friend|access-date=January 15, 2020}}
|-
|Hungary ([[Mahasz]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1997/MM-1997-12-13.pdf|title=Top National Sellers|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=14|issue=50|page=19|date=December 13, 1997|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn|Íslenski Listinn Topp 40]])<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timarit.is/page/2962249#page/n7/mode/2up|title=Íslenski Listinn NR. 249 vikuna 27.11. – 4.12. 1997|newspaper=[[Dagblaðið Vísir]]|language=is|page=22|date=November 28, 1997|access-date=January 17, 2020}}</ref>
|align="center"|32
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|25|artist=The Brand New Heavies|access-date=January 17, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|13|artist=The Brand New Heavies|song=You've Got A Friend|date=19971019|access-date=January 17, 2021}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|9|artist=The Brand New Heavies|song=You've Got A Friend|date=19971019|access-date=January 17, 2021}}
|}

==McFly version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = You've Got a Friend
| cover      = 
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[McFly]]
| album      = [[Wonderland (McFly album)|Wonderland]]
| A-side     = [[All About You/You've Got a Friend|All About You]]
| B-side     = [[Room on the 3rd Floor (song)|Room on the 3rd Floor]]
| released   = {{start date|2005|3|7}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=23|date=March 5, 2005}}</ref>
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
| length     = 4:38
| label      =
* [[Island Records|Island]]
* [[Universal Records|Universal]]
| writer     = Carole King
| producer   = [[Hugh Padgham]]
| prev_title = [[Room on the 3rd Floor (song)|Room on the 3rd Floor]]
| prev_year  = 2004
| title     = [[All About You/You've Got a Friend|All About You]]
| title2     = You've Got a Friend
| next_title = [[I'll Be OK]]
| next_year  = 2005
}}
In 2005, English [[pop rock]] band [[McFly]] released their version of the song as a [[double A-side]] single along with their original song "[[All About You/You've Got a Friend|All About You]]". The band's first double A-side single, it was released on March 7, 2005, as the lead single from their second studio album, ''[[Wonderland (McFly album)|Wonderland]]'' (2005). The single was the official ''[[Comic Relief]]'' charity single for 2005, with all royalties being donated to the charity. The single was also used to promote [[Make Poverty History]].

The single peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart as well as in Ireland. Having sold over 536,000 copies in the UK, "All About You"/"You've Got a Friend" is McFly's best-selling single<ref name="best-sellers"/> and received a platinum sales status certification from the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) for sales and streams exceeding 600,000 units.

===Chart performance===
The single debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, giving McFly their third UK number-one single, as well as their fifth top-five hit in less than a year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4345803.stm|title=Comic Relief song tops the chart|date=March 13, 2005|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=August 30, 2015}}</ref> It debuted at number one, only to be knocked off the top spot the following week by the unofficial ''Comic Relief'' single "[[Is This the Way to Amarillo]]", by [[Tony Christie]] and (mimed by) [[Peter Kay]].

===Music video===
The music video for "You've Got a Friend" was shot on location in Uganda. The band spent a week there in January 2005 for ''Comic Relief''. The video sees McFly with the children of Uganda, playing with them, performing for them, and teaching them to sing. Towards the end of the video, McFly's vocals are removed for a chorus sung by the children.

===Track listing===
'''UK CD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=All About You / You've Got a Friend|year=2005|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=[[Island Records]], [[Universal Records]]|id=MCSTD40409, 987 063-0}}</ref>
# "[[All About You/You've Got a Friend|All About You]]"
# "You've Got a Friend"
# "[[Room on the 3rd Floor (song)|Room on the 3rd Floor]]"
# "All About You" (orchestral version)
# "All About You" (video)

===Charts===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2005)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|European Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2005/BB-2005-03-25.pdf|title=Hits of the World – Eurocharts|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=117|issue=13|page=37|date=March 26, 2005|access-date=April 4, 2020}}</ref>
|2
|-
!scope="row"|Iceland ([[Íslenski listinn]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timarit.is/page/5522455#page/n23/mode/2up|title=Íslenski listinn|newspaper=DV|access-date=November 8, 2020}}</ref>
|8
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|1|song=All About You/You've Got a Friend|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=20050319|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|1|date=20050319|rowheader=true}}
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2010)
!Peak<br />position
|-
!scope="row"|[[South Korea]] ([[Gaon Chart|GAON]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/search/list.gaon?Search_str=mcfly&x=48&y=15 |title=:: 가온차트와 함께하세요 :: |website=Gaonchart.co.kr |language=ko |access-date=December 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306062119/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/search/list.gaon?Search_str=mcfly&x=48&y=15 |archive-date=March 6, 2012 }}</ref>
|64
|}
{{col-2}}

====Year-end charts====
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2005)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20050110/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2005|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=October 10, 2021}}</ref>
|6
|}
{{col-end}}

===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=McFly|title=All About You|award=Platinum|relyear=2005|certyear=2017|id=366-1409-1|salesamount=536,000|salesref=<ref name="best-sellers">{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/girlbands-vs-boybands-their-biggest-songs-of-the-century-revealed__16965/|title=Girlbands vs Boybands – their biggest songs of the century revealed|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=November 5, 2016|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>}}
{{Table end}}

==Other versions==
[[Dusty Springfield]] recorded the song in early 1971 during the sessions for her third [[Atlantic Records]] album, ''[[Faithful (Dusty Springfield album)|Faithful]]''. Her recording predates James Taylor's, but was shelved until 1999, when it was included as a bonus track on the 1999 Deluxe Edition of her first Atlantic album, ''[[Dusty in Memphis]]'' (which contains four Carole King compositions). ''Faithful'' went unreleased due to disputes between Springfield and Atlantic, but the sessions were issued as a standalone album in 2015.

The song (and two others from ''Tapestry'': "[[Beautiful (Carole King song)|Beautiful]]" and "[[Where You Lead]]") appear on [[Barbra Streisand]]'s 1971 album ''[[Barbra Joan Streisand (album)|Barbra Joan Streisand]]''.

[[Johnny Mathis]] released an album with title track entitled ''[[You've Got a Friend (Johnny Mathis album)|You've Got a Friend]]'' on August 11, 1971.

The song was recorded by [[Roberta Flack]] and [[Donny Hathaway]] for their 1972 album ''[[Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway]]'' and was released as the album's first single. The single was released a year before the album and, coincidentally, on the same date as Taylor's single: May 29, 1971. The Flack and Hathaway version reached No. 29 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 8 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B chart]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=206}}</ref>

[[Aretha Franklin]] recorded the song three times. The first and best-known was her 1972 live [[Gospel music|gospel]] performance ''[[Amazing Grace (Aretha Franklin album)|Amazing Grace]]'', as part of a medley with "[[Take My Hand, Precious Lord|Precious Lord, Take My Hand]]". She then recorded the song on ''[[Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King]]'' in 1995 alongside [[BeBe & CeCe Winans]], and in 2010 as a duet with [[Ronald Isley]] on his album ''[[Mr. I]]''.

In 1973 or 1974, the Cambodian singer [[Pou Vannary]] covered the song with the lyrics translated into [[Khmer language|Khmer]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scheck |first1=Frank |title='Don't Think I've Forgotten: Cambodia's Lost Rock and Roll': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/dont-think-ive-forgotten-cambodias-790752 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=July 31, 2018 |date=April 22, 2015}}</ref> Vannary's rendition is featured on the 2015 documentary film ''[[Don't Think I've Forgotten]]'' soundtrack.<ref name=dtif>{{cite AV media|people=Pirozzi, John (director, producer), Andrew Pope (producer)|date=2015|medium=film|title=[[Don't Think I've Forgotten]]|publisher=Argot Pictures|language=en, km}}</ref>

King, [[Celine Dion]], [[Shania Twain]], and [[Gloria Estefan]] performed "You've Got a Friend" at the ''[[VH1 Divas|VH1 Divas Live]]'' concert at the [[Beacon Theatre, New York]], in 1998. It was released as a promotional single in selected countries, reaching number 74 on the [[Ultratop|Belgian Flanders Airplay Chart]] on December 15, 1998.<ref>{{cite book | author=Jaspers, Sam| title=Ultratop 1995-2005 | publisher=Book & Media Publishing| year=2006 | isbn=90-5720-232-8}}</ref>

[[Lynn Anderson]] released a [[Country music|country]] version of the song on her 1971 studio album [[How Can I Unlove You (album)|''How Can I Unlove You'']].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{James Taylor}}
{{Carole King}}
{{Celine Dion songs}}
{{Michael Jackson songs}}
{{Andy Williams}}
{{Donny Hathaway}}
{{Javine Hylton}}
{{The Brand New Heavies}}
{{McFly}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for "You've Got a Friend"
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list1 =
{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1970s}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1971 songs]]
[[Category:1971 singles]]
[[Category:1997 singles]]
[[Category:1998 singles]]
[[Category:2005 singles]]
[[Category:Carole King songs]]
[[Category:James Taylor songs]]
[[Category:Dusty Springfield songs]]
[[Category:Donny Hathaway songs]]
[[Category:Roberta Flack songs]]
[[Category:Aretha Franklin songs]]
[[Category:The Brand New Heavies songs]]
[[Category:Celine Dion songs]]
[[Category:Gloria Estefan songs]]
[[Category:Shania Twain songs]]
[[Category:McFly songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Carole King]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Song of the Year]]
[[Category:Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance]]
[[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
[[Category:Cashbox number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Denmark]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Lou Adler]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Peter Asher]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Hugh Padgham]]
[[Category:A&M Records singles]]
[[Category:Ode Records singles]]
[[Category:Warner Records singles]]
[[Category:FFRR Records singles]]
[[Category:Island Records singles]]
[[Category:Universal Records singles]]
[[Category:Songs about friendship]]
[[Category:Charity singles]]
[[Category:Comic Relief singles]]
[[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Scotland]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]