YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND ~ JAMES TAYLOR

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Grammy Song Of the Year 1972
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"You've Got a Friend" is a song from 1971. The song, written by Carole King, was included in her album Tapestry of 1971, but was made famous by James Taylor's cover version the same year. Taylor's rendition, released as a single from his own 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon, reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. The James Taylor version also spent one week at the top of the Easy Listening charts . "You've Got a Friend" won Grammy Awards both for Taylor (Best Male Pop Vocal Performance) and King (Song of the Year). The song was recorded also during 1971 by Dusty Springfield, a recording that predates Taylor's version. It was recorded for her third album for Atlantic Records, but a dispute with the company meant the album was unreleased. The song was left unissued until 1999, when it was issued as a bonus track for the Rhino Records deluxe re-release of Dusty in Memphis. "You've Got a Friend" was performed by Céline Dion, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, and Carole King at the VH1 Divas Live concert on April 14, 1998. The event took place in New York City's Beacon Theatre. The entire concert was released on CD and DVD on October 6, 1998. Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin also participated with this event