Friends (The Beach Boys album)
| Friends | ||||
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| Studio album by The Beach Boys | ||||
| Released | June 24, 1968 | |||
| Recorded | February 29 – April 13, 1968 | |||
| Studio | Brian Wilson's home studio and ID Sound, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Lo-fi | |||
| Length | 25:30 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | The Beach Boys | |||
| The Beach Boys chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Friends | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
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| Blender |
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| Rolling Stone |
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Friends is the 14th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on June 24, 1968 through Capitol Records. It was initially met with a mild critical reception and peaked at number 126 on the US Billboard charts for what was then group's worst chart performance to date. In the UK, the album peaked at number 13.
Many of the album's songs were inspired by Transcendental Meditation and the group's recent interactions with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It was the third consecutive album to credit "the Beach Boys" as producer instead of Brian Wilson, and the first to feature significant songwriting contributions from Dennis Wilson. One single was issued from the album: "Friends" (backed with "Little Bird"), reaching number 47 in the US.
On December 15, 1967, the Beach Boys encountered Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at a UNICEF Variety Gala in Paris, France. Enchanted by his teachings, Mike Love, along with other musicians including Donovan and the Beatles, journeyed in February to Rishikesh, India, to study Transcendental Meditation under the Maharishi's guidance for two weeks. In his absence, the remaining Beach Boys – Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston – along with selected members of the Wrecking Crew began recording the album at Brian Wilson's home studio. In mid-March, Love returned from his TM retreat and contributed to the subsequent vocal sessions, with leads on the brief "Meant for You", which opens the album, and "Anna Lee, the Healer," which was inspired by his time in India.
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