Friends of Disctinction - Love or Let Me Be Lonely

[LosAngeleno1959]

Wow! I so remember being at Hollenbeck park in Los Angeles back in 1970 with my childhood buddies hearing this on the radio. What a sweet time it was. I remember it being a beautiful Sunday and the park was crowded. Wish I had a time machine just to go back for a little while and see all the people I loved again.

[vidnut222]

I always thought that was a man singing the

lead..She has a unique voice.

[unamerican123]

It is ok

[barpypardlo]

Fabulous harmonies! (from the Uk)

[tropicalpancake56]

I thought they were so unique and I loved their music...

[MusicMeanMachine]

Nice one :)

[Contessais4u]

This oldie will always be a goodie! Love this song!!!

[Bdehob]

Does anybody know the whereabouts of Barbara J Love.

There's no information as to what she did after she left to have a baby?

[agamemnon1]

Wow... I am diggin' this!!

[EternalGuardian07]

lol I know just the person to dedicate this song to...

[THECLARENCES]

Amazing!

Pop perfection!

xoxo

THE CLARENCES (robert, amanda, molly, gary & bleach)

[torinepate]

can u dig it?

[ldonhawk]

Oh yes, ... I dig. This video (their smiles, their dancing, and singing). Just refreshingly diggilicious!!

[dbrunsonsr]

What's even more confusing is that the girl on this vid does not appear on any album covers or on any other vids that I've seen, hence my assumption she is Charlene.

[dbrunsonsr]

Anybody know whatever became of Charlene Gibson? She replaced the one who took time off for pregnancy. I believe she is the one singing bckgrnd in this vid.

[lovemotown70]

What an incredible group and song. I so miss this music. I think it did more to bring together people than any other thing. Wouldn't it be great if this type of music came back! Everyone wanted to dance!

[Cruise2enjoy]

I'm a young 55 white male and they along with The Spinners never got the credit that the great TEMPTATIONS % 4 TOPS got...But, My GOD they were FANTASTIC!!!

[cleanupboy73]

I heard through the grapevine that Barbara Love was the grand mother of the newly signed "Jermaine Dupree" group "Brutha" who have a reality show on BET (the mother of singer Grady Harell.)Does anyone know if this is true??? Let me know.Also she was the prototype(Anita Baker) lead singer for "Chapter 8" notice some of the same vocal characteristics. Barbara was an awsome lead thanks!!!

[bradentonguy50]

I was about 18 when this song came out and was a working musician. I regard it as one of the greatest songs ever recorded. The composition, arrangement, soaring voices in both melody and harmony, the horns, driving drums, funky piano break are all to die for. I only wish I knew who wrote it. It is truly a masterpiece!!

[zeelove8]

oooooo wow, i looooove this song for years, great, thanxs for posting!!!!:D

[jacoboperez8]

This song was written by a friend of mine and fellow respiratory therapist, Clarence "Skip" Scarborough. He wrote this song in the 70's.

[RAS4915]

Wow what a great song this was. It brings me back to age 5 or 6 on the family outings in the 1967 Mercury Monterey with the AM radio blasting. Thanks for posting this classic

[duncanstein2]

To Kellygiftshop:

Correction, it took me three years to get the correct lyrics, you posted ( 7 months ago )"so I leave it up to you to wash away my blues," its wash away my gloom, not blues. You were closer than 98% of listeners. Great tune without question, and super great lead singer in Barbara J. Love.

[jackblu01]

I have always love this song since I was a kid.....my sis use to have the LP and dance to it all the time.

[barnabas50]

great vocal group and song, Does anyone on here remember a R&B group from the early seventies called "The Seventh Wonder"?

[chi1959]

I was 9 years old, but still vividly remember riding backwards at the rear of my parent's green Pontiac stationwagon with my baby brother while this song played on the radio. Must have been something magical about this song at that very moment for this 49 year old man to remember it. Thanks for posting it to YouTube. -Allen in Chicago

[mrsmagloo]

That's a woman singing? I feel so STUPID! What was I thinking???? GREAT song!

[senormule]

This is AWESOME..... I can't beieve that Ms. Love actually posted her own comments to us, i'll bet you cringe when you see the lack of talent that's being produced today in thw music industry. Hope to hear from you again....PEACE....OUT...

[InfinityNebula]

Wow, This made my day hearing from the lovely

Barbara Love.. what a voice from a class act

Id be interested in hearing from Ms Love

about how she feels about todays music as its become empty and insidious...I have all the Friends Lps. even though im 30 yrs old.. I love the Lp with the two hands in a soul shake

Very cool..Also who were you influenced by

when you started and do you have any autographed pictures you would be interested in selling..Wonderful hearing from a living legend.Peace!

[InfinityNebula]

Btw Barbara is Gorgeous.. and always represented herself with so much class

btw im 30 years old and know real talent and class when i see it!! Peace!

[InfinityNebula]

How refreshing is this to see actual talent

represented on stage instead of gimmicks Hairweaves and garbage music of today.. This is when music had a positive statement.. and represented black people well with class and dignity..Watching the Beautiful women in this video is incredible...takes you back to a time music was inspirational and happy..and when music was about talent instead of shady record execs dictating to the public what they want to sell which is sexuality and brainwashing!!

[nothingbetter2du]

You're right!The first song of then i heard was "Grazin' In the Grass!" And I knew ...what and talented group. It's unfortunate nowadays that soul is so underminded!!!!

[soxbearshwks]

very cool 70s soul.......

[jrzgirl56]

This song reminds me of the summer of 67. That particular summer we lived through terrible riots in Newark. The radio let us take our minds off the problems that surrounded us. And this song was one of those songs that live in the back of my mind. Thanks for posting, it brings back some bittersweet memories for me.

[senormule]

Your mother is not only beautiful and talented but has a certain energy she brings to this song. I remember this song from my childhood but only recently heard it on the radio and have listened to it every day for a week!!!!!!!

[ryanspeed]

One thing is for sure....

Black artists of today are nothing like the great artists of this period!

[maysal]

thats right!!!!!!!!!!

[sacredc]

THAT'S MY MOMMA (BARBARA, Lead singer)...I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE WAS ABLE TO FIND AND POST THIS VIDEO. THANK YOU!!! She is doing fine, mother of two and grandmother of five, and still looking good! :-) She doesn't sing professional, but still receives royality checks. She still keeps her vocal active by singing in her Church's choir. The Friends of Distinction in 2008 are Harry Elston (only original member), Wendy Brune', Berlando Drake and Dorian Holley.

[revup67]

Excellent insight and thank you for the notes. Glad I was able to post this video and do hope your mom was able to see this as well. I am sure she has some great stories to share. Maybe she has an idea what TV show this was?

All the best..Rev

[sacredc]

Yes, I showed my Mom, family & friends & they were all thrilled to see her in action. I first saw this video around 3 years ago over LaMonte McLemore's (5th Dimension) house when he was sharing his archives with me & my kids & wanted us to see my Mom back in the day. I asked my if she could remember where she was, but she said that was over 37 years ago and couldn't remember, sorry. But yeah her and Marilyn McCoo were bestfriends and she does have some great stories to share. Thanks once again!

[bwworld]

revup67, very cool that you posted. This is a very special song that I associate with being in 7th grade and every time I hear it it brings me back to those days and what I was feeling back then. I was always captivated by your Mom's incredible vocal on this track!

[dyl1980]

Hi your Momma is gorgeous and talented!!

all the best

Joyce

[ryanspeed]

Great Song!

Your mom has a beautiful voice, sacredc!

[Dovecustom]

Your mom is great! Let her know that I have super clean mint albums of all the Freinds of Distinction albums that's how much I dig this stuff. Can you ask her whatever happened to Jessica Cleaves the back up singer in this song. Is she well and still singing?

[sacredc]

THANK YOU everyone for all of the wonderful comments! I'm not too familiar with YouTube, but my daughter Sacred helped me post this comment. I relished every moment spent with the group & the music was & remains to this day very refreshing. Re: Jessica Cleaves, all I know, she is still living, but Floyd Butler, is now deceased. The "Friends" arrangements were a delightful work & I'm so pleased to see so many of u still enjoying our music! Yours truly, Barbara J. Love "the Friends of Distinction"

[RochelletheRealtor]

Ms. Love -- Can you tell us some stories about being in the group? I was only 2 when this song came out, so most of my memories of your songs come from hearing them on the oldies stations.

Great music, BTW.

[1961Belvedere]

Hello Barbara! What a privelage to hear from you! I am glad to know you are doing well! Thanks for blessing us with some TIMELESS music - your voice is beautiful. I'm sure I speak for many in saying we'd love to hear more from you, so please visit here again soon! Once again, thanks and God Bless! Ray :)

[bpabustan]

Ms. Barbara Love, I am so delighted to hear from you here on youtube somehow. The Friends Of Distinction was here in my country the Philippines last 2004 and I must say I had a real good time. Harry Elston and the new members really put on an excellent show! It would have been really swell if you and Jessica or at least Charlene Gibson was still there but nevertheless, I am still a huge fan - at only 35 years old. With all the Mariahs and Beyonces, it is good to know your music still matters!

[mrsmagloo]

Your music helped me through a really tough time in my life, thank you SO SO much. Sorry I thought you were a guy! I never caught you on TV! I feel SOOOO stupid!

[gbgoul]

I was 17 when You Got Me Going inCircles came out I played the flip side "I Really Hope You Do 5,000xs. "Friends" were the best - that when groups were groups. My group played Going inCircles as an instrumental and it rocked. We knew we couldn't touch the vocals. "I Really Hope You Do" was our famous red light -slow grind em up song. We'd put onthe 45 and let it play for hours. Thanks for the memories!!!

[swt32567]

Gbgoul, I do agree with you 100% "I Really Hpoe You Do" was the best of all of The Friends of Distinction songs. I too discovered it after playing the "A" side. It really was a great Slo-Drag song. You could really get"your groove on" with your favorite

little honey.Good times,good music & great memories!!!

[trampmoPbrown]

I too am new to the YouTube scene.The music is TIMELESS. I met Jessica many years ago when my cousin,NYOFU,(Kevin Tyson),returned from Turkey.I went to visit him and he wanted to go to see her.We drove around to her home,she answered the door,I saw a photograph and said,"That's my Librarian",Jessica replied "That's my mom"!She was the Librarian at L.A.High and she had a way of keeping us 'hoodlums' in check! 'The Friends' are a part of me,and thank you Ms. Love for sharing your spirit with us.

[raderotto]

i love friends of distinction great music

[ASFLLM]

It's not motown but it's still a great song. Where are they now.

[JohnFatt]

This was the first 45 I ever bought when I was 5 years old. But, I'll admit, it took Paul Davis to cover this song in 1982, before I realized what the background singers were saying in the refrain, but now I know. "I can live without love if I wanted to in this lonely room, but I don't want to, so I leave it up to you to wash away the gloom." Cool song.

[Zobobonologomo]

I feel bad. i used to think a guy sang lead. still a sick song!

[selfhappy]

friends of distinction weren't motown. They came from sunny Los Angeles, you can here it in the music.

[jahellaspartan]

I've been looking for this song for over 30 years (since I've been a baby boy from MOTOWN ... give it up fa Detroit!) This song has been ringing in my head since then! Now that I found it ... I'm happy!

This song and the many other MOTOWN tunes are of class and can never be forgotten ... don't believe me? More and more youth of today (along in today's music mainstream are just (re)discovering these ol'soul school jams and are going back to them! Give it up fa MOTOWN! Yeah baby!!!!

[bradentonguy50]

Anyone know who wrote it? Whoever it was was a genius.

[grangeinboston]

Don't ya just love music that breaks loose and transcends?

[1961Belvedere]

Great video! Do you have any idea where it came from??

[revup67]

tried to listen to this several times and no luck either...can't find her phone number :(

[sacredc]

My mom sang, "Gimmie your sweet lovein' baby, letta-me love you, oh, letta-me love you.

[1961Belvedere]

Does anyone know what Barbara is saying at the very end of the song? The last 2 lines she is almost screaming? I cant figure it out for sure? Thanks! :)

[1961Belvedere]

THIS IS A GREAT SONG BY A GREAT GROUP!

Does anyone know what TV show this was from?

How about the whereabouts of Barbara Love or Jessica Cleaves? Such talent...so underappreciated!

Barbara has a very sultry voice and Jessica's is so sweet too! Love them both. Anyone have any other FOD videos to share? NEED MORE!

[lulli78]

bonjour

sylvie vartan a repris cette chanson en france

sous le titre de la chasse à l'homme

j'adore cette chanson

[Cch092775]

Jessica Cleaves sang "I'd Rather Have You" with EWF on the "Last Days and Time" LP

[soxbearshwks]

very smooth 70s soul....

[raiderdan05]

I just watched this for the first time being performed ... read the comments ... and found that I've been right all along:

This lady DOES sing the s--- out of this SONG ! Great to see it ! !

[themaltesebippy]

I love this song. I think one of the female singers was in an early line up of Earth Wind and Fire for a short time.

Paul Davis did an ok cover of this in the 80's.

[rjam1974]

yeah I know the one you are talking about, she was the backup singer in the video Jessica Cleaves. Whom later left EWF and sang with Funkadelic

[BigBlueBeast]

This song was cool! It was in two different keys and two different tempos! You don't hear music like this anymore!

[Ianpbx]

That's because the bozo's now have no big ideas and no class. A load of mindless, mumbling poseurs. That's why we don't get outstanding stuff anymore.

[Joejam2845]

Sure wish Black music was like today! Seems if it isn't Bitches and Hoes, killin the Niggas, it doesn't get any airplay!

[RLW1967]

Jim Brown, the former football player, used to manage them back in the day.

[eagarcia555]

My son was listening to a "song" the other day and the "singer" kept yelling out "Get out my face, Ho! Get out my face, Ho!"

Then I listen to this song and remember the beautiful voices, harmonies and arrangements from the good old days.  What happened?

[kenesto]

The only thing that happened was that a new era of music emerged.The era we call Hip-Hop Music.There are various types of Hip-Hop,the one you made reference may be the"Gangster Rap"class.There are too those classes more mainstream like what Will Smith,Blondie,Kid'n Play etc...used to make.So you have different styles for varied tastes.However,now that the Hip-Hop generation is here,move over,it's their time now!Whatever happens I stick with 70's era old-school!Let him decide what he enjoys!

[doublernothing]

as my son listens to far worst at 19, I find myself looking to get back to finding the good stuff...I find myself absent in his life then I get in his car and guess what I hear....This stuff..so maybe...

[deckape1956]

Got ya my friend--been thru it too- this great stuff!

[thespookyone65]

my favorite soul song of the 70s. thanks so much for posting this!

[kenesto]

Great Feature! Thanks!

[3alarm247]

I like this song but it could use a little bass. I don't even think my subwoofer turned on. lol

[1961FloridaBoy]

The Best !!! Beautiful Video Clip and I enjoyed it very much. Barbara Love is the best when she sings on lead. This group is great and I love it. The song of Love or Let Me Be Lonely is a great hit and I enjoyed it of listening to this song very much. One of the best. Excellent Well Done and Thank you for putting this up.

[YZippy]

THe chorus of the last 30 seconds or so totally kick ass.

[KellyGiftShop]

So I leave it up to you to wash away my blues! CLASSIC!

[ncarolinaluv]

YES!!!! Kellysway hee hee

[kub73158]

Great and cool soul pop song. The arrangement & production even adds to it. This and "Grazing..." really make it.

[BigIronOnHipMan]

I still remember those sensuous Summer nights driving my car on the open roads of northern NJ with my beautiful young Italian girlfreind. The wind blowing through her long black hair and her Patchouli perfume driving me absolutely crazy! She herself had a great voice and she'd be singing "Love Or Let Me Be Lonely"~ Mum,mum,mum,mumma,mum,mum,mum,­maa,maa,maaa baabaay!

[satinsoul5]

Yes!! High Quality Product, from back in the original 'day'!!! I got the album and the '45. Holla ;) One of my favorites all time 4vrmore tracks is Jessica as part of EWF singing "I Think About Lovin' You', - then there's "I Really Hope You Do". So many great tracks from those days!! Peace & Power!

[bpabustan]

Sorry Satinsoul5 but the lady who sang on EWF's "I Think About Lovin' You" was Sherry Scott and not Jessica Cleaves. Jessica has yet to join EWF when this track was recorded. "I Think About Lovin' You" was taken from the album "The Need Of Love". Nevertheless, Jessica Cleaves is one amazing singer. Actually there were no lemons in the Friends Of Distinction's ranks.

[hardlines4]

Damnnnnn bring me back to these days when music was MUSIC!

[Deblablovemillicent]

I could not agree more, remember when lyrics actually meant something?

[Billfeesh]

WOW! Sounds just the same as I remember it - mono/AM radio buzz and all! PBS is running their fund-raising special this month and they had to have had some of the most talented groups from the 60's brought back together just for their event. The Association was purer than any sound I can remember. But of course, the Friends of Distinction were right up there with them. Great stuff, YouTube! The hits just keep on comin'!

[tropicalpancake56]

Pure class...the song is timeless!

[chazzr50]

Every bit as talented as the Fifth Dimension. Just didn't get the "big" breaks. Although #3,#6, and #15 hits aren't too bad.

[edkollin]

Ahh The glory days of Top 40. Fergie and Beyonce eat your heart out.

[Sharalasbeats]

Now ya talkin'

[gerodh]

Is that Jessica or Barbara singing lead?

[MarvDETROIT]

That is Charlene Gibson singing lead on this and Barbara Jean Love s in the background. I believe Jessica Cleeves had left by this time.

[LamontCJ]

Sorry, that's Barbara Love on lead and that IS Jessica Cleaves singing background with Harry Elston and Floyd Butler.

[mrstep2me]

Lamont is right. That's definitely Jess in the background.

[marzdrumz]

I still have the Lp with this song.They don't write songs like this anymore.The great arrangements and harmonies with a large production makes this a wonderful song.Thanks revup67!!

[MusicManKevin]

This was from their brilliant third album for RCA Victor - "Real Friends".

[Cch092775]

Next to "Grazing In The Grass" this was their biggest hit. Barbara Love and Jessica Cleaves have left the group years ago and Floyd Butler passed away, but Harry Elston still keeps the group alive today 38 years after "Grazing In The Grass"

[unclesox]

Thanks for this info. I read somewhere that before FoD Butler and Elston were originally in a LA group called the HiFi's that also featured Lamont McLemore and Marilyn McCoo of 5th Dimension fame.

[Cch092775]

What you read was true. They "were" and "are" a fabulous group!

[lobofan22]

This song was recorded almost 40 years ago. I never get tired of hearing it. Thanks for posting.

[Arkady63]

This is the world's coolest web site. Kudos and many thanks to the people who post great vids like this. Soul music at its finest. Absolutely brilliant.

[revup67]

I agree..isn't it great?

[zn4jp]

Jessica Cleaves also sang on "Last Days and Time" for Earth, Wind & Fire

[efunkadelic]

Going In Circles!!! would be so sweet.. but this one is good too

[PtlRG1]

excellent song! very catchy!

[bwworld]

Thank you for posting this--I'd forgotten how good this song was!

[rainfall31]

Look at the other girl singing in the back round, she is Jessica Cleaves who sang with EWF in the early 70's Head to the sky album. She has a pretty voice.

[funkpill]

now if there was a performance of "Going In Circles"

:O)

[a1cjlock]

Thanks! This song will be planted in my mind all day.

[nessie96]

Great song....I literally wore the record out..thanks for posting the video.

[cosmix]

thanks for posting this one.

[dominique777]

i allway thought the lead singer on this song was a man this woman's voice is unique!

[revup67]

yes - maybe more in the line of Smokey Robinson's tonal quality

[vidnut222]

I Luuuved that song!

Thanks for posting it!

[revup67]

You are welcome! Glad you enjoyed this - I can watchit over and over myself. Wish I had Going In Circles by this band or any other song by them for that matter.