SYLVESTER YOU ARE MY FRIEND Live

Sylvester's Rendition Of The Patti LaBelle Classic.
Patti wrote this song with her then husband Armstead Edwards,alongside Patti's musical director James Ellison who created & arranged the music,this all took place in 1977 and can be found on Patti's self-titled debut solo album.
Sylvester James & Patti LaBelle were close friends and she was thrilled that Sylvester had chosen to cover one of her favorite songs.She was said to be "Impressed" with his version which appears on his1979 Album "Living Proof".On the sleeve notes full writing credits are given to Patti LaBelle, Armstead Edwards & James "Budd" Ellison.

There seems to be a lot of debate as to who recorded this
first,or which is the better,all of which seem pretty pointless to me as the two Friends have always had such a high level of Respect for each other..Enjoy!

R.I.P. Sylvester James - December 16,1988
R.I.P. Izora Rhodes - Sept. 16, 2004
R.I.P. Harvey Fuqua - July 6, 2010

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Sylvester
• James
• YOU ARE MY FRIEND
• Live
• SOUL Patti
• LaBelle
• David
• Rubinson

[gpashby777]

Thank U Sylvester and 2 Tons of Fun! I remember first hearing of U! I was a teen, and I said to myself, "Self, this is gonna be one ot the best songs U will ever hear sung!" 40plus years later, "It still is one of the best songs I have ever heard!" This Is Music! Peace!

[SuperXavier30]

@gpashby777 ,.Thanks for sharing!

[SuperXavier30]

"Its okay Daddy, You my friend", he said over and over, as he gently patted his father's forehead.

Zuri was repeating what his father had been telling him from the time he was a baby.

"You are my best friend". Armstead was so moved he never touched another joint again. And he never forgot that moment or those words of reassurance from his son.

Don't Block the Blessings: Revelations of a Lifetime.

Peace!

[SuperXavier30]

So much division in Love!

Good people, Patti gave the lowdown on the origins of this composition in her memoir back in 1996. This is how she told it;

During the months that we were drinking heavily and hanging out at the Roundhouse,

Armstead was also smoking reefer. One night, after too much booze and too much smoke, he lay sick and out of it on the couch. Zuri was only a toddler, but he knew something was wrong with his dad. And so he tried to comfort him.

[bxnigg]

Music Fans, as much as I love Patti and her version of this song, it was Sylvester who recorded this song FIRST! And I for one, happen to kike his rendition much better!

[SuperXavier30]

@bxnigg My Friend, as great as this song is, it’s still a cover version! A rendition and not the original as you state.

Please take a minute and read the video description, and then if you still feel it is incorrect please feel free to enlighten me…Cheers!

[kmiles8176]

This gentleman was a true musical talent, I think that because of his sexual orientation he does not get the recognition that he deserves....and that 's a shame. The boy was bad.

[yotleo]

This song never fails to bring tears to my eyes. I hope he's singing his heart out in heaven.

[LaBelleObamafan4life]

@debbie10570 LOL What? This song was thought of when Patti read her husband's diary & saw what he had written about their son. This is a Patti LaBelle classic. She released it in 1977 from her self-entitled album "Patti LaBelle". This is one of the songs that brought her out after "Lady Marmalade".

[LOTAGURL]

ALWAYS good when I need to SMILE.

[ESSENCEOFEACHTHING]

@bxnigg

I understand why you thought that.This version is so complete & sung with such live gospel passion that my soul also thought that it was the original up until last year.

[brownbetty76]

Thanks for posting. My mom played this all the time :-)

[PinkWizdom7]

@bxnigg I love his rendition as well

[M1SSB3LL18]

i like

[Pattichakafan12]

@debbie10570 Patti labelle did this song first, she, her husband, and Budd Elliso wrote this song....His version came out in 1979 and Patti's came out 1978 on EPIC label....and im sorry no disrecpect but if u listen to Patti's live version of this song it is far superior than this...He doesnt sing very well....he is quite pitchy and airy in my opinion.....NO DISRESPECT!!!

[mshawkins86]

My best friend reminds me of him, I get very emotinal, shame I cant sing we could of been the next them lol

[fairfax17]

Sylvester took us back to church in his rendition of this song. You can feel it and Lord knows it should do move you to shout, to jump for joy, to give a testimony or whatever; but it moves the soul and the body all at once , to do something , May He rest in peace. I even enjoy the rap (not today's meaning of rap) and how he says certain words in his girly (no harm meant) proper way.lol but all said "I love this song and sylvester

[debbie10570]

@SuperXavier30 Sylvesters did this song first, not Patti labelle...I love Patti but his version is my Favorite