It Takes A Friend (with Rob Grant & Mel H)

[Farrell Jackson]

Rob had a song idea and ask if I wanted to join in. He specifically ask for lyrics, vocals and a 1:30 minute guitar solo. I typically don't do guitar solos for that length of time. So I put my thinking cap on and did some practicing. My goal was to not be repetitive. It was a bit challenging, not perfect, but I got it done. There are actually 3 guitar solos in this 8.5 minute song. Mel's starts at 4:54, Farrell's at 5:57 and Rob's at 7:21 to the end. I had to reduce the sample rate to 112 kbps to squeeze the song in. So please bare with that.
Credits:

Mel Hayler - All keyboards, engineering, 1st lead guitar.

Farrell Jackson - Lyrics, vocals, 2nd lead guitar.

Rob Grant - Bass, drum arranging, 3rd lead guitar

Mastering by LANDR. 

It takes A Friend (Farrell Jackson 3-13-24)

(V1) I was thinking about the friend's I've had.
Most are good but some were a flash in the pan...away they ran
True friends are there for life.
False friends fall by the wayside.
(V2) We all need a friend to have our backs.
That comes to our aid when we're under attack.
It's a great comfort to rely on, to rely on that simple fact
So take it to the bank, when you make a lifetime pact.
So be a friend....

(V3)"There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea,
but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be."

(Chr) So be a friend; be a rock.
Help one out, in a tight spot.

It's a great comfort to rely on, to rely on that simple fact
So take it to the bank, when you make a lifetime pact
 
(Chr) So be a friend; be a rock.
Help one out, in a tight spot.
It takes a friend to have a friend...oooo
So be a friend .....

Note: V3 borrowed from an Irish Proverb

[Ray Brookes]

This is a great song, Farrell. Excellent lyrics, vocals and stellar musicianship - the guitar work - wow. Three lead guitarists all in one song and love that Hammond organ sound along with the strings. Cool arranging too that holds one's interest for the whole duration. I feel this track is crying out for a movie somehow.

[Ron D Bowes]

Great job cuz. Stellar work from you and Rob and Mel. Kudos!

[thetworegs]

Excellent lyric Farrell so true...loving that organ on the break and guitars good one

[StephenM]

Great song... I really like the keyboards... I get the same sort of feeling as I get with Steve Winwood.

The vocals are really good and the lyrics a superstar.

I like when the song winds down into bass and light keys... super.

The leads really work a treat. 

I like long songs so this works for me....

tell everyone I think it sounds really good.

[SE]

Great collab,loving the performance and production so well put together with a great  arrangement too.
Apart from the above this is just a cool tune, congrats to everyone involved, excellent!!

[Pru]

absolutely fabulous song. all that guitar playing, backing and singing is so good

[Ted]

I second what Stephen said about the keyboards – particularly the two keyboard interludes.

This calls back to a different time, when guitar solos – long, successive guitar solos – were what rock was about. Some people (particularly punks) said "good riddance." But when it works, it works.

Nitpick: I find the vocals are kind of low in the mix.

[Blooby]

There's so much in here to like. Great keys, vocals, bass (!), arranging, and songwriting. I think the reverb amount might be obscuring the vocals a tad, but that is a small niggle.

I just love the bass on this track. It carries the tune during that interlude. The panned shakers were a cool addition. That is a corker of a lead. Super emotive.

Excellent post.

Blooby

[SE]

I'm back for more, just a great listen and so well recorded!