Freddie North
Freddie North is an American R&B singer born on May 28, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee. He gained prominence in the music industry through early work as a disc jockey and promoter before achieving chart success in the 1970s.
North started in music as a DJ at WLAC-Nashville and promoted for Nashboro Records, a gospel label. He sang demos for country publishers, appeared on TV's Night Train, and released early singles under names like Freddie Carpenter, including "Okay, So What" in 1960 and tracks with producer Billy Sherrill in 1961.
In 1971, North released the album Friend on Mankind Records, reaching U.S. #179 and R&B Albums #41. It featured his biggest hit, "She's All I Got," peaking at U.S. #39 Pop and #10 R&B, later covered successfully by Johnny Paycheck.
Follow-up single "You and Me Together Forever" hit #26 R&B. North recorded for Nashboro's A-Bet label from 1967, with tracks like "Don't Make Me Look So Bad" and the 1970 LP Magnetic North. He later pursued ministry, fading from mainstream charts.
Friend
Written-By – G. Bonds, J. Williams, Jr. 2:45
A2 Raining On A Sunny Day
Written-By – R. Daniels 3:38
A3 Sweeter Than Sweetness
Written-By – C. Whitehead, J. Williams, Jr. 2:59
A4 Sidewalks Fences And Walls
Written-By – J. Williams, Jr., M. Gimbel 2:53
A5 I Did The Woman Wrong
Written-By – C. Whitehead, J. Williams, Jr., T. Davis 2:45
B1 Yours Love
Written-By – H. Howard 2:59
B2 Laid Back And Easy
Written-By – J. Williams, Jr., K. Shelton 2:32
B3 You And Me Together Forever
Written-By – J. Roach 3:10
B4 Ain't Nothing In The News (But The Blues)
Written-By – J. Williams, Jr. 2:46
B5 Did I Come Back Too Soon (Or Stay Away Too Long)
Written-By – C. Whitehead, G. Bonds, J. Williams, Jr. 3:05
Label: Mankind – M 204
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Southern Soul
Freddie North's 1971 album Friend is an underground Southern soul hit, highly regarded for its blend of deep soul and country influences, featuring North's "smoky, baritone voice" and the major R&B hit "She's All I Got".
The album is a quintessential example of deep Southern soul, drawing favorable comparisons between North and soul legend Jerry Butler. Critics praise the record for its brooding, lamenting country-soul ballads and brass-infused renditions of tracks, produced by the legendary Jerry Williams Jr., better known as Swamp Dogg.
The album is anchored by its two hit singles:
"She's All I Got": This track was North's biggest commercial success, reaching #10 on the Billboard R&B chart and #39 on the Hot 100, and is considered an "all-time soul smash".
"You and Me Together Forever": The second single from the album, this song peaked at #26 R&B.
The collaboration with producer Swamp Dogg was instrumental in defining the album's sound. The production style for the hit single was described as "pleading, brass-infused".
Though North only had one more chart hit after this album, Friend has endured as an underground favorite and a significant piece of 1970s soul music. Reissues of the album have been made available in remastered formats, indicating continued interest from deep soul fans.
For fans of classic, deep Southern soul, Friend is highly recommended. It successfully merges the Nashville country session sound with gritty R&B vocals, offering a powerful listening experience highlighted by a standout hit single. On platforms like Discogs, user ratings average a respectable 4.25 out of 5 stars.