Shalamar
Shalamar is an iconic American R&B and soul vocal group formed in 1977 by Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius, linked to the Soul Train TV show. They rose to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s with disco-influenced hits and dance moves like body-popping, which they popularized in the UK.
Shalamar began as a studio project when Griffey released "Uptown Festival" in 1977 on Soul Train Records, using session singers. Its success led to recruiting Soul Train dancers Jeffrey Daniel and Jody Watley, plus singer Gary Mumford, who soon left; Howard Hewett replaced him in 1978.
The trio of Hewett (lead vocals), Watley (vocals), and Daniel (vocals, guitar) signed to SOLAR Records and delivered gold albums like Big Fun (1979), Three for Love (1980), and Friends (1982). Major hits included "The Second Time Around," "A Night to Remember," "Friends," and "There It Is," blending soul, funk, and dance.
Watley and Daniel departed in 1983 amid internal conflicts and label disputes, before The Look. Hewett left in 1985 for a solo career but returned in 2001. Later members included Sydney Justin; the current version features Hewett, Daniel, and Carolyn Griffey.
Shalamar sold over 25 million records and influenced fashion and dance trends. They reformed in 2001, continuing live performances with a backing band into the 2020s.
Friends
Written-By – Charmaine Sylvers, Dana Meyers, Nidra Beard
5:08
A2 Don't Try To Change Me
Written-By – Roberta Stiger, Tina Scott, William Bryant
4:08
A3 Help Me
Written-By – Jody Watley, Joey Gallo, Leon Sylvers, Jr., Nidra Beard
5:08
A4 On Top Of The World
Written-By – Dana Meyers, Richard Randolph
4:04
A5 I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know
Written-By – Kevin Spencer, Linda Carriere (2), Nidra Beard, William Shelby
3:54
B1 Friends
Written-By – Glen Barbee, Nidra Beard, William Shelby
5:00
B2 Playing To Win
Written-By – Charmaine Sylvers, Jody Watley, Ralph E. Clayborne
4:18
B3 I Just Stopped By Because I Had To
Written-By – Joey Gallo, Leon Sylvers, Jr., Nidra Beard, Stephen Shockley
4:05
B4 There It Is
Written-By – Charmaine Sylvers, Dana Meyers, Nidra Beard
4:26
B5 I Can Make You Feel Good
Written-By – Howard Hewett, Renwick Jackson, William Shelby
Label: Solar K 52345
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: R&B Soul, Pop
Style: Eighties Soul, Disco, Funk
Shalamar’s 1982 album Friends is widely regarded by critics and fans as the definitive work of the group's "classic" lineup, featuring Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel. Produced by Leon Sylvers III, the album is celebrated as a "testament" to his musical ability and a peak example of early 1980s post-disco and synth-funk.
Reviews frequently highlight the "Solar Sound"—a polished blend of 70s orchestral elements (strings and brass) with crisp 80s synthesizers and drum machines. Sylvers' "watertight" basslines and "superlative" production are credited for giving the album a contemporary feel that has aged well.
The "tag-team" chemistry between Howard Hewett’s emotive tenor and Jody Watley’s stylish vocals is often cited as the album's core strength.
While primarily known for its massive UK hit singles—"A Night to Remember," "There It Is," "I Can Make You Feel Good," and the title track—the deeper cuts like "I Don't Wanna Be the Last to Know" are also praised as first-class R&B ballads.
Described as a "joyous work" and "supreme, shiny pop soul" that was as central to 1982 as seminal albums by ABC or Simple Minds. Users generally rate it highly (avg. ~3.5/5), calling it a "must-have" for fans of West Coast R&B, though some note it can occasionally feel "generic" in its disco-funk tropes.
Friends is considered a definitive album of 1982, successfully transitioning the group from a disco act to a versatile, modern dance-pop group,
Modern reissues, particularly the Big Break Records (BBR) Deluxe Edition, are highly recommended for their remastering quality, which brings out instrument separation and bass depth not found in older pressings.