One of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60s and early 70s, the Friends of Distinction are too often forgotten in retrospectives of that era, but their music has continued to live on. Formed by Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love in 1968, the group had a relatively short life in its original incarnation, but made some of the most memorable pop/soul music of the era. (Check out our biography of the Friends of Distinction).
The Friends were quite prolific from 1969-71, releasing 5 albums (a sixth appeared in 1973). And those albums featured some all time hits like “Grazing In The Grass” and “Going In Circles.” But go just a bit deeper and you’d find a slew of other great cuts, including some creative covers. One of those was their version of the soft rock hit by David Gates and Bread, “It’ Don’t Matter to Me.” The Friends bring in some tempo to the gentle song, and their swirling harmonies are simply glorious. While the original Bread release, which hit the top 10, was fine, it is this remake that stands on my list of the best version of the composition.
“It Don’t Matter To Me” is our latest SoulTracks Lost Gem. Check it out and enjoy The Friends of Distinction all over again.
By Chris Rizik
Friends of Distinction
“It Don’t Matter to Me”