Number One Songs—You've Got A Friend, James Taylor—Carole King

It is ironic that such a prolific and successful songwriter as Taylor would make #1 with someone else's song, but that's just how it turned out.

"Two weeks after her double-sided hit of "It's Too Late" and "I Feel the Earth Move" was number one, songwriter Carole King was back on top of the chart with "You've Got a Friend," one of the songs included on her multi-million selling LP Tapestry. But Carole didn't release "You've Got a Friend" as a single. Her close friend James Taylor did, and it is his only number one song.

"Taylor and his producer Peter Asher recorded the album Sweet Baby James just a few blocks away from the studio where Carole and her producer, Lou Adler, were recording Tapestry. Carole and James were long-time friends; they met through Danny Kortchmar, a boyhood friend of James' who was in a group called the City with Carole. In the spring of 1971, James did a 27-city tour of America with Carole as his opening act." —Fred Bronson, The Billboard Book of Number One Hits

"[King's] Tapestry was instantly recognized as one of the landmark albums of the singer-songwriter genre of the early 1970s. With numerous hit singles, Tapestry would remain on the charts for nearly six years and sell over 10 million copies in the US alone, an estimated 22 million world-wide, remaining her most popular album among fans and critics alike. The album garnered four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female; Record of the Year ("It's Too Late"); and Song of the Year ("You've Got a Friend")...Tapestry was placed at #36 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. —Wikipedia

"Over the course of his long career, James Taylor has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards and 5 Grammy Awards for a catalog running from 1970's Sweet Baby James to his Grammy Award-winning efforts Hourglass (1977) and October Road (2002). Taylor's first Greatest Hits album earned him the RIAA's elite Diamond Award, given for sales in excess of 10 million units in the United States. For his accomplishments, James was honored with the 1998 Century Award, Billboard magazine's highest accolade, bestowed for distinguished creative achievement. The year 200 saw his induction into both the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriter's Hall of Fame. In February 2006, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences selected James its MUSICARES Person of the Year." —JamesTaylor.com

You've Got a Friend Lyrics
(Words and Music by Carole King)

When you're down and troubled
and you need a helping hand
and nothing, whoa nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me
and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.

You just call out my name,
and you know whereever I am
I'll come running, oh yeah baby
to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall,
all you have to do is call
and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a friend.

If the sky above you
should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
and soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
all you got to do is call
and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?
People can be so cold.
They'll hurt you and desert you.
Well they'll take your soul if you let them.
Oh yeah, but don't you let them.

You just call out my name and you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Oh babe, don't you know that,
Winter spring summer or fall,
Hey now, all you've got to do is call.
Lord, I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend.
You've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
You've got a friend.

You've Got A Friend - Sheet Music (Digital Download)