More Than Friends
Studio album by
Jonathan Butler
Released1988
LabelJive[1]
Jonathan Butler chronology
Jonathan Butler
(1987)		 More Than Friends
(1988)		 Heal Our Land
(1990)

More Than Friends is an album by the South African musician Jonathan Butler, released in 1988.[2][3] The title track was released as a single.[4]

The album peaked at No. 113 on the Billboard 200.[5] Butler supported the album by touring with Najee and Angela Bofill.[6]

Production

Butler made it a point to avoid writing about South Africa and its politics.[7] He added elements of hip hop to his sound on More Than Friends; "True Love Never Fails", a duet with Vanessa Bell Armstrong, incorporated gospel influences.[8][9][10] Butler didn't feel like he was abandoning jazz so much as becoming more aware of popular music styles.[11] "Sekona" is an instrumental.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]

The Washington Post opined that Butler "has all but abandoned whatever musical and vocal distinctiveness he once had in favor of his copycat commercial bent."[15] The Austin American-Statesman determined that the music "is upbeat and infectious with a backbeat that overpowers its occasional lapses into formulaic radio fare."[16] The Richmond Times-Dispatch called More Than Friends a "slickly produced album" that "moves toward the pop mainstream."[17]

AllMusic wrote that the album "continued the de-emphasis on his guitar playing, and was his biggest, most lavishly produced set."[13]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."There's One Born Every Minute (I'm a Sucker for You)" 
2."Breaking Away" 
3."More Than Friends" 
4."Take Me Home" 
5."True Love Never Fails (duet with Vanessa Bell Armstrong)" 
6."She's a Teaser" 
7."She's Hot (Burning Up)" 
8."Sarah Sarah" 
9."It's So Hard to Let You Go" 
10."Sekona" 

CD track listing

No.TitleLength
1."There's One Born Every Minute (I'm a Sucker for You)" 
2."Breaking Away" 
3."More Than Friends" 
4."Take Me Home" 
5."True Love Never Fails" 
6."Melodie" 
7."She's a Teaser" 
8."She's Hot (Burning Up)" 
9."Sarah Sarah" 
10."It's So Hard to Let You Go" 
11."Sekona" 
12."Forever" 

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Dave (April 2, 2019). "Goldmine Record Album Price Guide". Penguin – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ "Jonathan Butler Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ↑ Duffy, Thom (27 Nov 1988). "MUSIC". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
  4. ↑ Heckman, Don (28 Mar 1989). "Jonathan Butler Did It—A Star in the Making". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 6.
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research Inc. p. 123.
  6. ↑ Jones IV, James T. (28 Feb 1989). "Good Friends tour fuses jazz and soul". USA Today. p. 5D.
  7. ↑ Gallo, Phil (February 17, 1989). "South African Butler tries his hand at apolitical pop". Weekend Guide. New Haven Register. p. 34.
  8. ↑ Miller, Michael (February 17, 1989). "JONATHAN BUTLER, JACK OF ALL-MUSICAL TRADES, TO PERFORM". The State. Columbia. p. 1B.
  9. ↑ DeVault, Russ (March 10, 1989). "South African Jonathan Butler Overcame Drug Addiction to Make Musical Comeback". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. D10.
  10. ↑ Smith, Brad (February 21, 1989). "Butler's star quality shines at Paramount". Living. The Republican. Springfield. p. 27.
  11. ↑ Ruffin, Mark (March 3, 1989). "Former South African idol finds more success in U.S.". WEEKEND PLUS. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 25.
  12. ↑ Eichenberger, Bill (March 3, 1989). "3 OFFER UPS, DOWNS AND EVEN SOME JAZZ". The Columbus Dispatch. p. 8D.
  13. 1 2 "Jonathan Butler - More Than Friends Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  14. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 92.
  15. ↑ Brown, Joe (24 Feb 1989). "On the evidence of the less-than-enthralling 'More Than Friends'...". The Washington Post. p. N19.
  16. ↑ Point, Michael (17 Mar 1989). "Jivin' Jonathan". Austin American-Statesman. p. F1.
  17. ↑ Farmer, Robin (February 24, 1989). "CHILDHOOD GIFT FASHIONED SOUTH AFRICAN MUSICIAN'S LIFE". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. C1.
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