Brand New Friend

"Brand New Friend" is a song by British band Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, released in 1985 as the lead single from their second studio album Easy Pieces. The song was written by band members Lloyd Cole and Blair Cowan, and produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. It peaked at number 19 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for nine weeks.

"Brand New Friend"
Single by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
from the album Easy Pieces
B-side"Her Last Fling"
Released6 September 1985[1]
Length4:51
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions singles chronology
"Rattlesnakes"
(1984)		 "Brand New Friend"
(1985)		 "Lost Weekend"
(1985)
Music video
"Brand New Friend" on YouTube

Background

In a 1985 interview with Sounds, Cole described "Brand New Friend" as being "about a character who's in a fairly pitiful position of being aware that he's not as happy as he once was, but not being sure what to do about it. He's also aware that he's verging on self-pity, which is also quite ridiculous. So it's quite funny too. He's aware it's a little cry for help."[2]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Diane Cross of Record Mirror described "Brand New Friend" as "another slightly uptempo, soulful sound from the man with the sorrowful eyes". She felt it would "probably manage to avoid chart domination, but will more than please his many fans".[3] Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the single an 8 out of 10 rating. He noted the "striking vocal married to a lovely tune" and added, "Cole just oozes stylish moodiness and here it spills out all over the record."[4]

Karen Swayne of Number One commented, "Lloyd's mannered vocals are as appealing as ever, though a bit uncomfortable over such a jaunty little tune. There are strings and girl backing vocals thrown in for good measure, but I'd have preferred a simpler sound. Even so, it outclasses most of the week's releases."[5] Sean O'Hagan of NME felt both "Brand New Friend" and its B-side, "Her Last Fling", are "haunted by the ghost of vintage Dylan/Reed/Ferry". He commented, "The opening line bodes well but Lloyd is still content to slip into the guise of his heroes and revisit territory that has already been done to death."[6]

Track listing

7–inch single (UK, Europe, US, Canada and Japan)[7][8][9][10][11]

  1. "Brand New Friend" – 4:46
  2. "Her Last Fling" – 2:46

7–inch single (Australasia)[12]

  1. "Brand New Friend" – 4:00
  2. "Her Last Fling" – 2:46

12–inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia)[13][14]

  1. "Brand New Friend" (Long Version) – 5:34
  2. "Her Last Fling" – 2:46
  3. "2CV" (Recorded live) – 3:00
  4. "Speedboat" (Recorded live) – 4:15

Personnel

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

Additional musicians on "Brand New Friend"

Production

  • Clive Langer – producer ("Brand New Friend")
  • Alan Winstanley – producer ("Brand New Friend")
  • Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – producers ("Her Last Fling", "2CV", "Speedboat")
  • Richard Sullivan – engineer ("Brand New Friend", "Her Last Fling")
  • Mark Saunders – engineer ("Brand New Friend", "Her Last Fling")
  • Kenny MacDonald – engineer ("Brand New Friend", "Her Last Fling")

Other

  • Peter Anderson – sleeve
  • Clare Cameron – sleeve

Charts
Chart (1985) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[15] 73
Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[16] 52
Ireland (IRMA)[17] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 19

References
  1. Smith, Robin (24 August 1985). "News: Friendly Commotion". Record Mirror. p. 8. ISSN 0144-5804.
  2. Linfield, Carole (7 September 1985). "Lloyd Cole: Do the lo-commotion". Sounds. pp. 26–27.
  3. Cross, Diane (31 August 1985). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 16. ISSN 0144-5804.
  4. Edmonds, Frank (6 September 1985). "Soundscene". Bury Free Press. p. 12. Retrieved 17 March 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. Swayne, Karen (31 August 1985). "Singles". Number One. No. 115. p. 37.
  6. O'Hagan, Sean (31 August 1985). "Singles". New Musical Express. p. 21.
  7. Brand New Friend (UK 7-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Polydor Records. 1985. COLE 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. Brand New Friend (European 7-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Polydor Records. 1985. 883 352-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. Brand New Friend (US 7-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Geffen Records. 1985. 7-28724.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. Brand New Friend (Canadian 7-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Geffen Records. 1985. 92 87247.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. Brand New Friend (Japanese 7-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Polydor Records. 1985. 7DM 0152.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. Brand New Friend (Australasian 7-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Polydor Records. 1985. 883 352-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. Brand New Friend (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Polydor Records. 1985. COLEX 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Brand New Friend (European and Australasian 12-inch single sleeve). Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Polydor Records. 1985. 883 352-1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 69. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  16. "European Top 100 Singles" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 41. 14 October 1985. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 17 March 2023 – via World Radio History.
  17. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Brand New Friend". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  18. "Lloyd Cole: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
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