More Than Friends (album)

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]

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)

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. "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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