You'll often read that due to the length of the album, there are weak tracks or filler throughout. I just cannot agree, and do not hear what those tracks might be. Well, OK, 'Attila's Belly-Dance' is a bit silly, but at 39 seconds I think we can survive that. The worst song here, in my estimation, is 'Witches' Daughter', and after a molten guitar lead mid section, it just merely falls to excellent verse sublime. The stretch from 'Music for Our Children' through 'Magical Garden' is absolutely divine, each one diverse, but still energetic and highly melodic. Then comes the album's one-two punch. 'Maurice' is at the very top of what I call "flute groovers". The listener is mesmerized as one great melody after another is introduced while maintaining a head bobbing and ever changing rhythm. A masterpiece, only to be followed (after silly bit as mentioned above) by the brilliant 'Prelude: Take the Road Across the Bridge', with its killer Hammond/guitar combo. Interesting to note that Freddy Dahl covered this track later with his next vehicle Saluki, a decidedly more jazz and funk oriented band, and yet it remains a 5 star classic there as well. All this leads to the multi-part "side 4" title suite, which recalls the run of tracks starting with 'Music for Our Children'. In conclusion, Friendship is one of the all-time greats and is not to be missed.
Ownership: LP: 1971 Sonet. 2xLP gatefold. Online acquisition (2022) from a dealer in Norway.
CD: 1989 Sonet. Standard jewel case release and was my first exposure to the album (1995).
1995; 3/7/10; 11/9/18 (new entry)
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