IN THE TRUNK by Rob Trujillo: Eddie Kendricks – “Intimate friends” (Audio)

Eddie Kendricks has one of the coolest, high pitch voices you’ll ever hear on a soul track. I still remember painting a mural in the middle of the night when my homie Miguel threw this song on. I had to ask him to rewind it y’all! The first time I heard a loop from this was on Common’s “A Penny For Your Thoughts” in the early 90’s. The song has been sampled by countless artists including Tweet and Alicia Keys but most recently Erykah Badu flipped it on “Fall In Love (Your Funeral).”

Kendricks, is one of the great voices from legendary soul group, The Temptations. Born in Alabama, his career spans more than three decades of recording, performing, and touring. “Intimate friends” comes from the 1977 album Slick, which was released on Tamla Motown. Kendricks recorded 13 solo LPs from 1971 to 1983. Slick features great talent such as Robert White and Eddie Willis (guitar), George Roundtree (keys), Uriel Jones (drums), Jack Brokensha (percussion), Roderick Chandler (bass), Jerry Paul (congas), Cheryl Lynn, Barbara D and many others on background vocals.

Beginning with slow and sexy keys, the first few bars are what draws you in. Once the voice of a young woman moans the first note, the evening is sealed and the soft congas joined by Kendricks’s voice, the band, and the constant whispering of the background vocalists beckon you. If there was ever a song that came close to lovemaking, this has got to be one of the best. Drifting back and forth, with subtle and sudden increases in intensity, it’s a love ballad for new or ancient lovers. Tell your bff you’ve got a song for her or him to hear tonight. Whew! Is the heat on? Ain’t no kissin’ in church!! Enjoy.

Eddie Kendricks – “Intimate Friends”

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Robert Liu-Trujillo

Parent, illustrator, author, owner of Come Bien Books, muralist, activist, and self-proclaimed believer in the power of music and its infinite sonic vibrations. Follow him @RobertTres

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