Just a Friend
| Just A Friend | |
| |
| Written by | Biz Markie, Tally Hall (Cover version) |
|---|---|
| Appears on | The Pingry EP, Download code with 2008 Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum, Admittedly Incomplete Demos, Just a Friend 7" |
| Sung by | Rob Cantor, Zubin Sedghi |
| Genre | Rap/Hip-hop, Indie Rock, |
| Language | English |
| Links: | Youtube Spotify Bandcamp The Pingry EP (Youtube) |
Just a Friend is a song by 1980's hip-hop artist Biz Markie, and covered by Tally Hall many times both live and in-studio. This cover is sung by Rob Cantor during the verses and Zubin Sedghi during the chorus. It is one of Tally Hall's most well known covers, as they closed out nearly every show with it for years.
Studio Recording
In 2006, Tally Hall recorded a studio version of Just A Friend at Studio A Recording in Dearborn Heights, Michigan with producer Eric Morgeson.[1] However, the band decided not to release the recording because they weren't happy with it and were likely tired of the song in general after playing it live nearly hundreds of times. When asked about it in 2007, they had stated that they didn't believe it was very good in hindsight.[citation needed]
Through a change of heart, they fixed some things they weren't happy with and decided to release it as a bonus download code for those who bought the 2008 Atlantic Records re-release of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum.
In December 2015 Tally Hall's cover version was released as part of the bandcamp exclusive release: Admittedly Incomplete Demos[2]
On August 23rd 2019, after years of inactivity, the band came together to distribute 'Just a Friend' on all popular streaming platforms for the first time.[3] It is believed that this was done in response to a strong and growing monthly listenership on Spotify (nearly 350k at the time of the release) despite the band's hiatus since 2011.
In 2021, Just a Friend and bonus tracks Mucka Blucka and Dream were included with the CD and cassette reissues of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum by Needlejuice Records.[4] They are also present on the Bandcamp upload of the album.[5]
Just a Friend 7"
| Just a Friend | |
| |
| EPs | |
| Released | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Recorded | 2006 (Just a Friend), 2008 (Mucka Blucka, Dream) |
| Length | 7:17 |
| Label | Needlejuice Records |
| Producer | Geoff Michael, Eric Morgeson |
Just a Friend is a 7" vinyl by Tally Hall produced by Needlejuice Records, released on February 6th 2021. The release was made for vinyl as a companion to the 2021 re-release of Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum, however it is also available digitally on Bandcamp.[6]
The 7" features Just a Friend on side A and the bonus tracks from Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum on side B, marking the first time these tracks were released physically. These tracks are also included on the CD, cassette, and Bandcamp versions of the album.
The tracks were remastered for vinyl by Angel Marcloid of Fire-Toolz. She remastered Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum for vinyl also.
Track listing
| # | Title | Writers | Lead Singers | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1. | "Just A Friend" | Biz Markie | Cantor, Sedghi, | 4:30 |
| B1. | "Mucka Blucka" | Hawley | Federman | 1:38 |
| B2. | "Dream" | Horowitz | n/a | 1:49 |
Trivia
- The back cover of the 7" uses an outtake from a 2007 photoshoot. A similar photo from the same session was used as a promo picture in many places.
Liner Notes
"Mucka Blucka" and "Dream" recorded, mixed and mastered by Geoff Michael at Big Sky Recording, Ann Arbor, MI.
"Just a Friend" recorded, mixed and mastered by Eric Morgeson at Studio A Recording, Dearborn Heights, MI.
©2021 Tally Hall under exclusive license to Needejuice Records, LLC. "Just a Friend" written by Biz Markie and
published by CAK Music / Cold Chillin' Music. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
Needlejuice Records, LLC. 1420 Donelson Pike, Suite A5, Nashville, TN 37217.
Live Performances
Just a Friend was played many times at Tally Hall concerts, mostly at the end/encore of a concert. It soon became popular with their audience. The band however soon got a bit tired of it and didn't want to be known solely by this cover, so they decided to retire it around 2005-6 from their live sets. However, due to popular demand, it was put back into the set not long after, which arguably makes this song one of the reasons that helped the band stand out amongst its peers in the early days and led to sold out shows at places like The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor.
Some of these live performances included Rob Cantor going into the audience with a megaphone to sing the last verse of the song.[7] Later performances would include the band switching instruments (i.e. Zubin on guitar, Joe on drums, Bora on bass, Ross on keyboard).[8] A performance at Sin-é in June of 2006, the band decided to play the last verse twice as fast up to "Oh snap".[9]
In the last chorus after the "you got what I need, 'do wah'" Joe Hawley was known to say a random four syllable word to fill in the musical gap during live performances. (i.e Barbecue Sauce, Chicken Nugget, Dr. Pepper, Michael Jackson, Play Nintendo, Stegosaurus, etc...)[10]
Trivia
- The studio recording was first heard at the end of the MTV's "You Hear It First" which was filmed in 2006.[11]
- The final chorus is sung (from lowest to highest) by Joe Hawley, Zubin Sedghi, and Rob Cantor
- An easy way to spot photos of them performing Just a Friend is if Rob is holding the microphone while singing, this only happens in live performances of the song.
Lyrics
(Tally Hall's lyrical addition/changes have been added in parentheses)
Have you ever met a girl that you tried to date but a year to make love she wanted you to wait? Well, let me tell you a story of my situation. I was talking to this girl from the U.S. Nation. The way that I met her was on tour at a concert. She had long hair and a short mini-skirt. I just got on stage dripping, pouring with sweat. I was walking through the crowd and guess who I met? I whispered in her ear "Come to the picture booth so I can ask you some questions to see if you’re a hundred proof." I asked her her name. She said "Blah-blah-blah," she had 9/10 pants and a very big bra. I took a couple of flicks and she was enthused. I said, "How'd you like the show?" She said, "I was very amused." I started throwing bass, she started throwing back mid-range. But when I popped (swung) the question, she acted kind of strange. When I asked if she had a man, she tried to pretend. She said "No, I don’t. I only have a friend." (C'mon!) Oh baby, you. You got what I need. But you say he’s just a friend. But you say he’s just a friend. Oh baby, you. You got what I need. But you say he’s just a friend. But you say he’s just a friend. So I took Blah-blah’s word for it at this time. I thought, having a friend couldn’t be no crime. 'Cause I got friends and that’s a fact; like Agnes, Agatha, Germaine, and Jack. But forget about them, let’s go into the story about a girl named Blah-blah-blah that adored me. So we started talking, getting familiar. Spending a lot of time so that we could build a relationship... or some understanding how it’s gonna be in the future we was planning. Everything sounded so dandy and sweet, I had no idea I was in for a treat. After this was established everything was cool. The tour was over and she went back to school. I called every day to see how she was doing. But every time I called her it seemed something was brewing. So, I called on my dime, picked up and called again. (*ring* Hello?) "Hey, yo, who was that?" "Oh, he’s just a friend." (Hahahahahaha! OH NO!) Oh baby, you. You got what I need. But you say he’s just a friend. But you say he’s just a friend. Oh baby, you. You got what I need. But you say he’s just a friend. But you say he’s just a friend. (Damn, girl. What you want from me, I'll give you anything. You want any kind of subscription to a magazine? Give you a potato? A mask of some sort? I love you.) So I went to her college on a surprise visit. To see my girl that was so exquisite. It was a school day. I knew she was there. The first semester of the school year. I went to the gate to ask where was her dorm. This guy made me fill out a visitors form. So I did and I was on my way to see my baby girl, I was happy to say. I rolled up to her dormitory. "Yo, could you tell me where is Door 3?" He told me where it was and for the moment, I didn’t know that I was in for such an event. I went to her room. I opened the door. "Oh, snap!" Guess what I saw?! A fella tongue-kissing my girl in the mouth, I was so in shock my heart went down south. Please listen to the message that I say. Don’t ever talk to a girl who says she just has a friend! Oh baby, you. You got what I need. (Doo-wah) But you say he’s just a friend. (Hawley improv) But you say he’s just a friend. Oh baby, you. You got what I need. But you say he’s just a friend. But you say he’s just a friend. Oh baby, you! Girl.
References
- ↑ Tally Hall - Just A Friend. Discogs. Discogs.
- ↑ Just a Friend on Bandcamp Bandcamp.
- ↑ Tally Hall. Just A Friend on Spotify Spotify.
- ↑ Tally Hall – Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum Bandcamp.
- ↑ Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum on Bandcamp Bandcamp.
- ↑ Just A Friend on Needlejuice Records Bandcamp February 6th 2021. Bandcamp.
- ↑ Tally Hall - Just A Friend (Intersection Grand Rapids) YouTube.
- ↑ Just A Friend at Toquet Hall 2011 YouTube.
- ↑ Just a Friend June 2006 Sin-é performance 2006. YouTube.
- ↑ Tally Hall - Just a Friend. 2009. Live at the Loft in Atlanta 2009. YouTube.
- ↑ Tally Hall on MTV's You Hear It First, 2006 2006. YouTube.
| The Pingry EP | |
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| Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum | |
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* indicates tracks only available with 2008 digital downloads, a download code or with the 2021 non-vinyl releases ** indicates tracks only available with a download code or on the 2021 non-vinyl releases
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| Singles | |
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Banana Man (Demo) · Ruler Of Everything (Demo) · Good Day · Welcome To Tally Hall · Light & Night · You & Me · & · Nathan Naimark · Club Can't Handle Me (featuring Casey Shea) · Just a Friend · Turn The Lights Off (b-side: Light & Night) |