Be Your Own Best Friend

Be Your Own Best Friend
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1978
GenrePop, country
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerRay Stevens
Ray Stevens chronology
There Is Something on Your Mind
(1977)
Be Your Own Best Friend
(1978)
The Feeling's Not Right Again
(1979)

Be Your Own Best Friend was Ray Stevens' sixteenth studio album as well as his fourth and final for Warner Bros. Records, released in 1978. The third track, "You've Got the Music Inside," is a re-recording of a track that was from Stevens' 1973 album Nashville.

All of the selections were published by Ray Stevens Music-BMI, with the exception of "You've Got the Music Inside," which was published by Ahab Music Company, Inc.-BMI.

The title track is the album's sole single.

Track listing

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Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."L'Amour"Ray Stevens, Gilbert Bécaud3:38
2."Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right"Ray Stevens4:21
3."You've Got the Music Inside"Ray Stevens4:13
4."Hidin' Place"Ray Stevens2:58
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Be Your Own Best Friend"Ray Stevens2:52
2."The Feeling's Not Right Again"Ray Stevens, Chuck Martin3:31
3."Comeback"Ray Stevens4:06
4."You're Magic"Layng Martine, Jr.2:21
5."With a Smile"Ray Stevens3:12

Personnel

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  • Ray Stevens - keyboards, synthesizer, percussion
  • Jerry Kroon - drums
  • Jack Williams - bass
  • Chet Atkins, Steve Gibson - electric guitar
  • Mark Casstevens - acoustic guitar
  • Lisa Silver, Sheri Kramer, Diane Tidwell - backing vocals
  • Shelly Kurland Strings - strings
  • Ray Stevens, Denis Solee - horns
Technical
  • Stuart Keathley - recording engineer
  • Charlie Tallent, Ray Stevens - mixing
  • Ray Stevens - production, arrangements
  • Recorded at Ray Stevens' Studio - Nashville
  • Ed Thrasher - photography
  • Brad Kanawyer - design

Charts

[edit]

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1978 "Be Your Own Best Friend" Canadian RPM Country Tracks 16
1978 "Be Your Own Best Friend" Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks 36
1978 "Be Your Own Best Friend" Billboard Adult Contemporary 50