Touch A Hand, Make A Friend - Oak Ridge Boys - 1985
There are times an artist can record a song that they were born to, and for me that was this song by these guys. Being very honest, overall I was not a huge Oak Ridge Boys fan back then. I loved Elvira, American Made and Bobbie Sue like everyone else did, but the four part harmony guys thing was not my favorite as young guy. BUT I was a huge fan when they sang songs with a bit of spirituality to it. I felt the same way about the Statler Brothers. When they - and the Oaks sang a song of good will, or gospel, or a deeper spirit, I felt they were at their absolute best. After all, those are their roots. You may not know, but the ORB go back to the 1940's as a gospel group and went country with the current boys in the late 1970's. This song was a big R&B hit for the Staple Singers in 1973, and this was tailor made for the Oaks in 1985. I love how this song makes you happy, and gives you hope - and these days we can use some of that. I stand by this, of all the Oaks big hits, of which there are plenty, I proudly played them all, but this is their very best song. And you made it a big #1.
