My Amazon Reviews: Andrew Gold "Thank You for Being a Friend: The Best Of Andrew Gold"

"That's MISTER Mellowmeister to you." 
4 Out Of 5 Stars 

  Andrew Gold was a first rate tunesmith who was often overlooked behind the stellar company he frequently worked with. He came from a musical family, started his first band with the likes of Karla Bonoff and Wendy Waldman, played and wrote on several of Linda Ronstadt's early classics like "Hasten Down The Wind." As a solo performer, he's best known for the 70's kitsch classic "Lonely Boy" and for the perennial friendship song (and theme to The Golden Girls) "Thank You For Being a Friend." He also had a wry sense of humor; the title of this review comes from a letter he once wrote to Rolling Stone magazine when they made a snotty comment about his production on a Nicolette Larson album as being an LA Mellowmeister, he sent them the aforementioned comment in response.

Which is probably why I've owned several of Andrew's albums (including Wax's "Magnetic Heaven") over the years. While this compilation sticks to Gold's four albums from his tenure at Elektra/Asylum, it gives a terrific overview of Gold's easy and straight-to-the-point songwriting. His two hits are both naturally here, but you may find yourself recognizing a 70's song or two as the disc plays out. Freddie Mercury sang backup vocals on the romantic "Never Let Her Slip Away." "Endless Flight" enchanted Leo Sayer enough that he both recorded it and used it for the title of his 1976 album. "The Final Frontier" was heard for many years as the opening theme for Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt's "Mad About You" (until Anita Baker re-recorded it later).

In a more just world, Andrew Gold would have been a star on the level of Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald or a handful of other California singer/songwriters. "Thank You For Being a Friend" gathers 20 songs as convincing proof that Gold ranked with the best of them. (Sure would have been nice to have Wax's near-hit "Right Between The Eyes" or Gold's spry version of "Do Wah Daddy" here, though.) His untimely passing in June 2011 at the age of 59 made me sad, to the point where I hit the repeat on "Never Let Her Slip Away" for much of the afternoon. Here is a hope he gets the recognition now that he deserves.

   

Passings: Singer Songwriter Andrew Gold

Andrew Gold, the singer-songwriter best known for 1977's "Lonely Boy" single, died Friday in his sleep from a heart attack. He was 59. That song was heard in films such as Boogie Nights and Water Boy. Another song, "Thank You for Being a Friend," was heard on TV each week for almost a decade as the theme song for The Golden Girls.

The L.A. native began writing songs at age 13. By the early 1970s, he was working as a musician, songwriter and record producer. He was a member of the Los Angeles band Bryndle. In 1975, Gold set out on a solo career and released four albums during that decade.

The year 1975 also marked Gold's successful collaboration with Art Garfunkel. He played all the instruments on Garfunkel's No. 1 UK hit, "I Only Have Eyes For You." Aside from Garfunkel, Gold also worked with or produced music for artists including Cher, Brian Wilson, Don Henley, Celine Dion and members of the Beatles.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters.