Friends & Strangers

Not to be confused with the 2021 Australian film Friends and Strangers.

Friends & Strangers is the third album by American saxophonist Ronnie Laws, recorded in 1976-1977 and released on the Blue Note label.^[1][2] The album was certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500,000 copies.

Friends & Strangers
Studio album by Ronnie Laws
Released	1977
Recorded	January–March 1977
Studio	ABC, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Jazz
Length	40:50
Label	Blue Note
Producer	Wayne Henderson
Ronnie Laws chronology
Fever (1976) Friends & Strangers (1977) Flame (1978)

Reception

The AllMusic review by Ed Hogan stated that "saxophonist Ronnie Laws' Friends and Strangers LP showcases his skilled chops on up-tempo and mellow tunes".^[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Ronnie Laws except as indicated

1. "Good Time Ride" (William Jeffrey, Laws) - 5:05
2. "Saturday Evening" - 4:34
3. "Friends and Strangers" (Jeffrey) - 4:49
4. "Nuthin' 'Bout Nuthin'" (Jeffrey, Laws) - 5:11
5. "New Day" - 6:17
6. "Life In Paradise" - 7:01
7. "Same Old Story" - 4:41
8. "Just Love" (Larry Dunn, Laws, Eloise Laws) - 3:25

• Recorded at ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California in January–March, 1977.

Personnel

• Ronnie Laws - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto flute
• Bobby Lyle - piano
• Larry Dunn - synthesizer
• Roland Bautista, Melvin Robinson - guitar
• Donnie Beck, Nathaniel Phillips - electric bass
• Steve Guttierez - drums
• Vance "Mad Dog" Ternort - conga, percussion
• Saundra "Pan" Alexander, Deborah Laws, Eloise Laws - backing vocals