Songoftheday 7/28/14 - Striking out? Well count me in, I'm gonna stand right by your side through thick or thin...

Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne - "You're A Friend Of Mine"
from the album Hero (1985)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #18 (one week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 12

Today's Song of the Day comes from the man that had stood by "The Boss'" side for decades, saxophonist Clarence Clemons. Clemons hooked up with Bruce Springsteen in the early bar-band days, and was there through the artist's entire recording career up to that point in 1985, including the mega-smash Born In The U.S.A. album. In 1985, He released his first true solo album, Hero, which capitalized on the momentum he had with Springsteen, as well as his featured roles on other hits like Aretha Frankin's "Freeway Of Love" The first single from the set was a duet with singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, but "You're A Friend Of Mine" was written by producer Narada Michael Walden along with Jeffrey Cohen, and sounded more akin to "Freeway" (also produced by Walden) that Clemons' work with the Boss, though at least it started out with his iconic sax chops. It did seem kind of random to have Jackson on the record, though....

"You're A Friend Of Mine" became Clemons' first and only top-40 pop hit in America in January of 1986. The single also reached Billboard's Mainstream Rock (#16) and Adult Contemporary (#21) radio charts as well.

Also Clemons wouldn't appear on the charts as a solo artist again, he would continue to perform with Springsteen and the E Street Band up until his death from a stroke in 2011. His last big "hurrah" came with his solo on Lady Gaga's "Edge Of Glory" that year.

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...and here's Clemons live with Ringo Starr's band in 1989 with Billy Preston taking the place of Browne..

Up tomorrow: For the second year in a row, a charity record hits it big, as an AIDS benefit becomes the biggest hit of 1986.