“Friends and Lovers” is a duet by American singers Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson. Released in 1986, the song became a significant hit and is one of the notable love ballads of the 1980s. The song was first recorded as by Gloria Loring and Carl Anderson in 1985 for the soap opera Days of Our Lives. The recording was released as a single the summer of 1986, shortly after a country version by Juice Newton and Eddie Rabbitt was released.
“Friends and Lovers” was written by Jay Gruska and Paul Gordon. Gloria Loring, who was a well-known actress and singer at the time, particularly recognized for her role on the soap opera Days of Our Lives, initially recorded the song as a solo track in 1985. Carl Anderson is best known for his role as Judas in the film version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar..
The song gained additional popularity due to its connection with Days of Our Lives. On the show, Loring’s character, Liz Chandler, performed the song, and it became associated with the romantic storyline of Liz and her love interest. This television exposure helped propel the song into the public consciousness.
“Friends and Lovers” achieved commercial success in the United States. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986, staying at that position for two weeks. The song also peaked at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, demonstrating its broad appeal across different audience segments.