Brand New Friend

In a 1985 interview with Sounds, Cole described "Brand New Friend" as being "about a character who's in a fairly pitiful position of being aware that he's not as happy as he once was, but not being sure what to do about it. He's also aware that he's verging on self-pity, which is also quite ridiculous. So it's quite funny too. He's aware it's a little cry for help."{{cite magazine |first=Carole |last=Linfield |title=Lloyd Cole: Do the lo-commotion |magazine=Sounds |date=7 September 1985 |pages=26–27}}

Upon its release as a single, Diane Cross of Record Mirror described "Brand New Friend" as "another slightly uptempo, soulful sound from the man with the sorrowful eyes". She felt it would "probably manage to avoid chart domination, but will more than please his many fans".{{cite magazine |last=Cross |first=Diane |date=31 August 1985 |title=Singles |magazine=Record Mirror |page=16 |issn=0144-5804}} Frank Edmonds of the Bury Free Press gave the single an 8 out of 10 rating. He noted the "striking vocal married to a lovely tune" and added, "Cole just oozes stylish moodiness and here it spills out all over the record."{{cite news |last=Edmonds |first=Frank |title=Soundscene |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000762/19850906/161/0012 |newspaper=Bury Free Press |date=6 September 1985 |page=12 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 March 2023}}

Karen Swayne of Number One commented, "Lloyd's mannered vocals are as appealing as ever, though a bit uncomfortable over such a jaunty little tune. There are strings and girl backing vocals thrown in for good measure, but I'd have preferred a simpler sound. Even so, it outclasses most of the week's releases."{{cite magazine |last=Swayne |first=Karen |title=Singles |magazine=Number One |date=31 August 1985 |issue=115 |page=37}} Sean O'Hagan of NME felt both "Brand New Friend" and its B-side, "Her Last Fling", are "haunted by the ghost of vintage Dylan/Reed/Ferry". He commented, "The opening line bodes well but Lloyd is still content to slip into the guise of his heroes and revisit territory that has already been done to death."{{cite magazine |last=O'Hagan |first=Sean |title=Singles |magazine=New Musical Express |date=31 August 1985 |page=21}}

7–inch single (UK, Europe, US, Canada and Japan){{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=UK 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=COLE 4}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=European 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=883 352-7}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=US 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Geffen Records |id=7-28724}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=Canadian 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Geffen Records |id=92 87247}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=Japanese 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=7DM 0152}}

1. "Brand New Friend" – 4:46
2. "Her Last Fling" – 2:46

7–inch single (Australasia){{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=Australasian 7-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=883 352-7}}

1. "Brand New Friend" – 4:00
2. "Her Last Fling" – 2:46

12–inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia){{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=UK 12-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=COLEX 4}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Brand New Friend |others=Lloyd Cole and the Commotions |year=1985 |type=European and Australasian 12-inch single sleeve |publisher=Polydor Records |id=883 352-1}}

1. "Brand New Friend" (Long Version) – 5:34
2. "Her Last Fling" – 2:46
3. "2CV" (Recorded live) – 3:00
4. "Speedboat" (Recorded live) – 4:15

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions

• Lloyd Cole – vocals, guitar
• Neil Clark – guitar
• Blair Cowan – keyboards
• Lawrence Donegan – bass
• Stephen Irvine – drums

Additional musicians on "Brand New Friend"

• Jimmy Thomas – backing vocals
• Jimmy Helms – backing vocals
• Lance Ellington – backing vocals
• Anne Dudley – string arrangement

Production

• Clive Langer – producer ("Brand New Friend")
• Alan Winstanley – producer ("Brand New Friend")
• Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – producers ("Her Last Fling", "2CV", "Speedboat")
• Richard Sullivan – engineer ("Brand New Friend", "Her Last Fling")
• Mark Saunders – engineer ("Brand New Friend", "Her Last Fling")
• Kenny MacDonald – engineer ("Brand New Friend", "Her Last Fling")

Other

• Peter Anderson – sleeve
• Clare Cameron – sleeve

{{Reflist}}

{{Lloyd Cole and the Commotions}}

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Category:1985 songs

Category:1985 singles

Category:Lloyd Cole songs

Category:Songs written by Lloyd Cole

Category:Song recordings produced by Clive Langer

Category:Song recordings produced by Alan Winstanley

Category:Polydor Records singles