Touch a Hand, Make a Friend

"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" is a song written by Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson and Carl Hampton, and first recorded by The Staple Singers for their album Be What You Are.^[1] It was one of The Staple Singers most successful singles and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart and number 23 on its Hot 100 chart in 1973.^[2] The single also reached number 27 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.^[3]

"Touch a Hand, Make a Friend"
Single by the Staple Singers
from the album Be What You Are
B-side	"Tellin' Lies"
Released	January 1974
Recorded	1973
Genre	Funk
Length	3:26
Label	Stax
Songwriter(s)	Homer Banks, Raymond Jackson, Carl Hampton
Producer(s)	Al Bell
The Staple Singers singles chronology
"If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" (1973) "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" (1974) "City in the Sky" (1974)

The Oak Ridge Boys version

The Oak Ridge Boys released the song in August 1985 as the second single from their album Step On Out.^{[4][failed verification]} It was their thirteenth number one on the country chart^[5] and appeared at number 38 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs 1985 Year-End chart.^[6] In Canada, the single topped the RPM Country Tracks chart.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. Elias, Jason. "The Staple Singers: Be What You Are – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 547.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 230.
4. "The Oak Ridge Boys: Step on Out – Overview". AllMusic. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
5. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006 (2nd ed.). Record Research. p. 252.
6. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1985". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2021.