# That's What Friends Are For
"That's What Friends Are For" is a pop ballad written by [Burt Bacharach](https://www.edgepedia.org/burt-bacharach) and [Carole Bayer Sager](https://www.edgepedia.org/carole-bayer-sager), first recorded by [Rod Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/rod-stewart) in 1982 for the film *Night Shift* and best known from the 1985 charity recording by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder, released under the name Dionne & Friends.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Writers | Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager[1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693) |
| First recording | Rod Stewart, 1982, on the soundtrack of the film *Night Shift*; not released as a single[2](https://stereogum.com/2107554/the-number-ones-dionne-friends-thats-what-friends-are-for/columns/the-number-ones) |
| Best-known version | Dionne & Friends, November 1985, on Arista; lead vocals Dionne Warwick with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder[1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693) • [3](https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=12252&title=That%27s+What+Friends+Are+For+by+Dionne+Warwick) |
| Chart peak | No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 18, 1986; No. 1 song of 1986 in the US[4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for) |
| Grammy Awards | Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987)[5](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-pop-performance-by-a-duo-or-group-with-vocal/1987/) • [4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for) |
| Charity proceeds | Over $3 million raised for AIDS research and prevention[4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for) |
| Certification | Gold in the United States, certified by the RIAA in January 1986[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm) |
| Other versions | B.J. Thomas (US Billboard No. 74, 1972); Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams duet (1978)[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm) • [7](https://www.qobuz.com/be-nl/album/thats-what-friends-are-for-johnny-mathis-deniece-williams/uiqopr9tibd0a) |
## Origin and the Rod Stewart recording
Bacharach and Bayer Sager wrote the song in 1982 for *Night Shift*, a [Ron Howard](https://www.edgepedia.org/ron-howard) comedy. Rod Stewart sang it over the closing credits, with the recording released on Warner Bros., but it was never issued as a single even though the writers believed it had hit potential[2](https://stereogum.com/2107554/the-number-ones-dionne-friends-thats-what-friends-are-for/columns/the-number-ones).
## The Dionne & Friends version
The song resurfaced in 1985 when Bacharach and Sager were compiling material for [Dionne Warwick](https://www.edgepedia.org/dionne-warwick)'s album *Friends* on Arista[1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693). Warwick and Bacharach had not worked together for more than a decade after their earlier partnership with lyricist [Hal David](https://www.edgepedia.org/hal-david) ended in mutual lawsuits; television producer [Aaron Spelling](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-spelling) had helped bring them back together to record the theme for his series *Finder of Lost Loves*[1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693). Sager suggested Warwick listen to "That's What Friends Are For," and Warwick agreed to record it on the condition that it be a duet with Stevie Wonder, with whom she had recently worked on *The Woman in Red* soundtrack[4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for).
During recording, produced by Bacharach and Sager, more vocals were added, with Warwick suggesting [Gladys Knight](https://www.edgepedia.org/gladys-knight) and [Elton John](https://www.edgepedia.org/elton-john)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693). According to Warwick's autobiography, the session took place at Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood in 1985[8](https://musicfans.stackexchange.com/questions/12183/what-is-the-recording-location-studio-and-year-of-the-song-thats-what-friend). Actress [Elizabeth Taylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/elizabeth-taylor) was present at the session, and Sager proposed donating the single's proceeds to the American Foundation for AIDS Research[1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693).
## Chart success and awards
Issued as a charity single in November 1985, the recording, although not Warwick's first No. 1 on the pop chart, a distinction held by "Then Came You," her 1974 collaboration with the Spinners, reached No[12](https://njhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/2013-inductees/dionne-warwick/). 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on January 18, 1986, and spent four weeks at No. 1 pop and three weeks at No. 1 R&B in early 1986[4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693). It was Warwick's first No. 1 single on the pop chart[1](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693). Billboard ranked it the No. 1 song of 1986 in the United States[4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for). It also topped year-end or weekly charts elsewhere: No. 1 in Canada in December 1985 and again in January 1986 on the RPM listing, and No. 1 for one week in Australia in March 1986[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm). The RIAA certified it gold in January 1986[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm).
At the 29th Annual Grammy Awards, honoring recordings released between October 1985 and September 1986, the song won Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal[5](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-pop-performance-by-a-duo-or-group-with-vocal/1987/), and it also received the Grammy for Song of the Year[4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for). A 1986 Grammy nomination for the song is also recorded in chart compilations[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm).
## AIDS fundraising and legacy
The single raised more than $3 million for AIDS research and prevention and became an unofficial anthem for the fight against AIDS[4](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for). The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2024 essay on Warwick, inducted that year in the Musical Excellence category, credits the project as her own initiative: she invited Knight, Wonder, and John to record the song as a fundraiser for amfAR, and the recording has since generated millions of dollars for the organization[9](https://rockhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-Induction-Ceremony-program-essay-Dionne-Warwick.pdf). Elton John has credited Warwick as the first person in the music business to speak up about AIDS[9](https://rockhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-Induction-Ceremony-program-essay-Dionne-Warwick.pdf).
The song has been performed in later configurations. At the first [Soul Train Music Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/soul-train-music-awards) on March 23, 1987, Warwick and [Stevie Wonder](https://www.edgepedia.org/stevie-wonder) performed it with [Luther Vandross](https://www.edgepedia.org/luther-vandross) and Whitney Houston[10](https://axiell.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/fullCatalogue/200036303).
## Other recorded versions
The title has attracted several distinct recordings. B.J. Thomas's version reached No. 74 on the US Billboard chart in July 1972[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm). [Johnny Mathis](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-mathis) and [Deniece Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/deniece-williams) recorded it as a duet, released in 1978 on Columbia, with the track credited to composers Marilyn Berglas and Charlee Maass and producer Jack Gold[7](https://www.qobuz.com/be-nl/album/thats-what-friends-are-for-johnny-mathis-deniece-williams/uiqopr9tibd0a). Deniece Williams's own 1977 version reached No. 8 in the UK with a Silver certification from the BPI in September 1977[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm). Perry Como recorded a version in February 1987 at Evergreen Studios in Burbank for his album *Perry Como Today*[11](https://kokomo.ca/pop_standards/thats_what_friends_are_for_1987.htm), and a 2007 Norwegian chart entry reached No. 5 in November 2007[6](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm).
## References
1. [That's What Friends Are For, AllMusic song review by Ed Hogan](https://www.allmusic.com/song/thats-what-friends-are-for-mt0014675693)
2. [The Number Ones: Dionne & Friends' "That's What Friends Are For," Stereogum](https://stereogum.com/2107554/the-number-ones-dionne-friends-thats-what-friends-are-for/columns/the-number-ones)
3. [That's What Friends Are For: Dionne Warwick, Music VF](https://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=12252&title=That%27s+What+Friends+Are+For+by+Dionne+Warwick)
4. [Dionne Warwick – That's What Friends Are For, Odies Music](https://odiesmusic.com/dionne-warwick-thats-what-friends-are-for)
5. [Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal 1987 Winners & Nominees, Grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-pop-performance-by-a-duo-or-group-with-vocal/1987/)
6. [Song title 478 – That's What Friends Are For, tsort.info](https://tsort.info/music/9znzum.htm)
7. [That's What Friends Are For by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, Qobuz](https://www.qobuz.com/be-nl/album/thats-what-friends-are-for-johnny-mathis-deniece-williams/uiqopr9tibd0a)
8. [What is the recording location, studio, and year of the song? Music Fans Stack Exchange](https://musicfans.stackexchange.com/questions/12183/what-is-the-recording-location-studio-and-year-of-the-song-thats-what-friend)
9. [Dionne Warwick 2024 Induction essay, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame](https://rockhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-Induction-Ceremony-program-essay-Dionne-Warwick.pdf)
10. [Soul Train Music Awards recording details, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Archives](https://axiell.rockhall.com/rrhof-ais/Details/fullCatalogue/200036303)
11. [That's What Friends Are For (1987 Version), Perry Como, kokomo.ca](https://kokomo.ca/pop_standards/thats_what_friends_are_for_1987.htm)
12. [Dionne Warwick](https://njhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/2013-inductees/dionne-warwick/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Ensembles and groups › Rock, pop, and metal bands › Musical duos, supergroups, and collaborative projects › Charity supergroups and one-off collaborations*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license