[2] A version of "Friends" was recorded by one of the song's co-writers, Buzzy Linhart.

While rehearsing for an audition for a Broadway show called Mirror Cracked, Linhart sang to Midler a song that he and his songwriting partner Mark "Moogy" Klingman had just written, called "Friends".

After hearing the song, Midler asked Linhart if she could sing "Friends" during a show that she was performing in at the Continental Baths in New York.

The song was used as a commercial outro for the unsold Jay Wolpert produced game show pilot called Fast Friends[7][8] hosted by Bob Goen in 1984.

A rendition of the song is heard on the film Shrek, performed by Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy in 2001.