Newton began the duets project in the mid-1990s. Initially, it was conceived as a double album to be released via a television infomercial. However, legal problems kept it from being officially issued.[3] Regarding the album, Newton stated:
I started in pop, then crossed over into country. And I actually do some swing music, so that was the first idea. The second ruling factor was when I went to these artists, I asked them if there were songs they liked that they had not had a chance to record. So that was interesting, to let the individual artist pick the song, almost like they do on their record.[4] For me it was like making three records. These singers are so wonderful and unique — I really wanted to be on my game. I lived with my headphones on, studying the songs and preparing my interpretations."[5]
The recording of the album used various studios throughout the United States. Newton recorded her duets with Glen Campbell, Randy Meisner, and Dan Seals at Loud Recording in Nashville, Tennessee. Her songs with Melissa Manchester and Frankie Valli were done at the Saturn Recording Studio in Burbank, California, while Manchester and Valli also recorded at another Burbank studio, O'Henry Sound. Willie Nelson recorded at the Predermails Recording Studios in Spicewood, Texas. The rhythm section and the strings were recorded in Nashville while the horns were done in North Hollywood, California.[6] On working with these artists Newton noted that Valli and Seals were the most difficult because they had to change the key every time the switch was made from male to female parts. She went on to note: "That is a mental challenge, because you have to listen carefully in order to modulate up or down. All the time I was singing with the guys it was more challenging for me".[4] Sadly, Dan Seals and Newton's long-time collaborator Otha Young died before the album was released.[4] Regarding Seals, Newton remarked: "I always admired his vocal style. Dan was such a sweet singer, and always so fun to be around. He was such an easy person, with such a great voice. I was really happy to be able to sing with him before he passed."[4]
Duets: Friends & Memories was released by Fuel Records on October 4, 2010.[7] Of the ten songs on the album Newton duets with Willie Nelson on two songs that he wrote, "Touch Me" and "Funny How Time Slips Away". The former had been a hit for Nelson in 1962, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.[8] The latter was originally recorded by country singer Billy Walker.[9] For the album's opening number Newton teamed with country music singer Gary Morris for "Still the One", the 1976 top five hit for Orleans.[10] Newton remarked about working with Nelson and Morris by stating: "With Willie, he likes to play his guitar while he sings. He plays it on his fret board, so that was a challenge. With Gary, we pitched the song in the wrong key, so we had to tighten our shorts to do that one."[4]
Following its CD release, Duets: Friends and Memories was made available on iTunes in its original 10-track edition and also in a "deluxe edition" that includes two extra songs.[19] One of these features Newton again with Randy Meisner, these time in a performance of Neil Young's 1971 number one hit "Heart of Gold".[20][21] The other extra song was with Eddie Money dueting on "Time After Time", Cyndi Lauper's number one hit from 1984.[22]
Newton remarked about the album that:
It was just a lot of fun to work with the different people and make everyone comfortable. One of the times I couldn’t find the studio and I didn’t have GPS in my car, so I was trying to find it on my own. All kinds of stuff like that happened, but we got it done! At first you might go "Oh, wow," because you aren’t sure you can sing the song they picked, and then you just look at each other and say, "Oh, yeah." You just have to cowboy up and make it right.[4]
In his review of the album music critic David Bowling stated:
Juice Newton may be far removed from her seventies and eighties hit days but she has continued to release well conceived and executed albums. It’s nice these duets have finally seen the light of day and hopefully more will be released in the future.[3]
Brandon Fields, Dan Higgins, Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams – reeds
Bob Bullock – rhythm engineer
Kevin Beamish – string engineer
David Angell, Monisa Angell, John Catchings, Bruce Christensen, David Davidson, Conni Ellisor, Mary Furth, Richard Grosjean, Idalynn Jacobs, Anthony LaMarchina, Lee Larrison, Theodore Madsen, Robert Mason, Cate Myer, Randall Olson, Lynn Peithman, Kathryn Plummer, Pamela Sixfin, Julia Tanner, Bobby Taylor, Alan Umstead, Catherine Ustead, Mary Kathryn Van Osdale, Gary Van Osdale, Kristin Wilkinson – strings
