"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 on their album Be What You Are. "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" was one of The Staple Singers most successful singles and peaked at number three on the soul chart and number twenty-three on the Hot 100 in 1973. Chart performance 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. It was their thirteenth number one on the country chart. Weekly charts Year-end charts References Songs about friendship 1973 singles 1985 singles The Staple Singers songs The Oak Ridge Boys songs Songs written by Homer Banks Song recordings produced by Ron Chancey MCA Records singles Songs written by Raymond Jackson (songwriter) 1973 songs Songs written by Carl Hampton