Lifetime Friend is an album from Little Richard, his first album in seven years since the release of the 1979 gospel album, God's Beautiful City. Following that album's release and some 1981 recordings, Richard had made no recordings while he continued his career in the ministry. Following the release of his autobiography, The Quasar of Rock and Roll, in 1984, Richard had reemerged in the public eye and was starting to be recognized for his contributions to popular music as one of the founders of rock and roll music.