Beautiful Noise

Last updated

Beautiful Noise
Beautifulnoise.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 11, 1976 [1]
Recorded1975–1976
Studio Shangri La Studio, Los Angeles; Kendun Recorders, Los Angeles; Village Recorders, Los Angeles
Genre
Length37:40
Label Columbia
Producer Robbie Robertson
Neil Diamond chronology
Serenade
(1974)
Beautiful Noise
(1976)
And the Singer Sings His Song
(1976)
Singles from Beautiful Noise
  1. "If You Know What I Mean"
    Released: June 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [3]
Diamond performing live in support of Beautiful Noise in 1976 Neil Diamond Aladdin Hotel 1976.jpg
Diamond performing live in support of Beautiful Noise in 1976

Beautiful Noise is the tenth album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, released in 1976. Diamond's third album with Columbia Records, it was produced by Robbie Robertson, known for his work with The Band. Garth Hudson of The Band also contributed organ to several songs on the album. Diamond performed the album track "Dry Your Eyes" with The Band at their farewell show The Last Waltz , which was filmed by director Martin Scorsese and made into a 1978 documentary of the same title.

Contents

History

Beautiful Noise marked a radical departure in production, style, arrangements and compositional diversity for Diamond. It was billed at the time of its release as something of a "comeback" album for the artist and did mark a new and highly productive phase of his recording and touring career.

The album produced three singles: "If You Know What I Mean", "Don't Think... Feel", and the title track, "Beautiful Noise". "If You Know What I Mean" was a No. 1 hit on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and reached No. 11 on the US Hit Parade. [4] "Don't Think... Feel" reached No. 43 in the U.S. charts, while "Beautiful Noise" reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart, [5] No. 7 in South Africa [6] and No. 6 in the then West Germany. [7] It also made it to No. 6 in Switzerland, No. 8 in Austria, No. 3 in the Netherlands and No. 6 in Flemish Belgium. [8]

Cash Box said of the title song "orchestration begins the tune as Diamond steps in with his well-known vocal style includes a revolving carousel organ." [9] Record World said that "an accordion lends a distinct, atmospheric sound" to the track. [10]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Neil Diamond, except "Dry Your Eyes" by Diamond and Robbie Robertson.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Beautiful Noise"3:24
2."Stargazer"2:41
3."Lady-Oh"3:51
4."Don't Think... Feel"3:26
5."Surviving the Life"3:42
6."If You Know What I Mean"3:30
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Street Life"3:00
2."Home Is a Wounded Heart"2:40
3."Jungletime"3:10
4."Signs"4:17
5."Dry Your Eyes"3:23

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [26] Gold20,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [27] Platinum100,000^
Germany (BVMI) [28] Gold250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [26] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [29] 5× Gold37,500^
South Africa (RISA) [26] Gold25,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [30] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [31] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Frampton Comes Alive!</i> 1976 live album by Peter Frampton

Frampton Comes Alive! is a double live album by English musician and songwriter Peter Frampton, released in 1976 by A&M Records. Frampton Comes Alive! is one of the best-selling live albums of all time. "Show Me the Way", "Baby, I Love Your Way", and "Do You Feel Like We Do" were released as singles; all three reached the top 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and frequently receive airplay on classic rock radio stations. Following four studio albums with no success and sales, Frampton Comes Alive! was a breakthrough for Frampton.

<i>The Last Waltz</i> (soundtrack) 1978 soundtrack album by the Band

The Last Waltz is the second live album by the Band, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1978, catalogue 3WS 3146. It is the soundtrack to the 1978 film of the same name, and the final album by the original configuration of the Band. It peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Intensive Care</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Robbie Williams

Intensive Care is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Robbie Williams, released on 24 October 2005 in the United Kingdom. It was produced by Stephen Duffy and Williams and was the first of Williams' albums to not be produced by longtime songwriting partner Guy Chambers. The album was supported by four singles: "Tripping", "Make Me Pure", "Advertising Space" and "Sin Sin Sin".

<i>Amigos</i> (Santana album) 1976 studio album by Santana

Amigos is the seventh studio album by Santana released in 1976. It generated a minor U.S. hit single in "Let It Shine" and was the band's first album to hit the top ten on the Billboard charts since Caravanserai in 1972. In Europe, the song "Europa" was released as a single and became a top ten hit in several countries.

<i>Im in You</i> 1977 studio album by Peter Frampton

I'm in You is the fifth studio album by English musician and songwriter Peter Frampton. It was released on 3 June 1977, almost a year and a half after his 1976 signature breakthrough live album, Frampton Comes Alive! It was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York, where Frampton's Camel was recorded four years earlier. Stevie Wonder, Richie Hayward, Mike Finnigan and Mick Jagger are featured on the album.

<i>Deceptive Bends</i> 1977 studio album by 10cc

Deceptive Bends is the fifth studio album by rock band 10cc, released in 1977. It was the first album released by the band after the departure of founding members Kevin Godley and Lol Creme and produced the hit single "The Things We Do for Love".

<i>Love at the Greek</i> 1977 live album by Neil Diamond

Love at the Greek is a live double album by Neil Diamond which was released in 1977. It was Diamond's second live album recorded from a concert at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, and Neil's second album produced by Robbie Robertson of The Band.

<i>Wet</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Barbra Streisand

Wet is the twenty-first studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released in 1979. It is a concept album of sorts with all the songs referring to, or expressing different interpretations of, water. Wet is also the first and the last word sung on the album.

<i>Serenade</i> (Neil Diamond album) 1974 studio album by Neil Diamond

Serenade is the ninth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in 1974. It was his second album for Columbia Records.

<i>Fate for Breakfast</i> 1979 studio album by Art Garfunkel

Fate for Breakfast is the fourth solo studio album by Art Garfunkel, released in March 1979 on Columbia Records.

<i>You Dont Bring Me Flowers</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Neil Diamond

You Don't Bring Me Flowers is Neil Diamond's twelfth studio album. It was released in 1978 to capitalize on the success of the title song of the same name, a duet with Barbra Streisand, which had originally appeared as a solo recording on Diamond's previous album, I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight.

<i>Emotion</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 1984 studio album by Barbra Streisand

Emotion is the twenty-third studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released in October 1984 by Columbia Records. It was her first studio album in four years after the release of Guilty, which has since become her highest selling studio album worldwide.

<i>Across from Midnight</i> 1997 studio album by Joe Cocker

Across from Midnight is the sixteenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in 1997.

<i>Heartlight</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Neil Diamond

Heartlight is the fifteenth studio album by Neil Diamond. It was released in August 1982 on Columbia Records. The album spent 34 weeks on the charts and peaked at #9. For shipments of a million copies it was certified Platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Know What I Mean</span> 1976 single by Neil Diamond

"If You Know What I Mean" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond. It is a track from Diamond's 1976 album, Beautiful Noise, and was his third number 1 on the Easy Listening chart, where it spent two weeks. "If You Know What I Mean" went to number 1 for two nonconsecutive weeks and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, the song reached number 19 on the pop singles chart and hit number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

<i>September Morn</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Neil Diamond

September Morn is the thirteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Released in 1979, the album includes a disco version of the Motown song "Dancing in the Street" and a remake of "I'm a Believer".

<i>Old Yellow Moon</i> 2013 studio album by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell

Old Yellow Moon is a collaborative album by American country music singer-songerwriters Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, released on February 26, 2013 in the United States by Nonesuch Records. It is the twenty-seventh and fourteenth studio album for Harris and Crowell, respectively, as well as Harris's fifth album for Nonesuch Records. The duo followed up this collaboration with The Traveling Kind two years later.

<i>Primitive</i> (Neil Diamond album) 1984 studio album by Neil Diamond

Primitive is the sixteenth studio album by Neil Diamond. It was released in 1984 on Columbia Records. Its singles "Turn Around", "Sleep With Me Tonight", and "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" reached numbers 4, 24, and 28, respectively on the Billboard Adult Contemporary singles chart, while "Turn Around" also reached number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on October 5, 1984.

<i>Dreams</i> (Neil Diamond album) 2010 studio album by Neil Diamond

Dreams is the thirty-first studio album by Neil Diamond. It was produced by Diamond and released by Columbia Records in 2010. The album contains cover versions of popular songs that Diamond claims in the liner notes are among his favorites. Among them is "I'm a Believer", which he wrote for The Monkees back in 1966. Dreams ranked at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>44/876</i> 2018 studio album by Sting and Shaggy

44/876 is a collaborative album by English musician Sting and Jamaican musician Shaggy. It was released on 20 April 2018 by A&M Records, Interscope Records and Cherrytree Records.

References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20171114143057/http://www.columbiarecords.com/timeline/#!date=1915-06-05_18:57:53!
  2. "Beautiful Noise - Neil Diamond - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  3. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: D". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 24, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  4. Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. p. 143. ISBN   1550227076 . Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  5. Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. p. 145. ISBN   1550227076 . Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  6. Currin, Brian. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs (A-B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  7. "INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20". Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  8. Hung, Steffen. "Neil Diamond - Beautiful Noise - swisscharts.com". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  9. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 27, 1976. p. 20. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  10. "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. November 27, 1976. p. 22. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 428. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  12. "Austriancharts.at – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  13. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4338a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  14. "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  16. "Charts.nz – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  18. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  19. "Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  20. "Jahreshitparade Alben 1976". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  21. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1976". Dutch Charts . Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  22. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  23. "Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  24. "Top 50 Albums of 1976" (PDF). Music Week . December 25, 1976. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021 via worldradiohistory.com.
  25. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment Charts . Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  26. 1 2 3 "More Diamond Gold" (PDF). Cash Box . July 24, 1976. p. 9. Retrieved November 15, 2021 via World Radio History.
  27. "Canadian album certifications – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Music Canada . Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  28. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Neil Diamond; 'Beautiful Noise')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  29. "Neil Diamond - 5x gold in New Zealand" (PDF). Cash box. August 21, 1976. p. 48. Retrieved December 2, 2019 via American Radio History.
  30. "British album certifications – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  31. "American album certifications – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 7, 2019.