"Diamonds" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan | ||||
B-side | "Footstomp" | |||
Released | 4 January 1963 | |||
Recorded | 23 November 1962 [1] | |||
Studio | Decca Studios, London | |||
Genre | Instrumental rock | |||
Length | 2:25 | |||
Label | Decca [2] | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jerry Lordan [2] | |||
Producer(s) | Tony Meehan | |||
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan singles chronology | ||||
|
"Diamonds" is an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan and first released as a single by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan in January 1963. It became a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top of the chart. [3]
In 1962, guitarist Jet Harris left the Shadows and was signed to Decca Records as a solo artist, releasing his debut hit single "Besame Mucho" in May 1962. Former Shadows' drummer Tony Meehan was working at Decca as a producer and suggested to Harris that they team up. He asked Jerry Lordan, writer of several hits for the Shadows ("Apache", "Wonderful Land" and "Atlantis"), for an instrumental with bass guitar and a drum solo, and he gave them "Diamonds". [4]
"Diamonds" was recorded on 23 November 1962 at Decca Studios. Harris detuned a Fender Jaguar electric guitar in order to hit much lower notes than an ordinary guitar. [1] [5] The recording session was the first to feature Jimmy Page, who played rhythm on an acoustic guitar. [6] It also features bass guitar by John Paul Jones, who along with Page would go onto form Led Zeppelin. [1]
It was released at the beginning of January 1963 with the B-side "Footstomp", written by Meehan. [7] "Footstomp" features lead vocals by Harris and harmony vocals by Meehan. It also features Joe Moretti on acoustic rhythm guitar, who would also play lead guitar on "Scarlett O'Hara" and "Applejack". [1]
7": Decca / F 11563
Chart (1963) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report) [8] | 14 |
Canada (CHUM) [9] | 22 |
Denmark (Danmarks Radio) [10] | 18 |
Ireland (IRMA) [11] | 1 |
New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [12] | 2 |
Norway (VG-lista) [13] | 3 |
Sweden (Kvällstoppen) [14] | 14 |
UK Singles (OCC) [3] | 1 |
The Tornados were an English instrumental rock group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and US No. 1 "Telstar", the first US No. 1 single by a British group. Today Dave Watts has his own version of the band.
Terence "Jet" Harris was an English rock and roll musician. He was the bass guitarist of the Shadows from 1958 until April 1962, and had subsequent success as a soloist and as a duo with the drummer Tony Meehan.
The Shadows were an English instrumental rock group, who dominated the British popular music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, in the pre-Beatles era. They served as the backing band for Cliff Richard from 1958 to 1968, and have joined him for several reunion tours.
Daniel Joseph Anthony Meehan, professionally known as Tony Meehan, was a founder member of the British group the Drifters, with Jet Harris, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch, which would evolve into the Shadows. He played drums on early Cliff Richard and the Shadows hits and on early Shadows instrumentals.
Richard Paul Brutton Rowe was a British music executive and record producer. He was head of A&R (Singles) at Decca Records from the 1950s to the 1970s, and produced many top-selling records during that period.
Jerry Lordan was an English songwriter, composer and singer. He had three hit singles on the UK Singles Chart before focusing purely on songwriting. Amongst his songwriting credits were the chart hits "I've Waited So Long", "Apache", "Wonderful Land", "Diamonds", and "A Girl Like You".
"Kon-Tiki" is an instrumental tune by British group the Shadows, released as a single in September 1961. It was the group's fifth hit and their second to top the UK Singles Chart.
"Wonderful Land" is an instrumental piece written by Jerry Lordan and first recorded and released as a single by The Shadows in February 1962. It stayed at number one for eight weeks on the UK Singles Chart, a feat only Elvis Presley, the Shadows and the Archies managed in the whole of the 1960s.
"A Girl Like You" is a song written by Jerry Lordan and recorded by Cliff Richard and the Shadows in June 1961. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
Louise Cordet is an English pop singer who also sang in French, best known as a one-hit wonder for her 1962 single, "I'm Just a Baby".
The Shadows to the Fore was an EP by The Shadows, released in May 1961. The EP was released as a 7-inch vinyl record in mono with the catalogue number Columbia SEG 8094. The Shadows to the Fore was the UK number-one EP for 28 weeks, having three separate stints at the top of the chart from June 1961 until May 1962.
The Shadows is an EP by The Shadows, released in January 1961. The EP is a 7-inch vinyl record and released in mono with the catalogue number Columbia SEG 8061 and in stereo with the catalogue number Columbia ESG 7834. The Shadows was the UK number-one EP for 20 weeks, having two separate stints at the top of the chart from January to June 1961. The cover photograph was taken by Angus McBean. The original picture showed Cliff together with the Shadows, however the layout for the EP was adapted and Cliff was replaced by yellow triangles.
Spotlight on The Shadows is an EP by The Shadows, released in February 1962. The EP is a 7-inch vinyl record and released in mono with the catalogue number Columbia SEG 8135. Spotlight on The Shadows was the UK number-one EP for 8 weeks, having two separate stints at the top of the chart from March to May 1962.
Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers were a British instrumental beat group in the early 1960s. Their biggest hit, "Can Can 62" reached the British singles chart in 1962. The group toured with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones before disbanding in 1966.
"Atlantis" is a rock music instrumental by British group the Shadows, released as a single in May 1963. It spent 17 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two for two weeks.
"Applejack" is an instrumental by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, released as a single in August 1963. It peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.
"The Savage" is a song by British group the Shadows, released as a single in November 1961. It peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Scarlett O'Hara" is an instrumental by Jerry Lordan, first released as a single in April 1963 by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
"The Frightened City" is a song by British group the Shadows, released as a single in April 1961. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Guitar Tango" is a song originally recorded in French in 1961 as "Guitare-Tango". It was written by Georges Liferman, Norman Maine and Jacques Plaint and there were versions recorded by Dario Moreno, Tino Rossi and Maya Casabianca. However, the song is best known for the instrumental version released the following year by British group the Shadows which peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.