"Solitary Man" | ||||
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Single by Neil Diamond | ||||
from the album The Feel of Neil Diamond | ||||
B-side |
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Released | April 4, 1966 [1] | |||
Recorded | January 24, 1966 | |||
Genre | Rock, soft rock | |||
Length | 2:27 | |||
Label | BANG | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
Producer(s) | Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich | |||
Neil Diamond singles chronology | ||||
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"Solitary Man" is a song written by American musician Neil Diamond, who recorded the song for Bang Records in late January 1966. It has since been covered many times, notably by T. G. Sheppard, Gianni Morandi, Chris Isaak, Johnny Cash and HIM.
Recorded in late January 1966 and initially released on Bang Records in April 1966, "Solitary Man" was Diamond's debut single as a recording artist, having already had moderate (but accidental) success as a songwriter for other artists; their versions of the songs he had already written and composed were released before his own versions. [1] By July, the track had become a minor hit, rising to No. 55 on the U.S. pop singles chart. [1] It would then be included on Diamond's first album, The Feel of Neil Diamond, which he released in August 1966. [1]
The song is a "ballad of a loner looking for love." [2] The theme of the song has been closely identified with Diamond himself, as evinced by a 2008 profile in The Daily Telegraph : "This is the Solitary Man depicted on his first hit in 1966: the literate, thoughtful and melodically adventurous composer of songs that cover a vast array of moods and emotions..." [3]
In the lyrics, the singer lists some of his relationships and how they each ended. He laments "I know it's been done, having one girl who loves you." But he doubts it will happen for him. Indeed, Diamond himself would tell interviewers in the 2000s, "After four years of Freudian analysis, I realized I had written 'Solitary Man' about myself." [4]
After Diamond had renewed commercial success with Uni Records at the end of the decade, Bang Records re-released "Solitary Man" as a single and it reached No. 21 on the U.S. pop charts in the summer of 1970. [5] It also reached No. 6 on the Easy Listening chart. [6]
Billboard praised the "solid dance beat and excellent production backing." [2] Record World said that the "acoustic backing is just right for [Diamond] to get another ride to the top of the charts." [7]
Diamond originally recorded two versions of the song, as he later did with "Cherry, Cherry." The one version had his harmonic vocal track on the refrain of the song, along with accompaniment by a wordless female chorus. The other version was him singing the song alone, without his prerecorded harmony or the female chorus.[ citation needed ]
In a 2005 Rolling Stone retrospective, Dan Epstein wrote, "'Solitary Man' remains the most brilliantly efficient song in the Diamond collection. There's not a wasted word or chord in this two-and-a-half minute anthem of heartbreak and self-affirmation, which introduced the melancholy loner persona that he's repeatedly returned to throughout his career." [8]
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"Solitary Man" | ||||
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Single by T.G. Sheppard | ||||
from the album Solitary Man | ||||
B-side | "Shame" | |||
Released | May 29, 1976 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:39 | |||
Label | Hitsville | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
T.G. Sheppard singles chronology | ||||
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In 1976, T. G. Sheppard released a cover version for Hitsville Records, a country-focused sub-label of Motown Records. It went to No. 14 on the U.S. country music chart (Hot Country Songs) and No. 100 on the Hot 100. The song charted best on the Canadian country chart, at No. 11. It was also a hit on the Easy Listening charts of both nations.
Italian singer Gianni Morandi recorded a cover version titled "Se perdo anche te" ("If I Also Lose You"). The author of the Italian lyrics was Franco Migliacci, who was Morandi's producer at that time. "Se perdo anche te" spent ten weeks on the Italian pop chart in 1967, peaking at No. 1 for one week. [15] The song was arranged by Ennio Morricone, who at that time conducted many tunes published by the Italian branch of the RCA Victor Records label.[ citation needed ]
"Solitary Man" | ||||
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Single by Chris Isaak | ||||
from the album San Francisco Days | ||||
B-side | "Wicked Game" | |||
Released | 1993 | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 2:37 | |||
Label | Reprise | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
Chris Isaak singles chronology | ||||
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Chris Isaak included "Solitary Man" as the only cover song on his 1993 album San Francisco Days. The music video for Isaak's version of the song was directed by Larry Clark. Isaak said that he chose the song because his mother was a fan of Diamond, and he liked the song's lyrics, especially the clever rhymes. Isaak noted that Diamond's version has a horn section playing in a manner reminiscent of the 1968 television series Hawaii Five-O . [16]
"Solitary Man" | |
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Song by Johnny Cash | |
from the album American III: Solitary Man | |
Language | English |
Released | October 17, 2000 |
Genre | Country |
Length | 2:26 |
Label | American Recordings |
Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond |
Producer(s) | John Carter Cash, Rick Rubin |
Johnny Cash used "Solitary Man" for the title track of his third album under the American Recordings label, American III: Solitary Man , in 2000, featuring guest backing vocals by Tom Petty. The recording received a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.
"Solitary Man" | ||||
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Single by HIM | ||||
from the album And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004 | ||||
Released | March 1, 2004 [17] | |||
Length | 3:36 | |||
Label | BMG Finland, RCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
Producer(s) | HIM | |||
HIM singles chronology | ||||
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In 2004, Finnish band HIM covered "Solitary Man" for their first compilation album, And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004. It was released as a single, and Bam Margera produced a music video created for it. This cover peaked at No. 2 in Finland and became HIM's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart
Finnish and European version
UK DVD single
UK CD single
UK 7-inch vinyl
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
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Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [17] | 45 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [18] | 2 |
Germany (Official German Charts) [19] | 17 |
Scotland (OCC) [20] | 13 |
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [21] | 37 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [22] | 40 |
UK Singles (OCC) [23] | 9 |
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [24] | 2 |
"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" is a Motown song written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Janie Bradford. The song was first recorded by The Temptations as a track on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready. Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the recording, which was produced by Whitfield. Jimmy Ruffin also recorded a version with The Temptations providing background vocals in 1966. It remained unreleased until 1997.
"I'm a Believer" is a song written by Neil Diamond and recorded by American band the Monkees in 1966 with the lead vocals by Micky Dolenz. The single, produced by Jeff Barry, hit the number-one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending December 31, 1966, and remained there for seven weeks becoming the last number-one hit of 1966 and the biggest-selling single for all of 1967. Billboard ranked the record as the number-five song for 1967. While originally published by Screen Gems-Columbia Music (BMI), it is now published by Stonebridge Music/EMI Foray Music (SESAC), with administration passed to Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group.
"Red Red Wine" is a song originally written, performed and recorded by American singer Neil Diamond in 1967 that appears on his second studio album, Just for You. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a person who finds that drinking red wine is the only way to forget his woes.
"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" is a hit single recorded by Jimmy Ruffin and released on Motown Records' Soul label in the summer of 1966. It is a ballad, with lead singer Jimmy Ruffin recalling the pain that befalls the broken-hearted who had love that's now departed. The song essentially deals with the struggle to overcome sadness while seeking a new relationship after a breakup.
"Laughter in the Rain" is a song composed and recorded by Neil Sedaka, with lyrics by Phil Cody. It includes a 20-second saxophone solo by Jim Horn. The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1975.
"Signs" is a song by the Canadian rock group Five Man Electrical Band. It was written by the band's frontman, Les Emmerson, and popularized the relatively unknown band, who recorded it for their true first album, Good-byes and Butterflies, in 1970. The LP "Five Man Electrical Band" had begun as a Staccatos album with Brian Rading, the band's bassist suggesting the band's new name from the song title.
"America" is a song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond, released in 1980 on the soundtrack album of Diamond's film The Jazz Singer. The song was a hit single in the United States in 1981, reaching number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and was Diamond's sixth number one on the Adult Contemporary chart. Billboard also rated it the #62 pop single overall for 1981. Although the single version was a studio recording, overdubs of crowd cheering simulate the feel of a live performance.
"Go Away Little Girl" is a popular song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first recorded by Bobby Vee for Liberty Records on March 28, 1962. The lyrics consist of a young man asking a young attractive woman to stay away from him, so that he will not be tempted to betray his steady girlfriend by kissing her. The song is notable for making the American Top 20 three times: for Steve Lawrence in 1963, for The Happenings in 1966, and for Donny Osmond in 1971. It is also the first song, and one of only nine, to reach US number 1 by two different artists. Also notable in each of the solo versions is the similar double-tracked treatment of the singer's voice.
"Kentucky Woman" is a 1967 song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond.
"Longfellow Serenade" is the title of a 1974 song by the American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. It was written by Diamond, produced by Tom Catalano, and included on Diamond's album Serenade.
"Lonely Night (Angel Face)" is a song written by Neil Sedaka. The song was first recorded by Sedaka and appeared as a track on his 1975 studio album, The Hungry Years. The following year the song was made popular when covered by the pop music duo Captain & Tennille, who took their version to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"We'll Sing in the Sunshine" is a 1964 hit song written and recorded by Gale Garnett which reached No. 2 in Canada, and No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending 17 October 1964. It also enjoyed success on easy listening and country music radio stations, spending seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and No. 42 on the country chart. The Cash Box Top 100 ranked "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" at No. 1 for the week of 31 October 1964, and it also reached No. 1 in Garnett's native New Zealand that November. In Australia, "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" afforded Garnett a Top Ten hit with a No. 10 peak in October 1964. Garnett's sole Top 40 hit, "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" won the Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording in 1965.
"I Am... I Said" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond. Released as a single on March 15, 1971, it was quite successful, at first slowly climbing the charts and then more quickly rising to number 4 on the U.S. pop singles chart by May 1971. It fared similarly across the Atlantic, reaching number 4 on the UK pop singles chart as well.
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"Crying Time" is a song from 1964 written and originally recorded by the American country music artist Buck Owens. It gained greater success in the version recorded by Ray Charles, which won two Grammy Awards in 1967. Numerous other cover versions have been performed and recorded over the intervening years.
"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.
"Sunflower" is a song written by Neil Diamond and recorded by American country music singer Glen Campbell. It was released in June 1977 as the second single from Campbell's 1977 album, Southern Nights. "Sunflower" was the last of eight number ones on the Easy Listening chart for Campbell. The single spent one week at number one and peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Sunflower" peaked at number four on the US country chart.
"Love on the Rocks" is a song written by Neil Diamond and Gilbert Bécaud that appeared in the 1980 movie The Jazz Singer and was performed by Diamond on the soundtrack album to the film. It was also released as a single and reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in January 1981. The song also made it to #3 on Billboard's US Adult Contemporary chart. Billboard rated it as the #26 pop single overall for 1981. It performed less well in the UK, reaching only #17.
"C'era un ragazzo che come me amava i Beatles e i Rolling Stones" is a song composed by Mauro Lusini and Franco Migliacci, and performed by Gianni Morandi. The song premiered at the third Festival delle Rose, in which Morandi presented the song in couple with the author Lusini. A protest ballad against the Vietnam War, it was censored by RAI television and radio for being polemic towards the policies of an allied state. The B-side of the single is "Se perdo anche te", a cover of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man". Both songs are arranged by Ennio Morricone.
"Don't Throw It All Away" is a song written by British musician Gary Benson and first released by the Shadows on their 1975 album Specs Appeal. Benson released his version as a single later the same year, which reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart in the fall of 1975.