The Best Years of Our Lives (Neil Diamond album)

Last updated
The Best Years of Our Lives
Neil Diamond The Best Years of Our Lives.jpg
Studio album by
Released13 December 1988
Studio
Genre Adult contemporary
Length44:44
Label Columbia
Producer David Foster
Neil Diamond chronology
Hot August Night II
(1987)
The Best Years of Our Lives
(1988)
Lovescape
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The Best Years of Our Lives is the eighteenth studio album by Neil Diamond. It was released by Columbia Records in 1988 and reached number 46 on the Billboard 200 chart, number 42 on the UK album chart, and number 92 on the Australian chart. [2] The album was certified gold by the RIAA on February 16, 1989. [3] In his review of The Best Years of Our Lives music critic Bryan Buss referred to it as "a strong entry in Diamond's oeuvre" and as "an album that is romantic and sentimental without being manipulative". [4]

Contents

Three singles from the album, the title track, "This Time", and "Baby Can I Hold You" reached numbers 7, 9, and 28, respectively on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. [4] "This Time" also reached #17 on the Irish Singles Chart. [5] Cash Box said of the title track that it was "not a terribly inspired tune, but served up with predictable skill by Mr. D." [6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Best Years of Our Lives" Neil Diamond 4:00
2."Hard Times for Lovers"Neil Diamond4:25
3."This Time"Neil Diamond, David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock3:57
4."Everything's Gonna Be Fine"Neil Diamond, Weldon Dean Parks 3:59
5."Hooked on the Memory of You"Neil Diamond3:53
6."Take Care of Me"Neil Diamond, David Foster3:39
7."Baby Can I Hold You" Tracy Chapman 3:55
8."Carmelita's Eyes"Neil Diamond, David Foster4:05
9."Courtin' Disaster"Neil Diamond, David Foster4:32
10."If I Couldn't See You Again"Neil Diamond4:02
11."Long Hard Climb"Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren4:42

Personnel

Production

Charts

Chart (1988-1989)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [7] 92
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [8] 43
UK Albums (OCC) [9] 42
US Billboard 200 [10] 46

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [11] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Michael Bublé</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé is the record label debut studio album by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. It was released on 143 Records and Reprise Records. The album was released on February 11, 2003. The album spawned four singles: "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart", "Kissing a Fool", "Sway" and "Spider-Man Theme".

<i>Chicago 16</i> 1982 studio album by Chicago

Chicago 16 is the thirteenth studio album by the American rock band Chicago, released on June 7, 1982. It is considered their "comeback" album because it was their first album to go platinum since 1978's Hot Streets. It made it into the Billboard 200 top ten, and produced their second number one single in the United States, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry". The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in August, 1982, two months after its release, and platinum in December, 1982. "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

<i>Chicago 17</i> 1984 studio album by Chicago

Chicago 17 is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Chicago, released on May 14, 1984. It was the group's second release for Full Moon/Warner Bros. Records, their second album to be produced by David Foster and their last with founding bassist/vocalist Peter Cetera. As of 2023, it remains Chicago's best-selling album, with over 6.1 million units being sold in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Four singles were released from the album, all of which peaked in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The success of the music videos for "Stay the Night", "You're the Inspiration", and "Hard Habit to Break" on MTV propelled Chicago 17 to achieve an RIAA certification of six times platinum.

<i>Its Time</i> (Michael Bublé album) 2005 studio album by Michael Bublé

It's Time is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. It was released on February 8, 2005, by 143 Records and Reprise Records. With arrangements by David Foster, the album contains cover versions of songs from traditional contemporary pop: George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Stevie Wonder, and The Beatles, as well as the original song "Home", which was co-written by Bublé.

<i>12 Songs</i> (Neil Diamond album) 2005 studio album by Neil Diamond

12 Songs is the twenty-sixth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in 2005. It was his first studio album since 2001's Three Chord Opera. It was produced by Rick Rubin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">After the Love Has Gone</span> 1979 single by Earth, Wind & Fire

"After the Love Has Gone" is a single by Earth, Wind & Fire released in 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The song reached No. 2 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, No. 4 on the UK Pop Singles chart, and No. 3 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart. "After the Love Has Gone" was certified gold in the US by the RIAA and silver in the UK by the BPI.

<i>The Jazz Singer</i> (soundtrack) 1980 soundtrack album by Neil Diamond

The Jazz Singer is an album by Neil Diamond from 1980, which served as the soundtrack album to the 1980 remake of the film The Jazz Singer. The soundtrack was released in November 1980 originally on Capitol Records, instead of his then-usual Columbia Records, because the film was produced by EMI Films, owned by the parent company of the label for which the soundtrack was released. The soundtrack was re-released in February 1996 on Columbia Records in the United States and Sony elsewhere. After Diamond signed with Capitol Records, this album was reissued by Capitol globally in 2014.

<i>Some Peoples Lives</i> 1990 studio album by Bette Midler

Some People's Lives is the seventh studio album by American singer Bette Midler. It was released by Atlantic Records on September 4, 1990, in the United States. It contains one of her biggest hits, "From a Distance," which won songwriter Julie Gold a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1991.

<i>Call Me Irresponsible</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Michael Bublé

Call Me Irresponsible is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. Released on May 1, 2007 via 143 and Reprise Records, it was produced by David Foster, Humberto Gatica, and Bob Rock. The album features renditions of classic traditional pop songs, including the title track "Call Me Irresponsible", "'Always on My Mind", and "Comin' Home Baby" featuring Boyz II Men. Two original tracks were written for the album, "Everything" and "Lost", both of which were co-written by Bublé.

<i>The Broadway Album</i> 1985 studio album by Barbra Streisand

The Broadway Album is the twenty-fourth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released by Columbia Records on November 4, 1985. Consisting mainly of classic show tunes, the album marked a major shift in Streisand's career. She had spent ten years appearing in musicals and singing standards on her albums in the 1960s. Beginning with the album Stoney End in 1971 and ending with the album Emotion in 1984, Streisand sang mostly rock, pop, folk, and disco-oriented songs for Columbia records. Noted Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim personally penned additional lyrics for the songs "Putting It Together" and "Send in the Clowns" on request of the singer. The album, originally released on the Columbia label and subsequently re-released by Columbia and Sony Records, was a critical and commercial success. First certified gold by the RIAA on January 13, 1986, it reached four times platinum on January 31, 1995.

<i>Home Before Dark</i> 2008 studio album by Neil Diamond

Home Before Dark is the twenty-seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Released on May 5, 2008, it was the artist's second album for American Recordings.

<i>Three Chord Opera</i> 2001 studio album by Neil Diamond

Three Chord Opera is the twenty-fifth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in 2001. It marked the first album since 1974's Serenade to consist solely of original material written solely by Diamond, and the first album of any original songs since 1996's country-themed Tennessee Moon where he co-wrote all but one of the songs.

<i>Breakin Away</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Al Jarreau

Breakin' Away is an album by Al Jarreau, released on June 30, 1981, through the Warner Bros. Records label. To quote AllMusic, "Breakin' Away became the standard bearer of the L.A. pop and R&B sound."

<i>Melody Road</i> 2014 studio album by Neil Diamond

Melody Road is Neil Diamond's 32nd studio album, and first album of original music recorded since 2008's well-received Home Before Dark, which debuted on the US album charts at #1. It was produced by Don Was and Jacknife Lee.

<i>The Christmas Album</i> (Neil Diamond album) 1992 studio album by Neil Diamond

The Christmas Album is the twentieth studio album by Neil Diamond and his first to feature Christmas music. It features orchestral and choir arrangements by David Campbell. The album reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart, No. 50 on the UK album sales chart, and No. 30 on Australian music chart.

<i>Headed for the Future</i> 1986 studio album by Neil Diamond

Headed for the Future is the seventeenth studio album released by Neil Diamond in March 1986 on Columbia Records. The album went to number 20 on the US Billboard 200. Headed for the Future has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<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.

<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>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.

References

  1. Allmusic review
  2. Sources:
    • Diamond, Neil. "Neil Diamond Billboard 200" . Retrieved March 4, 2014.
    • "Neil Diamond | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
    • Steffen Hung. "Discography Neil Diamond". australian-charts.com. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  3. "The Best Years of Our Lives" . Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Buss, Bryan. The Best Years of Our Lives at AllMusic . Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  5. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  6. "Top of the Pops" (PDF). Cash Box. April 22, 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 . St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Diamond – The Best Years of Our Lives" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  9. "Neil Diamond | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  10. "Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  11. "American album certifications – Neil Diamond – The Best Years of Our Lives". Recording Industry Association of America.