The Jazz Singer (soundtrack)

Last updated
The Jazz Singer
TheJazzSingerNeilDiamondalbumcover.png
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedNovember 10, 1980
Recorded1980
Genre Pop, rock
Length40:11
Label Capitol (original and 2014 reissue)
Columbia (1996 reissue)
Producer Bob Gaudio
Neil Diamond chronology
September Morn
(1979)
The Jazz Singer
(1980)
On the Way to the Sky
(1981)
Singles from The Jazz Singer soundtrack
  1. "Love on the Rocks"
    Released: October 1980
  2. "Hello Again"
    Released: January 1981
  3. "America"
    Released: April 1981
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

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. [2]

Contents

The film's reviews were negative, earning Diamond the first Razzie for Worst Actor at the 1st Golden Raspberry Awards, but made a modest profit at the box office, grossing almost double its budget. However, its soundtrack was a huge success and became Neil Diamond's biggest selling album in the United States, selling over 5 million copies there and reaching #3 on the pop albums chart. This would mark the second time a Neil Diamond soundtrack outperformed the movie from which it came (after Jonathan Livingston Seagull ). Three songs from the album became top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with "Love on the Rocks", "Hello Again" and "America" reaching Nos. 2, 6, and 8, respectively.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."America"Neil Diamond4:18
2."Adon Olom"Traditional0:32
3."You Baby"Neil Diamond3:01
4."Love on the Rocks"Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud 3:40
5."Amazed and Confused"Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett2:53
6."On the Robert E. Lee"Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud2:03
7."Summerlove"Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud3:17
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hello Again"Neil Diamond, Alan Lindgren4:04
2."Acapulco"Neil Diamond, Doug Rhone2:48
3."Hey Louise"Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud3:00
4."Songs of Life"Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud3:32
5."Jerusalem"Neil Diamond3:03
6."Kol Nidre/My Name Is Yussel"Traditional; adapted by Neil Diamond, Uri Frenkel/Neil Diamond1:38
7."America (Reprise)"Neil Diamond2:22

Charts

Chart (1980-1981)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [3] 10
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [4] 7
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [5] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [6] 40
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [7] 51
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [8] 24
UK Albums (OCC) [9] 3
US Billboard 200 [10] 3

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) [11] Gold25,000*
Canada (Music Canada) [12] 3× Platinum300,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong) [13] Gold10,000*
South Africa (RISA) [14] 2× Platinum100,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [15] Platinum300,000*
United States (RIAA) [16] 5× Platinum5,000,000^

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

Personnel

Production

Notes

  1. The Jazz Singer at AllMusic
  2. "The Jazz Singer".
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 283. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  4. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0287". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  5. "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Neil Diamond – The Jazz Singer" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack / Neil Diamond – The Jazz Singer" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  7. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  8. "Charts.nz – Soundtrack / Neil Diamond – The Jazz Singer". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  9. "Neil Diamond | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  10. "Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  11. "Austrian album certifications – Neil Diamond – Jazz Singer" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  12. "Canadian album certifications – Neil Diamond – The Jazz Singer". Music Canada . Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  13. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1981". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  14. "Diamond And Precious Metals" (PDF). Cash Box. April 11, 1981. p. 33 via American Radio History.
  15. "British album certifications – Neil Diamond – The Jazz Singer - Ost". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  16. "American album certifications – Neil Diamond – The Jazz Singer (Soundtrack)". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved March 8, 2019.

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