Beautiful_Noise

<i>Beautiful Noise</i>

Beautiful Noise

1976 studio album by Neil Diamond

For other uses, see Beautiful Noise (disambiguation).

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.

Quick Facts Beautiful Noise, Studio album by Neil Diamond ...

Beautiful Noise

Studio album by

Neil Diamond

Released

June 11, 1976

Recorded

1975–1976

Studio

Shangri La Studio, Los Angeles; Kendun Recorders, Los Angeles; Village Recorders, Los Angeles

Genre

Folk pop
rock
R&B
soul

Length

37:40

Neil Diamond chronology

Serenade
(1974)

Beautiful Noise
(1976)

And the Singer Sings His Song
(1976)

Singles from Beautiful Noise

"If You Know What I Mean"
Released: June 1976

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C+^[2]

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.^[3] "Don't Think... Feel" reached No. 43 in the U.S. charts, while "Beautiful Noise" reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart,^[4] No. 7 in South Africa^[5] and No. 6 in the then West Germany.^[6] It also made it to No. 6 in Switzerland, No. 8 in Austria, No. 3 in the Netherlands and No. 6 in Flemish Belgium.^[7]

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."^[8] Record World said that "an accordion lends a distinct, atmospheric sound" to the track.^[9]

Track listing

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

More information No., Title ...

Side one
No.	Title	Length
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

More information No., Title ...

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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

Neil Diamond – vocals, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, dobro
Richard Bennett, Robbie Robertson, Jesse Ed Davis – guitar
Bob Boucher - bass guitar, ARP
Larry Knechtel – piano, Fender Rhodes
Alan Lindgren - piano, synthesizer
Dennis St. John – drums, percussion
David Paich – Fender Rhodes, piano
Garth Hudson – Hammond organ, Lowrey organ
Jim Keltner, Russ Kunkel – drums
Jim Gordon – drums, congas, harmony vocals
James Newton Howard – ARP, synthesizer
Joe Lala – percussion, tambourine, congas
Dr. John – Hammond organ
Bob James – piano, arrangement, Fender Rhodes
Tommy Morgan – harmonica
Bob Findley – trumpet
Jerome Richardson – flute, clarinet
Linda Press – backing vocals
Nick DeCaro – arrangements, accordion

Charts

More information Chart (1976), Peak position ...

Weekly charts

Chart (1976)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[10]	1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[11]	1
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[12]	5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[13]	1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[14]	1
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[15]	1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[16]	33
UK Albums (OCC)^[17]	10
US Billboard 200^[18]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1976)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[10]	5
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[19]	6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[20]	4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[21]	26
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[22]	4
UK Albums (OCC)^[23]	42
Chart (1977)	Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[24]	18

Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[25]	Gold	20,000^{^}
Canada (Music Canada)^[26]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
Germany (BVMI)^[27]	Gold	250,000^{^}
Netherlands (NVPI)^[25]	Gold	50,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[28]	5× Gold	37,500^{^}
South Africa (RISA)^[25]	Gold	25,000^*
United Kingdom (BPI)^[29]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[30]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[1]
"Beautiful Noise - Neil Diamond - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
[2]
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.
[3]
Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. p. 143. ISBN 1550227076. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
[4]
Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. p. 145. ISBN 1550227076. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
[5]
Currin, Brian. "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs (A-B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
[6]
"INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20". Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
[7]
Hung, Steffen. "Neil Diamond - Beautiful Noise - swisscharts.com". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
[8]
"CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 27, 1976. p. 20. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
[9]
"Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. November 27, 1976. p. 22. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
[10]
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.
[11]
"Austriancharts.at – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[12]
"Top RPM Albums: Issue 4338a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
[13]
"Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[14]
"Offiziellecharts.de – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[15]
"Charts.nz – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[16]
"Swedishcharts.com – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[17]
"Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[18]
"Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[19]
"Jahreshitparade Alben 1976". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[20]
"Jaaroverzichten – Album 1976". Dutch Charts. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[21]
"Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[22]
"Top Selling Albums of 1976 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[23]
"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.
[24]
"Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
[25]
"More Diamond Gold" (PDF). Cash Box. July 24, 1976. p. 9. Retrieved November 15, 2021 – via World Radio History.
[26]
"Canadian album certifications – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Music Canada. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
[27]
"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Neil Diamond; 'Beautiful Noise')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
[28]
"Neil Diamond - 5x gold in New Zealand" (PDF). Cash box. August 21, 1976. p. 48. Retrieved December 2, 2019 – via American Radio History.
[29]
"British album certifications – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
[30]
"American album certifications – Neil Diamond – Beautiful Noise". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 7, 2019.

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