"Solitary Man"is a song written by American musicianNeil Diamond,who recorded the song forBang Recordsin late January 1966. It has since been covered many times, notably byT. G. Sheppard,Gianni Morandi,Chris Isaak,Johnny CashandHIM.
| "Solitary Man" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover to 1970 re-release | ||||
| SinglebyNeil Diamond | ||||
| from the albumThe Feel of Neil Diamond | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| 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 Diamondsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
History
editRecorded in late January 1966 and initially released onBang Recordsin 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 hisownversions.[1]By July, the track had become a minor hit, rising to No. 55 on theU.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 inThe 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 ofFreudian analysis,I realized I had written 'Solitary Man' aboutmyself."[4]
After Diamond had renewed commercial success withUni Recordsat 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]
Billboardpraised the "solid dance beat and excellent production backing."[2]Record Worldsaid 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 2005Rolling Stoneretrospective, 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]
Chart history
editNotable cover versions
editT. G. Sheppard version
edit| "Solitary Man" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SinglebyT.G. Sheppard | ||||
| from the albumSolitary Man | ||||
| B-side | "Shame" | |||
| Released | May 29, 1976 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 2:39 | |||
| Label | Hitsville | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
| T.G. Sheppardsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 1976,T. G. Sheppardreleased a cover version for Hitsville Records, a country-focused sub-label ofMotown 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.
Gianni Morandi version
editItalian singerGianni Morandirecorded a cover version titled "Se perdo anche te" ( "If I Also Lose You" ). The author of the Italian lyrics wasFranco 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 byEnnio Morricone,who at that time conducted many tunes published by the Italian branch of theRCA VictorRecords label.[citation needed]
Chris Isaak version
edit| "Solitary Man" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyChris Isaak | ||||
| from the albumSan Francisco Days | ||||
| B-side | "Wicked Game" | |||
| Released | 1993 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 2:37 | |||
| Label | Reprise | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Neil Diamond | |||
| Chris Isaaksingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Chris Isaakincluded "Solitary Man" as the only cover song on his 1993 albumSan Francisco Days.The music video for Isaak's version of the song was directed byLarry 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 ahorn sectionplaying in a manner reminiscent of the 1968 television seriesHawaii Five-O.[16]
Johnny Cash version
edit| "Solitary Man" | |
|---|---|
| SongbyJohnny Cash | |
| from the albumAmerican 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 Cashused "Solitary Man" for the title track of his third album under theAmerican Recordingslabel,American III: Solitary Man,in2000,featuring guest backing vocals byTom Petty.The recording received aGrammy AwardforBest Male Country Vocal Performance.
HIM version
edit| "Solitary Man" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| SinglebyHIM | ||||
| from the albumAnd 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 | |||
| HIMsingles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 2004, Finnish bandHIMcovered "Solitary Man" for their first compilation album,And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004.It was released as a single, andBam Margeraproduced 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 theUK Singles Chart
Track listings
editFinnish and European version
- "Solitary Man" – 3:38
- "Please Don't Let It Go" (live) – 3:14
- "Join Me in Death"(live) – 4:59
- "Website extras included as Enhanced CD content"
UK DVD single
- "Solitary Man" (video) – 3:36
- "Right Here in My Arms"(video) – 3:30
- Bam Margera's making of Buried Alive By Love "– 1:58
- Pandora's slideshow – 4:00
- "Your Sweet 666"(audio—live 2003) – 4:40
UK CD single
- "Solitary Man"
- "Please Don't Let it Go" (punk rock version—live 2003)
UK 7-inch vinyl
- "Solitary Man"
- (EtchedB-side contains no music)
Charts
edit| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] | 45 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] | 2 |
| Germany (GfK)[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 |
References
edit- ^abcdWilliam Ruhlmann."Neil Diamond: Biography".Allmusic.RetrievedApril 30,2008.
- ^ab"Spotlight Singles"(PDF).Billboard.April 16, 1966. p. 18.RetrievedMarch 4,2021.
- ^Neil McCormick (March 5, 2008)."Neil Diamond: the hurt, the dirt, the shirts".The Daily Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon May 3, 2008.RetrievedMay 2,2008.
- ^Pete Paphides (April 7, 2006)."I'll be what I am. A solitary man".The Times.RetrievedMay 8,2008.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(1983).The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955 to present.Billboard Publications.ISBN0-8230-7511-7.p. 88.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(1993).Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993.Record Research. p. 72.
- ^"Single Picks of the Week"(PDF).Record World.July 4, 1970. p. 1.RetrievedApril 26,2023.
- ^Dan Epstein (November 3, 2005)."Neil Diamond's Jewels".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2008.RetrievedMay 8,2008.
- ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".Collectionscanada.gc.ca.July 18, 1966.RetrievedApril 4,2017.
- ^abJoel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990-ISBN0-89820-089-X
- ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".Collectionscanada.gc.ca.September 19, 1970.RetrievedApril 4,2017.
- ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".Collectionscanada.gc.ca.August 14, 1976.RetrievedOctober 28,2018.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(1993).Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993.Record Research. p. 72.
- ^Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 19, 1971[permanent dead link]
- ^Musica e dischiItalian music chart. (In Italian.) Search for "se perdo anche te" under tipo = singoli.
- ^Cronin, Peter (June 12, 1993)."Music Publishing: 'They're Playing My Song'".Billboard.Vol. 105, no. 24. p. 17.ISSN0006-2510.
- ^ab"HIM – Solitary Man "(in German).Ö3 Austria Top 40.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^"HIM: Solitary Man "(in Finnish).Musiikkituottajat.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^"HIM – Solitary Man "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^"HIM – Solitary Man ".Singles Top 100.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^"HIM – Solitary Man ".Swiss Singles Chart.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ^"Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40".Official Charts Company.Retrieved January 15, 2022.
