Maps of Music

12 Songs (2005)

Where the lyrics of 12 Songs take you, and where it was really made.

The original pressing carried Sony's XCP copy protection, and by the following week the CD was pulled from stores.

Key places

Recorded at The Sound Factory (2005)

Recording site The Sound Factory — The Sound Factory in Hollywood is listed among the studios where 12 Songs was recorded. The point sits on the building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Arch Angel Studios (2005)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Arch Angel Studios in Los Angeles is listed among the 12 Songs recording studios. The point uses the city center because no building address is given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sound City Studios (2005)

Recording site Sound City Studios — Sound City Studios in Van Nuys is listed among the 12 Songs recording studios. The point uses the city center because no building address is given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• 12 Songs: 26th studio album by Neil Diamond
• First studio album since 2001's Three Chord Opera
• Produced by Rick Rubin
• Released 8 November 2005 on Columbia Records
• Original pressing copy-protected with Sony's XCP technology

Background

• Work began after the tour behind Three Chord Opera ended in 2002
• Diamond retreated to his Colorado cabin, was temporarily snowed in, and started writing new material
• Diamond met Rick Rubin soon after; the two met several times at each other's homes before entering the studio
• Rubin used Bang and early Uni albums as a springboard and encouraged a year of continued writing

Recording

• Rubin assembled musicians he had used on Johnny Cash's American Recordings, including Tom Petty sidemen Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench
• Rubin encouraged Diamond to play guitar himself in the studio
• The sessions were the last ever performance by organ player Billy Preston, who died in June 2006
• Mastering done at Sony Mastering in New York City

Cover

• Art direction and design by Reina Katzenberger
• Photography by Martin Atkins

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• American singer-songwriter born January 24, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York City, to a Jewish family.
• Began as a staff songwriter at Sunbeam Music Publishing and worked in the Brill Building in the 1960s.
• Wrote hits for others, including "I'm a Believer" and "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" recorded by the Monkees.
• Solo breakthrough with "Sweet Caroline" (1969), followed by "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Song Sung Blue", both No. 1 on the Hot 100.
• Live album Hot August Night (1972) recorded at the Greek Theater, Los Angeles.
• Starred in the 1980 remake The Jazz Singer and won a Razzie for Worst Actor.
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
• Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and stopped touring in 2018.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Described as one of Diamond's most successful and critically acclaimed studio albums in years
• Debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 album chart
• Rubin's influence extended to the tour that followed the album
• Tour arrangements of Diamond's classic songs were tougher-sounding, with the same longtime backing band
• Diamond played more guitar onstage than at any time since the Hot August Night era

Reappraisal

• Rubin later recalled that Columbia recalled the CD after lawsuits were filed over the spyware
• Rubin said the album never recovered from the recall, and Diamond was furious
• Rubin said he vowed never to make another album with Columbia

Records

• Billboard 200 debut: number 4
• Rubin called it the highest debut of Diamond's career
• By December 2005, Sony BMG had remastered and repressed the album as standard, non-copy-protected CDs

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The original pressing carried Sony's XCP copy protection, which automatically installed rootkit software on Windows machines when the disc was inserted.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation identified 12 Songs among the discs carrying the invasive software, though Sony refused to release a list.
• Rubin said that he and Diamond were not aware of XCP.
• Brian Wilson sings on the bonus track version of Delirious Love, included on the special edition.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact