Maps of Music

Beautiful Noise (1976)

Where the lyrics of Beautiful Noise take you, and where it was really made.

The album's track "Dry Your Eyes" was performed with The Band at their farewell show, The Last Waltz, a concert filmed by Martin Scorsese.

Key places

Recorded at Shangri-La in Malibu (1976)

Recording site Shangri-La — Discogs credits list Shangri-La in Malibu, California as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at The Village Recorder (1976)

Recording site Village Recorders — Discogs credits also list The Village Recorder in Los Angeles as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Beautiful Noise: tenth album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond
• Released in 1976
• Diamond's third album with Columbia Records
• Produced by Robbie Robertson, known for his work with The Band
• Garth Hudson of The Band contributed organ to several songs on the album
• All tracks composed by Diamond, except "Dry Your Eyes" by Diamond and Robertson

Background

• Billed at release as something of a "comeback" album
• Marked a radical departure in production, style, arrangements and compositional diversity for Diamond
• Opened a new and highly productive phase of his recording and touring career
• Produced three singles: "If You Know What I Mean", "Don't Think... Feel", and the title track "Beautiful Noise"

Recording

• Discogs credits list Shangri-La in Malibu, California as a recording location
• The Village Recorder in Los Angeles also appears among the recording locations
• Kendun Recorders is credited for mixing and mastering

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

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

• Cash Box on the title song: "orchestration begins the tune as Diamond steps in with his well-known vocal style includes a revolving carousel organ."
• Record World: an accordion gives the track a distinct, atmospheric sound

Records

• Billboard 200: number 4
• "If You Know What I Mean": number 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart, number 11 on the US Hit Parade
• "Don't Think... Feel": number 43 on the US charts
• "Beautiful Noise": number 13 on the UK Singles Chart, number 7 in South Africa, number 6 in West Germany
• Also number 6 in Switzerland, number 8 in Austria, number 3 in the Netherlands, number 6 in Flemish Belgium

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "Dry Your Eyes" was performed with The Band at their farewell show The Last Waltz, later made into a 1978 documentary of the same title
• "Stargazer" drew attention in 2026 when it was used in the film Project Hail Mary
• "Dry Your Eyes" is the only track on the album not composed by Diamond alone, as it was co-written with Robertson

Sources: ko.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org

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