Maps of Music

Headed for the Future (1986)

Where the lyrics of Headed for the Future take you, and where it was really made.

The album reached only number 20 on the US Billboard 200, yet its title track still climbed into the top 10 of the Adult Contemporary chart.

Key places

Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood (1986)

Recording site Ocean Way Recording — The album's studio credits list Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, California, as one of its recording studios. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Conway Studios, Hollywood (1986)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — Conway Studios in Hollywood is listed among the studios where this album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Soundcastle, Hollywood (1986)

Recording site Soundcastle — Soundcastle in Hollywood is listed as one of the recording studios used for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Bill Schnee Studios, North Hollywood (1986)

Recording site Larrabee Sound Studios — Bill Schnee Studios in North Hollywood, California, is listed as a recording studio for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Hitsville Recording Studios (1986)

Recording site Hitsville U.S.A. Studio A — Hitsville Recording Studios is listed among the recording studios credited for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Lion Share Studios, Los Angeles (1986)

Recording site Lion Share — Lion Share Studios in Los Angeles is listed among the recording studios credited for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Chartmaker Studios, Malibu (1986)

Recording site Bob Dylan's garage studio (Malibu) — Chartmaker Studios in Malibu, California, is listed as a recording studio for this album. The pin marks only the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Headed for the Future is the seventeenth studio album by Neil Diamond
• Released in March 1986 on Columbia Records
• Peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard 200
• Certified Gold in the US by the RIAA
• The title track reached the top 10 of the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart
• 'The Story of My Life' reached No. 11 on the same chart

Background

• This is the seventeenth studio album in Diamond's career
• Credited writers and producers include Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren, David Foster, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Maurice White and Stevie Wonder
• Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager co-wrote 'I'll See You on the Radio (Laura)' and 'Me Beside You' with Diamond
• Bobby Caldwell wrote 'Angel' and 'Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore'

Recording

• Recording took place at several studios in and around Los Angeles, including Ocean Way, Conway, Soundcastle, Bill Schnee, Lion Share, Chartmaker and Hitsville
• Mick Guzauski worked on recording and mixing
• Bernie Grundman mastered the album at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood, California
• Stevie Wonder played piano, synthesizers and drums and sang backing vocals on 'Lost in Hollywood', which he co-wrote with Diamond
• Herbie Hancock played a synthesizer solo on the same track

Cover

• David Kirschner handled art direction and design
• Herb Ritts took the photography

Sources: en.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

• Rick Shefchik of The Mercury News compared Diamond's way of making albums to a man slowly easing into a cold lake for a swim
• Shefchik wrote that Diamond seems reluctant to get started and unsure how to go about it at first
• According to Shefchik, once Diamond takes the plunge, his natural instincts take over

Records

• Headed for the Future peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard 200
• The title track reached the top 10 of the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart
• 'The Story of My Life' reached No. 11 on the same Adult Contemporary chart
• The album has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA
• It was released in March 1986 on Columbia Records as Diamond's seventeenth studio album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title track 'Headed for the Future' was written by Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley and Alan Lindgren, and it reached the top 10 of the Adult Contemporary chart.
• 'Lost in Hollywood' was written by Diamond and Stevie Wonder, and Wonder played piano, synthesizers and drums on it.
• Herbie Hancock played a synthesizer solo on 'Lost in Hollywood'.
• 'It Should Have Been Me' was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.
• Bobby Caldwell co-wrote 'Angel' with Steve Kipner and 'Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore' with William Meyers.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org

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