Maps of Music

Home Before Dark (2008)

Where the lyrics of Home Before Dark take you, and where it was really made.

At 67, Neil Diamond became the oldest performer to top the chart with a number one record, a mark that Bob Dylan later took back.

Key places

Recording at Arch Angel Studios (2008)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — The album was recorded in part at Arch Angel Studios in Los Angeles. This point is set at city level, not at the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Conway Studios in Hollywood (2008)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — The album was recorded at Conway Studios in Hollywood, one of the studios listed in the production credits. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Punkerpad West in Van Nuys (2008)

Recording site Sound City Studios — Part of the album was recorded at Punkerpad West in Van Nuys. This point is set at city level, not at the exact building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Home Before Dark is the 27th studio album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond
• Released in May 2008; Diamond's second album for American Recordings, also released on Columbia Records
• Re-released on 2 December 2014 by UMe
• Topped the national album charts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand
• Has been certified as an album in several regions since release

Background

• In May 2008, at 67, Diamond became the oldest performer to have a number one record
• The previous record was held by Bob Dylan in 2006 with Modern Times, released when he was 65
• Dylan's 2009 album Together Through Life regained the position; Dylan released it at 67 years and 11 months, while Diamond released Home Before Dark at 67 years and 3 months
• The album is Diamond's second produced by Rick Rubin, a producer known for hip-hop and heavy metal
• Rubin had revived the careers of Aerosmith and a string of albums by Johnny Cash
• After Cash's death, Diamond's career got a boost from Rubin's production on his 2005 album 12 Songs
• The album consists of original works and some remakes

Recording

• Mixed by Dana Nielsen at Little People Studio in Los Angeles
• Recorded by Greg Fidelman and Andrew Scheps, with additional recording by Bernie Becker, Jason Lader and Dana Nielsen
• Recorded at Arch Angel Studios, Conway Studios in Hollywood, and Punkerpad West in Van Nuys
• Mastered by Vlado Meller and Mark Santangelo at Universal Mastering Studios in New York
• The orchestral parts were arranged and conducted by David Campbell
• Natalie Maines sings lead on Another Day (That Time Forgot)

Sources: en.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

• Received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release
• Reviews stressed the album as a continuation of Diamond's late-career work with Rick Rubin

Records

• Topped the national album charts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand
• In May 2008, at 67, Diamond became the oldest performer to have a number one record
• Bob Dylan's 2009 album Together Through Life earned Dylan that position again
• Dylan released his most recent work at 67 years and 11 months, compared with Diamond's release of Home Before Dark at 67 years and 3 months
• Has since been accredited with album certifications in several regions

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Natalie Maines sings lead on Another Day (That Time Forgot), which is marked as a featured track.
• A second album from the Home Before Dark sessions, Wild at Heart, was released in May 2026.
• Rick Rubin is described as a producer of hip-hop and heavy metal music who had revived the careers of Aerosmith and Johnny Cash.
• Charlie Bisharat is credited as concertmaster on the album.
• The album was re-released in December 2014 by UMe, years after its original release.

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

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