Maps of Music

On the Way to the Sky (1981)

Where the lyrics of On the Way to the Sky take you, and where it was really made.

Neil Diamond's album sold less than its predecessor: The Jazz Singer had been certified 5× Platinum, while this record reached Platinum for one million shipped copies.

Key places

Record Plant, Los Angeles (1981)

Recording site Record Plant (Los Angeles) — The album's Wikipedia page lists Record Plant among the Los Angeles studios where the album was recorded. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Village Recorder, Los Angeles (1981)

Recording site Village Recorders — The album's Wikipedia page lists The Village Recorder among the Los Angeles studios where the album was recorded. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood (1981)

Recording site Sunset Sound — The album's Wikipedia page lists Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood among the studios where the album was recorded. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cherokee Studios, Hollywood (1981)

Recording site Cherokee Studios — The album's Wikipedia page lists Cherokee Studios in Hollywood among the studios where the album was recorded. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• On the Way to the Sky: fourteenth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in 1981
• Released 9 October 1981 by Columbia Records
• Eleven tracks in total: six on side A, five on side B
• Six tracks are written by Diamond alone; five list co-writers

Background

• Lead single 'Yesterday's Songs' reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart
• Title track peaked at number 27 in the US
• 'Be Mine Tonight' was the third single and also reached the Top 40
• Predecessor The Jazz Singer was certified 5× Platinum and reached number 3 on the albums chart

Recording

• Diamond produced the album; Dennis St. John served as co-producer
• Alan Lindgren was associate producer; Andy Bloch and Ron Hitchcock handled recording and mixing
• Mastering by Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab in Hollywood, California
• Lindgren and Tom Hensley played keyboards; Richard Bennett and Doug Rhone played guitars
• Recording locations in Los Angeles include Record Plant, The Village Recorder, Sunset Sound Recorders and Cherokee Studios

Cover

• Art direction and design by David Kirschner
• Photography by Kenneth McGowan

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.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 praised 'Be Mine Tonight' for its full production and the singer's unique charisma and delivery
• Billboard called the same track a bristling midtempo rocker with much of the energy and sass of 'America' or 'Longfellow Serenade'

Reappraisal

• Critical retrospective ratings were not included in the source material

Records

• 'Yesterday's Songs': number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100
• Title track: number 27 in the US
• 'Be Mine Tonight': Top 40, peaking at number 35
• Billboard 200: number 17
• RIAA certification: Platinum for one million shipped copies
• The album underperformed the previous year's 5× Platinum The Jazz Singer, which reached number 3 and produced three Billboard Top 10 hits

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

Trivia

• 'Be Mine Tonight' was the third single and peaked at number 35 while reaching the Top 40.
• 'Yesterday's Songs' peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.
• The album's Billboard 200 peak is listed as number 17.
• Recording was credited to studios in Los Angeles, including Record Plant, The Village Recorder, Sunset Sound Recorders and Cherokee Studios.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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