Maps of Music

The Best Years of Our Lives (1988)

Where the lyrics of The Best Years of Our Lives take you, and where it was really made.

Cash Box called the title track 'not a terribly inspired tune', yet it reached number 7 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

Key places

Recorded at Lion Share Studios (1988)

Recording site Lion Share — Credited as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at The Village Recorder (1988)

Recording site Village Recorders — Credited as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at OmniSound Studios (1988)

Recording site OmniSound Studios — Credited as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Seacost Sound, Victoria (1988)

Recording site Seacost Sound — Credited as a recording location for the album. The point marks the city centre of Victoria, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Best Years of Our Lives: eighteenth studio album by Neil Diamond
• Released in 1988 by Columbia Records
• Reached number 46 on the Billboard 200, number 42 on the UK Album Chart, and number 92 on the Australian chart
• Certified gold by the RIAA on February 16, 1989

Background

• Three singles came from the album: the title track, 'This Time', and 'Baby Can I Hold You'
• The three singles reached numbers 7, 9, and 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart
• 'This Time' also reached number 17 on the Irish Singles Chart
• The album has eleven tracks

Recording

• David Foster produced the album and handled the arrangements
• Jeffrey 'Woody' Woodruff was chief recording engineer
• Recording locations credited: Lion Share Studios and The Village Recorder in Los Angeles, OmniSound Studios in Nashville, and Seacost Sound in Victoria
• George Marino mastered the album at Sterling Sound in New York City

Cover

• David Kirschner handled art direction and design
• Matthew Rolston did the photography

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.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 said of the title track that it was 'not a terribly inspired tune, but served up with predictable skill by Mr. D.'

Reappraisal

• Music critic Bryan Buss called the album 'a strong entry in Diamond's oeuvre' and 'an album that is romantic and sentimental without being manipulative'

Records

• Billboard 200: number 46
• UK Album Chart: number 42
• Australian chart: number 92
• Billboard Adult Contemporary: title track number 7, 'This Time' number 9, 'Baby Can I Hold You' number 28
• Irish Singles Chart: 'This Time' number 17
• RIAA gold certification, February 16, 1989

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

Trivia

• Three singles came from the album, and two of them charted on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart in the top ten.
• 'Baby Can I Hold You' is a Tracy Chapman song, credited on the track listing.
• 'Long Hard Climb' was co-written by Tom Hensley and Alan Lindgren.
• 'Hard Times for Lovers' was co-written with Hugh Prestwood.
• Cash Box called the title track 'not a terribly inspired tune', but praised its predictable skill.
• Mastering was done by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York City.

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

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