Maps of Music

Three Chord Opera (2001)

Where the lyrics of Three Chord Opera take you, and where it was really made.

Diamond's 25th studio album was written entirely by him, the first such album since 1974's Serenade.

Key places

Recorded at Sony Pictures Studios (2001)

Recording site Sony Pictures Studios — Credits list Sony Pictures Studios as a recording location for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Arch Angel Studios (2001)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Credits list Arch Angel Studios as a recording location for the album, placed at the city centre of Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Three Chord Opera is the 25th studio album by Neil Diamond
• Released 24 July 2001 by Columbia Records
• First album since 1974's Serenade to contain only original material written solely by Diamond
• First album of original songs since 1996's country-themed Tennessee Moon, where he co-wrote all but one song
• Every track is credited to Neil Diamond as songwriter

Background

• I Believe in Happy Endings was written by Diamond for the 2001 comedy Saving Silverman
• Diamond made a cameo appearance in Saving Silverman
• The song is included on this album
• Peter Asher is credited as producer of the album
• Alan Lindgren produced most tracks and also arranged the orchestral parts

Recording

• Recorded at Arch Angel Studios and Sony Pictures Studios
• Mixed at Conway Studios in Hollywood
• Mastered at Bernie Becker Mastering in Van Nuys, California
• Bernie Becker is credited with recording, mixing and mastering
• Alan Lindgren wrote the orchestral arrangements for tracks 1, 3, 5 and 9 and conducted them
• Assa Drori served as concertmaster
• Tower of Power horns appear on A Mission of Love
• A string quartet plays on You Are the Best Part of Me
• Neil Diamond sings on the album and is credited as vocalist

Cover

• Photography by Rocky Schenck
• Art direction by Gabrielle Raumberger
• Design by Samantha Ahdoot
• Styling by Bill Whitten, hair by Jerry Kearns, make-up by Darla Albright

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.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

• Released in 2001 as Neil Diamond's 25th studio album
• First album since 1974's Serenade made solely of original material written solely by Diamond
• The previous album of original songs was 1996's country-themed Tennessee Moon, where he co-wrote all but one song
• I Believe in Happy Endings was written for the comedy Saving Silverman, in which Diamond appeared
• Peter Asher is credited as producer, and Alan Lindgren produced most tracks
• Diamond sings on the album and is credited as vocalist
• Hadley Hockensmith plays guitars on several tracks
• Reinie Press plays bass on most tracks
• Ron Tutt and Russ Kunkel share the drum parts
• Tom Hensley plays acoustic piano on several tracks

Records

• The album reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart
• You are the Best Part of Me reached No. 28 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart
• Columbia Records released the album on 24 July 2001

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• I Believe in Happy Endings was written for the 2001 comedy Saving Silverman, in which Diamond made a cameo.
• Tower of Power horns play on A Mission of Love.
• A string quartet plays on You Are the Best Part of Me.
• Mixing took place at Conway Studios in Hollywood, and mastering at Bernie Becker Mastering in Van Nuys, California.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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