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Up On the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building (1993)

Where the lyrics of Up On the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building take you, and where it was really made.

Neil Diamond's Brill Building covers include a duet with Dolly Parton, and one track on the album lists Diamond himself among its writers: 'Ten Lonely Guys'.

Key places

Conway Studios, Hollywood (1993)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — The Discogs credits list Conway Studios as a place where the album was recorded. The same listing also credits Conway Studios for mixing. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Arch Angel Studios, Los Angeles (1993)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — The Discogs credits list Arch Angel Studios as one of the recording locations. The map point sits at the Los Angeles city center, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Air Lyndhurst Hall, London (1993)

Recording site Wild Bunch Studios (London) — The Discogs credits list Air Lyndhurst Hall as one of the recording locations. The map point sits at the London city center, not at the hall itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Up On the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building, released in 1993 on Columbia Records
• Cover album and the twenty-first studio album by Neil Diamond
• Re-makes of tracks associated with the Brill Building, where Diamond worked in the 1960s
• Includes a duet with Dolly Parton on the opening track
• Sixteen tracks in the album's listing
• Released 28 September 1993

Background

• Diamond had worked at the Brill Building in the 1960s, the source of the songs covered here
• Original songs were written by a range of writers, including Phil Spector, Carole King, Burt Bacharach and Jerry Leiber
• Duet with Mary's Danish on "Do Wah Diddy Diddy"

Recording

• Producer Peter Asher
• Recording and mixing credited to Frank Wolf
• Recording credited to Conway Studios, Arch Angel Studios and Air Lyndhurst Hall
• Mastering at Sterling Sound in New York City, credited to George Marino
• String arrangements and orchestra conducting by David Campbell
• Musicians include Robbie Buchanan on keyboards, Bob Glaub on bass and Carlos Vega on drums
• Gavyn Wright credited as concertmaster

Cover

• Cover photography by Eugene Adabari
• Art direction by David Kirschner
• Design by Jan Weinberg
• Illustration by William Dely

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

• Released 28 September 1993 on Columbia Records
• Cover album and Neil Diamond's twenty-first studio album
• Peter Asher credited with rhythm arrangements on most tracks
• David Campbell credited with orchestral arrangements and conducting on most tracks
• Backing vocals credited to a large group of singers across the tracks
• Diamond credited as a writer on 'Ten Lonely Guys'

Records

• Certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
• Duet with Dolly Parton on 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' and with Mary's Danish on 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy'
• Track listing covers songs first recorded by many different artists, linked to the Brill Building

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Dolly Parton sings on the opening track, 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'', and is credited with vocals on that track.
• Mary's Danish joins Diamond for a duet on 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy'.
• Diamond is one of the credited writers of 'Ten Lonely Guys', the only track with his name among the writers.
• Peter Asher produced the album, and Frank Wolf handled recording and mixing.
• Recording is credited to Conway Studios, Arch Angel Studios and Air Lyndhurst Hall, with mastering at Sterling Sound in New York.

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

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