Maps of Music

You Don't Bring Me Flowers (1978)

Where the lyrics of You Don't Bring Me Flowers take you, and where it was really made.

A duet with Barbra Streisand gave this Neil Diamond album its title song, and that song had first appeared as a solo recording on his previous album.

Key places

Sunset Sound, Los Angeles (1978)

Recording site Sunset Sound — Sunset Sound in Los Angeles is listed as a recording location for this album. The point uses the building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

A&M Studios, Hollywood (1978)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — A&M Studios in Hollywood is listed as a recording location for this album. The point is placed at the Hollywood city centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles (1978)

Recording site Cherokee Studios — Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles is listed as a recording location for this album. The point uses the building coordinates. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Indigo Ranch, Malibu (1978)

Recording site Bob Dylan's garage studio (Malibu) — Indigo Ranch in Malibu is listed as a recording location for this album. The point is placed at the Malibu city centre, not the ranch itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• You Don't Bring Me Flowers: Neil Diamond's twelfth studio album
• Released in 1978 by Columbia Records (Spanish Wikipedia gives 3 November 1978)
• Built around the title song, a duet with Barbra Streisand
• Ten tracks in total, five on Side A and five on Side B
• Produced by Bob Gaudio
• Peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 (Italian Wikipedia)

Background

• The title song first appeared as a solo recording on Diamond's previous album, I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight
• The album was released to capitalize on the success of that song in its duet form
• The Barbra Streisand duet became the hit that gave this album its name

Recording

• Studios listed for the album: Sunset Sound, A&M Studios, Cherokee Studios and Indigo Ranch in Malibu
• The Neil Diamond Band plays on the record, with Dennis St. John on drums and Reinie Press on bass
• Richard Bennett plays acoustic and electric guitars; Tom Hensley plays piano and keyboards
• Alan Lindgren arranges and conducts the orchestra on five tracks, including the title song
• Tom Hensley arranges and conducts the orchestra on the other three orchestral tracks
• Bob Gaudio provides the vocal arrangements
• Background vocals include Maxine Willard Waters and Julia Tillman Waters, the latter courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

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 called the single "Say Maybe" a song with a slight country and western flavor
• Cash Box found Diamond's vocal entrancing and strong
• Record World praised the clever arrangement and full-bodied production of the album
• Record World said the production accentuates the lovely background vocal chorus

Reappraisal

• Cash Box and Record World reviewed the single "Say Maybe" rather than the album as a whole
• Both notices focus on the arrangement, the production and the vocal work

Records

• Billboard 200: peak number 4
• Released 3 November 1978 on Columbia Records (Spanish Wikipedia)
• Side A: American Popular Song (5:16), Forever in Blue Jeans (3:39), Remember Me (5:03), You've Got Your Troubles (3:53), You Don't Bring Me Flowers (3:17)
• Side B: The Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie (4:54), Mothers and Daughters, Fathers and Sons (4:11), Memphis Flyer (3:11), Say Maybe (4:07), Diamond Girls (3:36)
• Writers include Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Richard Bennett, Bob Gaudio and Alan and Marilyn Bergman

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

Trivia

• The title song originally appeared as a solo recording on the previous album I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight.
• The title song is the fifth and last track on Side A.
• Bob Gaudio produced the album and also arranged its vocals.
• Alan Lindgren arranged and conducted the orchestra on five tracks.
• The Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie lists Jack Fina as co-writer with Neil Diamond.

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

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