Trip down memory lane: Neil Diamond classics

Legendary singer, songwriter, and musician Neil Diamond is 79!

Diamond was born on 24 January 1941 in Brooklyn, New York.

He is one of the best-selling musicians of all time and has enjoyed a successful musical career since the 1960s.

He was signed under Columbia Records as a solo performer in 1962 and since then has been releasing hit after hit.

Here are our favourite songs from the legend. 

I’m A Believer

One his biggest songs in the 1960s was 'I'm A Believer'. The song went gold within two days of its release and stayed at the top of the charts for seven weeks.

Sweet Caroline

The song was released in 1969. It is found on the album ‘Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show’. It was such a hit that the New York Rangers adapted it as their own, while many other sports teams play the song as their anthem at matches.

Recently, Neil Diamond took to Twitter to announce that the song has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

After being uploaded in 2008, the song has reached over 35-million views on YouTube.

A recent video of the song where Diamond performed Live At The Greek Theatre in 2012 has over four-million views. 

I Am... I Said

In 1971, Neil Diamond released the single ‘I am… I Said” which was also a success. The song hit #4 on the US pop singles chart within two months of release.

Cracklin' Rosie

This song was recorded in 1970.

It was the legend’s first American #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Not only that, but Billboard ranked it as the #17 song of 1970.

Cracklin’ Rosie has sold a million copies to date. 

Song Sung Blue

This song, released in 1972, became the #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States for one week. 

It was nominated for 'Record of the Year' and 'Song of the Year' at the Grammy Awards in 1973. 

America

One of Neil Diamond’s most loved and popular songs is ‘America’. It was released in 1980 and became the theme song for Michael Dukakis' 1988 presidential campaign. 

Longfellow Serenade

'Longfellow Serenade' became very popular not only in America, but in other countries around the world.

The song was very popular in Germany and Switzerland, dominating the charts.

It also spent two weeks at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974. 

I've Been This Way Before

Released in 1974, the song became #1 on the Easy Listening chart and #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart.

If You Know What I Mean

From the album ‘Beautiful Noise’, the song ‘If You Know What I Mean” became #1 on the Easy Listening chart. It was also #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Desirée

This Neil Diamond song was loved and enjoyed by many during the late 1970s. It reached #1 on the Canadian AC chart and #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also number one on the U.S. Easy Listening chart.

Neil Diamond's memorable moments

- The legend was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984.

- He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

- In 2000, he received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award and the following year, he was an honoree at the Kennedy Center Honors.

- In 2018, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Image courtesy of Instagram/ @Neildiamond

READ: Hip-hop trio Migos performs Neil Diamond hit on 'Carpool Karaoke'