Diamond Head (album)
Encyclopedia
Diamond Head is the first solo album by Phil Manzanera
, issued in 1975. It was originally issued in the UK on Island
(who was handling all E.G. recordings) and in US on Atco
. The sound quality on the US album left a lot to be desired, so the UK import was a popular seller in the speciality record shops who sold Roxy Music
and other UK bands.
As a side note, the album's title inspired the band Diamond Head
's name.
Unlike other solo albums issued by an instrumental member of an existing band (Manzanera was Roxy Music's lead guitarist), Diamond Head featured a number of vocal songs performed by guest musicians:
bonus track on remastered CD and deluxe edition CD:
10 "Carhumba" (instrumental - originally issued as the b-side to "Flight 19")
bonus track on deluxe edition CD:
11 "Corazon Y Alma" (originally issued on the "Rare One" CD)
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
, issued in 1975. It was originally issued in the UK on Island
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
(who was handling all E.G. recordings) and in US on Atco
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
. The sound quality on the US album left a lot to be desired, so the UK import was a popular seller in the speciality record shops who sold Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
and other UK bands.
As a side note, the album's title inspired the band Diamond Head
Diamond Head (band)
Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognised as one of the leading members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and is acknowledged by later bands like Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence.-Early history:Formed by...
's name.
Unlike other solo albums issued by an instrumental member of an existing band (Manzanera was Roxy Music's lead guitarist), Diamond Head featured a number of vocal songs performed by guest musicians:
Track listing
All songs by Phil Manzanera, except where noted.- "Frontera" sung in Spanish by Robert WyattRobert WyattRobert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
(Manzanera/MacCormick/Wyatt) - "Diamond Head" (instrumental)
- "Big Day" sung by Brian EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
(Manzanera/Eno) - "The Flex" (instrumental)
- "Same Time Next Week" sung by John WettonJohn WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
and Doreen Chanter (Manzanera/Wetton) - "Miss Shapiro" sung by Brian EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
(Manzanera/Eno) - "East of Echo" (instrumental, performed by Manzanera's earlier group Quiet Sun)
- "Lagrima" (instrumental)
- "Alma" sung by Bill MacCormickBill MacCormickBill MacCormick is an English bassist and vocalist. He was a member of the bands Quiet Sun with Phil Manzanera, brother Ian MacCormick and others; Matching Mole with Robert Wyatt and others; 801 with Manzanera, Brian Eno and others; and Random Hold...
(Manzanera/MacCormick)
bonus track on remastered CD and deluxe edition CD:
10 "Carhumba" (instrumental - originally issued as the b-side to "Flight 19")
bonus track on deluxe edition CD:
11 "Corazon Y Alma" (originally issued on the "Rare One" CD)
Personnel
- Phil ManzaneraPhil ManzaneraPhil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
— electric 6 and 12 string guitars, tiplé, acoustic guitar, synthesized guitar, bass, string synthesizer, organ, piano, vocals - Robert WyattRobert WyattRobert Wyatt is an English musician, and founding member of the influential Canterbury scene band Soft Machine, with a long and distinguished solo career...
— vocals, timbales, cabasa, background vocals - Brian EnoBrian EnoBrian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
— vocals, treatments, rhythm guitar, piano, percussion - Eddie JobsonEddie JobsonEdwin "Eddie" Jobson is an English keyboardist and violinist noted for his use of synthesizers. He has been a member of several progressive rock bands, including Curved Air, Roxy Music, U.K., and Jethro Tull. He was also part of Frank Zappa's band in 1976-77...
— strings, fender piano, electric clavinet, synthesizer - Dave Jarrett - keyboards
- Andy MackayAndy MackayAndrew "Andy" Mackay is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founder member of the art-rock group Roxy Music....
— soprano and alto saxophone, oboe - Iain MacDonaldIain MacDonaldIain MacDonald is an Irish serial entrepreneur. Iain founded Perlico in 2003 and was CEO as it developed into Ireland's leading alternative provider of consumer broadband before selling to Vodafone in 2007 in a $100m deal....
— bagpipes - John WettonJohn WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
— bass, vocals, mellotron - Bill MacCormickBill MacCormickBill MacCormick is an English bassist and vocalist. He was a member of the bands Quiet Sun with Phil Manzanera, brother Ian MacCormick and others; Matching Mole with Robert Wyatt and others; 801 with Manzanera, Brian Eno and others; and Random Hold...
— bass, vocals - Brian Turrington — bass
- Paul ThompsonPaul Thompson (musician)Paul Thompson is the drummer for Roxy Music from 1971 to 1980 and from 2001 onwards.In between those stints with Roxy Music, he was drummer in the Oi! band, Angelic Upstarts and the American alternative rock band Concrete Blonde...
— drums - Danny Heibs - percussion
- Chyke Madu - percussion
- Sonny Akpan - congas, percussion, bongos, big gong, maracas
- Charles HaywardCharles HaywardSir Charles Hayward was the 25th mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, from 1900–1902. He had one of the more unusual professions: Starting off as a carpenter, he went into the business of making coffins and turned that into a very successful funeral business, one which remains today...
- percussion - Doreen ChanterDoreen ChanterDoreen Chanter is a British singer best known for her career as a member of the Chanter Sisters and for her work as a backing vocalist and session vocalist during the 1970s and 1980s.-Chanter Sisters:...
- vocals