Tap Root Manuscript
Encyclopedia
Tap Root Manuscript is an album by Neil Diamond
, released in 1970
. It was one of the most experimental albums Diamond ever recorded, featuring prominent African sounds and instruments. The album ended up being a commercial success, with a string of top forty hits. This album pre dates many Western artists interest in World music by more than a decade, from Peter Gabriel
's 1980's solo albums, to My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
(David Byrne
with Brian Eno
) in 1981, to the Graceland
album recorded by Paul Simon
in 1986. It was one of the most novel experimental recording projects of its time, and the UNI label initially was not sure if it would be commercially viable or not. It turned out to be one of Diamond's most successful albums up to that point in his career, including one of Diamond's three number one hits in his career, "Cracklin' Rosie
".
, Earl C. Palmer Sr.
, Emil Radocchia, Erno Neufeld, Gareth Nuttycombe, Gary Coleman, Gene Estes, George C. Poole, George Roberts, Hal Blaine
, Harry Betts, Harry Bluestone, Harvey J. Newmark, Henry Roth, Henry Sigismonti, Israel Baker, Jack Shulman, Jim Arkatov, James Getzoff, Jan R. Kelley, Jay Migliori, Jesse Ehrlich, Joe Osborn
, Joseph Estren, Joseph Saxon, Larry Bunker, Lawrence W. Knechtel
, Larry Muhoberac
, Lee Holdridge
, Lee Shamburger, Lou Klaes, Louie Shelton, Martin Paich
, Myron Sandler, Nathan Ross, Nathaniel Rosen, Neil Levang, Oliver Mitchell, Paul Bergstrom, Paul Hubinon, Paul Shure, Randy Cierley, Raymond J. Kelley, M.R. Pohlman, Orville Rhodes, Roger Bobo, Ronald Langinger, Roy V. Caton, Sandra Crouch, Shirley Marcus, Sidney Sharp, Thomas Scott
Vocals - Alexander Hale, Aubrey Porter, Bill Lee, Billie Barnum, Christopher Hale, Clydie King
, Dean Porter, Donald Wyatt, Douglas Schwartz, Dwayne Moody, Ed Wallace, Ekundayo Paris , Evelyn Meyer , Fred Burton , George Bledsoe , Graynston Hale , Gwen Johnson, H.B. Barnum Jr., Jean Sewell, Jessie Kirkland, Joe Greene, John Woodson, Kevin Parker, Lewis Johnson, Mabel Bishop, Marjorie Cranford, Matthews Muhoberac, Merry Clayton
, Molly Halloran, Nancy Adams, Oma Drake, Phillip Whigham, Ricky Porter, Sean Engerman, Sherlie Matthews
, Sherill Atwood, Stacey Johnson
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
, released in 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
. It was one of the most experimental albums Diamond ever recorded, featuring prominent African sounds and instruments. The album ended up being a commercial success, with a string of top forty hits. This album pre dates many Western artists interest in World music by more than a decade, from Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's 1980's solo albums, to My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (album)
The album was recorded entirely with analogue technology, before the advent of digital sequencing and MIDI. The sampled voices were synchronized with the instrumental tracks via trial and error, a practice that was often frustrating, but which also produced several happy accidents.Also according to...
(David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
with Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian 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,...
) in 1981, to the Graceland
Graceland (album)
Graceland was Paul Simon's highest charting album in the U.S. in over a decade, reaching #3 in the national Billboard charts, receiving a certification of 5× Platinum by the RIAA and eventually selling over 14 million copies, making it Simon's most commercially successful album...
album recorded by Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
in 1986. It was one of the most novel experimental recording projects of its time, and the UNI label initially was not sure if it would be commercially viable or not. It turned out to be one of Diamond's most successful albums up to that point in his career, including one of Diamond's three number one hits in his career, "Cracklin' Rosie
Cracklin' Rosie
"Cracklin' Rosie" is a 1970 song written and performed by Neil Diamond in 1970, from his album Tap Root Manuscript. This was Neil Diamond's first American #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1970, and his third to sell a million copies. It become Diamond's breakthrough single on the UK...
".
Track listing
All songs composed by Neil Diamond except "He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother"- "Cracklin' RosieCracklin' Rosie"Cracklin' Rosie" is a 1970 song written and performed by Neil Diamond in 1970, from his album Tap Root Manuscript. This was Neil Diamond's first American #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1970, and his third to sell a million copies. It become Diamond's breakthrough single on the UK...
" (3:00) - "Free Life" (3:11)
- "Cold Water Morning" (3:20)
- "Done Too Soon" (2:45)
- "He Ain't Heavy, He's My BrotherHe Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother" is a popular music ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for The Hollies later that year and again for Neil Diamond in 1970....
" (3:59) (Bob RussellBob Russell (songwriter)Sidney Keith "Bob" Russell, was an American songwriter born in Passaic, New Jersey.In 1968, Russell along with songwriting partner Quincy Jones was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category...
, Bobby ScottBobby Scott (musician)Bobby Scott was an American musician, record producer, and songwriter.-Biography:He was born Robert William Scott in Mount Pleasant, New York, and became a pianist, vibraphonist, and singer, and could also play the accordion, cello, clarinet, and double bass...
) - "Child Song" (2:10)
- "I Am The Lion" (2:07)
- "Madrigál" (1:53)
- "Soolaimón" (4:32)
- "Missa" (2:05)
- "African Suite" (4:28)
- "Child Song (Reprise)" (2:00)
Personnel
Instruments - Alvin Casey, Andrea Kostelas, Anthony Terran, Armand Kaproff, Arthur Butler, Assa Drori, Benjiman Barrett, A.D. Brisbois, David Burk, David Cohen, Dick Hyde, Donald Menza, Don Peake, Don RandiDon Randi
Don Randi is an American keyboard player, bandleader and songwriter. He has performed on innumerable recordings, including many as a session musician and member of "The Wrecking Crew", as well as releasing his own jazz records...
, Earl C. Palmer Sr.
Earl Palmer
Earl Cyril Palmer was an American rock & roll and rhythm and blues drummer, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
, Emil Radocchia, Erno Neufeld, Gareth Nuttycombe, Gary Coleman, Gene Estes, George C. Poole, George Roberts, Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine
Hal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
, Harry Betts, Harry Bluestone, Harvey J. Newmark, Henry Roth, Henry Sigismonti, Israel Baker, Jack Shulman, Jim Arkatov, James Getzoff, Jan R. Kelley, Jay Migliori, Jesse Ehrlich, Joe Osborn
Joe Osborn
Joe Osborn is an American bass guitar virtuoso, notable for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles and Nashville during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. Osborn's work is widely admired by fellow musicians.Osborn began his career working in local clubs, then played on a hit...
, Joseph Estren, Joseph Saxon, Larry Bunker, Lawrence W. Knechtel
Larry Knechtel
Lawrence William "Larry" Knechtel was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with such artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, The Beach Boys, The Mamas & the Papas, The Partridge Family, The Doors, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s...
, Larry Muhoberac
Larry Muhoberac
Larry Muhoberac is an American musician, producer and composer who at various times has also been known as Larry Owens and Larry Gordon....
, Lee Holdridge
Lee Holdridge
Lee Holdridge is a Haitian-born American television composer and orchestrator.-Biography:He was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, of a Puerto-Rican mother and an American father, the botanist an climatologist Leslie Holdridge...
, Lee Shamburger, Lou Klaes, Louie Shelton, Martin Paich
Marty Paich
Martin Louis "Marty" Paich was an American pianist, composer, arranger, producer, music director and conductor....
, Myron Sandler, Nathan Ross, Nathaniel Rosen, Neil Levang, Oliver Mitchell, Paul Bergstrom, Paul Hubinon, Paul Shure, Randy Cierley, Raymond J. Kelley, M.R. Pohlman, Orville Rhodes, Roger Bobo, Ronald Langinger, Roy V. Caton, Sandra Crouch, Shirley Marcus, Sidney Sharp, Thomas Scott
Tom Scott (musician)
Tom Scott is an American saxophonist, composer, arranger, conductor and bandleader of the west coast jazz/jazz fusion ensemble The L.A. Express.-Biography:Scott was born in Los Angeles, California...
Vocals - Alexander Hale, Aubrey Porter, Bill Lee, Billie Barnum, Christopher Hale, Clydie King
Clydie King
Clydie Crittendon is an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist....
, Dean Porter, Donald Wyatt, Douglas Schwartz, Dwayne Moody, Ed Wallace, Ekundayo Paris , Evelyn Meyer , Fred Burton , George Bledsoe , Graynston Hale , Gwen Johnson, H.B. Barnum Jr., Jean Sewell, Jessie Kirkland, Joe Greene, John Woodson, Kevin Parker, Lewis Johnson, Mabel Bishop, Marjorie Cranford, Matthews Muhoberac, Merry Clayton
Merry Clayton
Merry Clayton is an American soul and gospel singer , and an actress...
, Molly Halloran, Nancy Adams, Oma Drake, Phillip Whigham, Ricky Porter, Sean Engerman, Sherlie Matthews
Sherlie Matthews
Sherlie Matthews is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a backing vocalist for Pop, R&B and Rock groups from the mid 1960s to the present time.-Early life:...
, Sherill Atwood, Stacey Johnson