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| Source | Rating |
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| Allmusic |   [1] |
The Best Years of Our Lives is the eighteenth studio album by Neil Diamond. It was released by Columbia Records in 1988 and reached number 46 on the Billboard 200 chart, number 42 on the UK album chart, and number 92 on the Australian chart.[2]
The album was certified gold by the RIAA on February 16, 1989.[3] In his review of The Best Years of Our Lives music critic Bryan Buss referred to it as "a strong entry in Diamond's oeuvre" and as "an album that is romantic and sentimental without being manipulative".[4]
Three singles from the album, the title track, "This Time", and "Baby Can I Hold You" reached numbers 7, 9, and 28, respectively on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[4] "This Time" also reached #17 on the Irish Singles Chart.[5] Cash Box said of the title track that it was "not a terribly inspired tune, but served up with predictable skill by Mr. D."[6]
Track listing
| Title | Writer(s) |
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| 1. | "The Best Years of Our Lives" | Neil Diamond | 4:00 |
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| 2. | "Hard Times for Lovers" | Neil Diamond | 4:25 |
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| 3. | "This Time" | Neil Diamond, David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock | 3:57 |
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| 4. | "Everything's Gonna Be Fine" | Neil Diamond, Weldon Dean Parks | 3:59 |
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| 5. | "Hooked on the Memory of You" | Neil Diamond | 3:53 |
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| 6. | "Take Care of Me" | Neil Diamond, David Foster | 3:39 |
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| 7. | "Baby Can I Hold You" | Tracy Chapman | 3:55 |
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| 8. | "Carmelita's Eyes" | Neil Diamond, David Foster | 4:05 |
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| 9. | "Courtin' Disaster" | Neil Diamond, David Foster | 4:32 |
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| 10. | "If I Couldn't See You Again" | Neil Diamond | 4:02 |
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| 11. | "Long Hard Climb" | Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren | 4:42 |
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Personnel
Production
- David Foster – producer, arrangements
- Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff – chief recording engineer
- Humberto Gatica – mixing, additional recording
- Jeff Balding – additional recording
- David Reitzas – additional recording, assistant engineer
- Jesse Kanner – assistant engineer
- Ray Pyle – assistant engineer
- Mauricio Guerrero – mix assistant
- Laura Livingston – mix assistant
- George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York)
- Sam Cole – production coordinator
- Chris Earthy – production coordinator
- Ned Brown – production assistant
- Barry Cardinale – production assistant
- Larry E. Williams – production assistant
- Alison Zanetos – production assistant
- David Kirschner – art direction, design
- Beverley Lazor-Bahr – additional design
- Matthew Rolston – photography
Charts
Certifications
References
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Sources:
- ^ "The Best Years of Our Lives". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ a b Buss, Bryan. The Best Years of Our Lives at AllMusic. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ "Top of the Pops" (PDF). Cash Box. April 22, 1989. p. 18. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Diamond – The Best Years of Our Lives" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ "Neil Diamond Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ "Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – Neil Diamond – The Best Years of Our Lives". Recording Industry Association of America.
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