"On the Way to the Sky" by Neil Diamond

Song#:  0920
Date:  02/13/1982
Debut:  70
Peak:  27
Weeks:  10
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  Diamond's first single from his "On the Way to the Sky" album, "Yesterday's Songs," rose up to #11 at pop and #1 AC. After three big Top 10 hits from his "Jazz Singer" soundtrack, this was a little disappointing. Adding to that disappointment was this second title-track single that barely sneaked into the Top 30. It did fine at AC hitting #4, which helped the album eventually reach platinum level despite missing the Top 10.

ReduxReview:  Hey - here is an idea - with power pop, rock, new wave, and West Coast soft rock taking over the airwaves, why not release a Broadway-ish waltz? Wow - what was Diamond and/or his label thinking? Looking back, I'm truly amazed that this song made Top 30. Support at AC was still strong, which probably helped, but it was material like this that got him labeled as old-school and not current. This one was a total clunker.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  When Diamond signed his first recording contract in 1962, he was part of an Everly-style duo called Neil & Jack (Jack being high school friend Jack Packer aka Jack Parker). The duo issued two singles that year on Duel Records, but neither got any attention so they split. I couldn't find info on what happened to Packer afterward, but it seems he left the music business and could have been a school teacher in New York.

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