the Jazz Singer (soundtrack) (35th anniversary)

Today (November 10th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the soundtrack from The Jazz Singer. This 1980 album spent one-hundred and fifteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 3. It generated a number of hit singles as well for its singer/actor star Neil Diamond.

For more of my review on this record, click here.

Happy Birthday, Neil Diamond

Happy seventy-second birthday today (January 24th) to American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Now into his sixth decade of performing, Diamond has been given such honors as induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (in 1984) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in 2011), receipt of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award (in 2000) and a Kennedy Center Honors honoree (in 2011).

the Jazz Singer (soundtrack)

Welcome to another edition of Soundtrack Sunday.

I am not afraid to admit that I have always been a fan of Neil Diamond. I enjoyed his songs in the 60’s and 70’s, hearing them on AM radio and such. I was pleased to see him inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame last year as he is both an amazing songwriter and performer. But back in 1980 it was surprising to see him add an acting credit to his list of accomplishments.

As 1980 came to an end, the American musical remake of a 1927 classic film hit the theatres; The Jazz Singer starred Diamond along with Sir Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz. While the film did fair at the box office ($27 million gross sales), the soundtrack was a big success - going Platinum multiple times over and reaching number 3 on both the US and UK album charts.