Neil Diamond was reaching the top of 1 chapter of his lengthy profession on December 30, 1972. “Walk On Water,” a US single from his Moods album, peaked at No.17 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. It was his final launch on the Uni label that had seen his breakthrough as a significant star over the previous couple of years, earlier than Uni was absorbed into its dad or mum firm, MCA.
The gospel-themed “Walk On Water” got here on the finish of one other excellent 12 months for Diamond. He had scored huge hit singles with 1969’s “Sweet Caroline” and “Holly Holy,” each of which might be licensed platinum 25 years later, then his first US No.1 and a global hit with “Cracklin’ Rosie” in 1970.
Increasing outdoors the States
There have been extra chart 45s in 1971 after which the Moods album delivered one other American chart-topper and abroad hit, “Song Sung Blue.” That observe obtained two Grammy nominations, and the album itself, produced by Diamond with Tom Catalano, received one other. “Diamond keeps topping himself with one dynamite package after another,” raved Billboard’s album assessment.
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That was adopted by a No.11 from the identical album with “Play Me,” earlier than “Walk On Water” climbed into the High 20. It spent the primary of two weeks at No.17 on the final chart of 1972, as Billy Paul continued at No.1 with “Me and Mrs. Jones.” The Moods album was, itself, taking Diamond to new ranges of recognition, reaching a career-best No.5 within the US, No.7 within the UK and No.4 in Australia.
Then, as has been the case ever since, the singer-songwriter was additionally an especially sizzling ticket as a stay attraction. In August 1972, he performed the Greek Theatre present in Los Angeles that turned the Sizzling August Evening album on the finish of the 12 months. Then got here a 20-night run on the Winter Backyard in New York, which might precede a three-year sabbatical from stay work.
Purchase or stream “Walk On Water” on Neil Diamond’s Moods album.
