Studio Album · No. 6
Serenade Songwriting Credits by Neil Diamond
Produced by Tom Catalano
Holds writing credit on 8 of 8 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 8 / 8 documented
Scored across the 8 tracks with documented writers, by whether Neil Diamond carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 8 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Serenade is a pure Neil Diamond authorship record: every track is written by Diamond, credited under his legal name Neil Leslie Diamond in the composer column. The hit 'Longfellow Serenade,' inspired by the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is his own composition, as is the companion ballad 'I've Been This Way Before' and even the offbeat 'Reggae Strut.' Tom Catalano produces while Jimmie Haskell handles the orchestral arrangements, so the outside contribution is production and arrangement rather than songwriting. Diamond writes, sings, and plays guitar across the album, backed by a tight session band, keeping the pen entirely his own.
Serenade is the ninth studio album by Neil Diamond, released on Columbia Records in 1974 and his second album for the label after moving from Uni/MCA. Produced by Tom Catalano, it is a lush orchestral pop-rock record arranged and conducted by Jimmie Haskell, built around Diamond's own writing. The lead single 'Longfellow Serenade' became one of his biggest hits, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the ballad 'I've Been This Way Before' followed it into the top forty. Longer, more ambitious tracks like the near-seven-minute 'Lady Magdelene' and the reggae-flavored 'Reggae Strut' show Diamond stretching beyond the tight radio single. The album was a commercial success, another top-selling entry in his mid-1970s run and later certified gold by the RIAA.
Track Listing & Credits 8 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
I've Been This Way Before
#34
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Richard Bennett (Guitar)Emory Gordy Jr. (Bass Guitar)Alan Lindgren (Keyboards)Dennis St. John (Drums)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 2 |
Rosemary's Wine
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 3 |
Lady Magdelene
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 4 |
The Last Picasso
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 5 |
Longfellow Serenade
#5
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 6 |
Yes I Will
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 7 |
Reggae Strut
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |
| 8 |
The Gift of Song
|
Neil Diamond | Neil Leslie Diamond | Tom Catalano | Neil Diamond (Lead Vocals, Guitar)Jimmie Haskell (Arranger, Conductor) |