| "Diamonds" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan | ||||
| B-side | "Footstomp" | |||
| Released | 4 January 1963 | |||
| Recorded | 23 November 1962 [1] | |||
| Studio | Decca Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Instrumental rock | |||
| Length | 2:25 | |||
| Label | Decca [2] | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jerry Lordan [2] | |||
| Producer(s) | Tony Meehan | |||
| Jet Harris and Tony Meehan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Diamonds" is an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan and first released as a single by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan in January 1963. It became a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top of the chart. [3]
Background and release
In 1962, guitarist Jet Harris left the Shadows and was signed to Decca Records as a solo artist, releasing his debut hit single " Besame Mucho" in May 1962. Former Shadows' drummer Tony Meehan was working at Decca as a producer and suggested to Harris that they team up. He asked Jerry Lordan, writer of several hits for the Shadows (" Apache", " Wonderful Land" and " Atlantis"), for an instrumental with bass guitar and a drum solo, and he gave them "Diamonds". [4]
"Diamonds" was recorded on 23 November 1962 at Decca Studios. Harris detuned a Fender Jaguar electric guitar in order to hit much lower notes than an ordinary guitar. [1] [5] The recording session was the first to feature Jimmy Page, who played rhythm on an acoustic guitar. [6] It also features bass guitar by John Paul Jones, who along with Page would go onto form Led Zeppelin. [1]
It was released at the beginning of January 1963 with the B-side "Footstomp", written by Meehan. [7] "Footstomp" features lead vocals by Harris and harmony vocals by Meehan. It also features Joe Moretti on acoustic rhythm guitar, who would also play lead guitar on " Scarlett O'Hara" and " Applejack". [1]
Track listing
7": Decca / F 11563
- "Diamonds" – 2:25
- "Footstomp" – 2:49
Personnel
- Jet Harris – electric lead guitar
- Tony Meehan – drums
- Jimmy Page – acoustic rhythm guitar
- John Paul Jones – electric bass guitar
- Glenn and Chris Hughes – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano
Charts
| Chart (1963) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ( Kent Music Report) [8] | 14 |
| Canada ( CHUM) [9] | 22 |
| Denmark ( Danmarks Radio) [10] | 18 |
| Ireland ( IRMA) [11] | 1 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [12] | 2 |
| Norway ( VG-lista) [13] | 3 |
| Sweden ( Kvällstoppen) [14] | 14 |
| UK Singles ( OCC) [3] | 1 |
Other versions
- In May 1963, the Ventures recorded it for their Surfin' album. [15]
- The Shadows, without their former members Harris and Meehan, recorded "Diamonds" in 1983.
References
- ^ a b c d Koers, Ivo. "Instrumentation On Jet Harris & Tony Meehan Recordings II: The Primary Singles" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ a b Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives. p. 6. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ a b "Jet Harris & Tony Meehan: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (26 May 2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
- ^ "Jet's Gear". Jetharris.biz. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ Reiff, Corbin (16 November 2019). "Jimmy Page Before Led Zeppelin: 20 Great Session Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Jet Harris And Tony Meehan - Diamonds, retrieved 28 November 2021
- ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade Week of April 1, 1963". 1 April 1963. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "danskehitlister.dk". 12 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ " The Irish Charts – Search Results – Diamonds". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ " Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – Diamonds". VG-lista.
- ^ "Jet Harris and Tony Meehan". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Lulu". Sandcastlevi.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
| "Diamonds" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||||
| Single by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan | ||||
| B-side | "Footstomp" | |||
| Released | 4 January 1963 | |||
| Recorded | 23 November 1962 [1] | |||
| Studio | Decca Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Instrumental rock | |||
| Length | 2:25 | |||
| Label | Decca [2] | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Jerry Lordan [2] | |||
| Producer(s) | Tony Meehan | |||
| Jet Harris and Tony Meehan singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Diamonds" is an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan and first released as a single by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan in January 1963. It became a number-one hit on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top of the chart. [3]
Background and release
In 1962, guitarist Jet Harris left the Shadows and was signed to Decca Records as a solo artist, releasing his debut hit single " Besame Mucho" in May 1962. Former Shadows' drummer Tony Meehan was working at Decca as a producer and suggested to Harris that they team up. He asked Jerry Lordan, writer of several hits for the Shadows (" Apache", " Wonderful Land" and " Atlantis"), for an instrumental with bass guitar and a drum solo, and he gave them "Diamonds". [4]
"Diamonds" was recorded on 23 November 1962 at Decca Studios. Harris detuned a Fender Jaguar electric guitar in order to hit much lower notes than an ordinary guitar. [1] [5] The recording session was the first to feature Jimmy Page, who played rhythm on an acoustic guitar. [6] It also features bass guitar by John Paul Jones, who along with Page would go onto form Led Zeppelin. [1]
It was released at the beginning of January 1963 with the B-side "Footstomp", written by Meehan. [7] "Footstomp" features lead vocals by Harris and harmony vocals by Meehan. It also features Joe Moretti on acoustic rhythm guitar, who would also play lead guitar on " Scarlett O'Hara" and " Applejack". [1]
Track listing
7": Decca / F 11563
- "Diamonds" – 2:25
- "Footstomp" – 2:49
Personnel
- Jet Harris – electric lead guitar
- Tony Meehan – drums
- Jimmy Page – acoustic rhythm guitar
- John Paul Jones – electric bass guitar
- Glenn and Chris Hughes – baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, piano
Charts
| Chart (1963) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia ( Kent Music Report) [8] | 14 |
| Canada ( CHUM) [9] | 22 |
| Denmark ( Danmarks Radio) [10] | 18 |
| Ireland ( IRMA) [11] | 1 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade) [12] | 2 |
| Norway ( VG-lista) [13] | 3 |
| Sweden ( Kvällstoppen) [14] | 14 |
| UK Singles ( OCC) [3] | 1 |
Other versions
- In May 1963, the Ventures recorded it for their Surfin' album. [15]
- The Shadows, without their former members Harris and Meehan, recorded "Diamonds" in 1983.
References
- ^ a b c d Koers, Ivo. "Instrumentation On Jet Harris & Tony Meehan Recordings II: The Primary Singles" (PDF). malcolmcampbell.me.uk. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ a b Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives. p. 6. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ a b "Jet Harris & Tony Meehan: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Kutner, Jon; Leigh, Spencer (26 May 2010). 1,000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-85712-360-2.
- ^ "Jet's Gear". Jetharris.biz. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
- ^ Reiff, Corbin (16 November 2019). "Jimmy Page Before Led Zeppelin: 20 Great Session Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ Jet Harris And Tony Meehan - Diamonds, retrieved 28 November 2021
- ^ Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book 1940–1969. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-44439-5.
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade Week of April 1, 1963". 1 April 1963. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "danskehitlister.dk". 12 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ " The Irish Charts – Search Results – Diamonds". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Lever Hit Parade". flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ " Jet Harris & Tony Meehan – Diamonds". VG-lista.
- ^ "Jet Harris and Tony Meehan". NostalgiListan (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 November 2021.
- ^ "Lulu". Sandcastlevi.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.