Diamonds & Dirt
Encyclopedia
Diamonds & Dirt is the title of an album released in 1988 by American singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell
(see 1988 in country music
). His fifth studio album, it was also his second release for the Columbia Records
label. The album was also his most successful, achieving RIAA gold certification. In addition, all five of its singles reached Number One on the Billboard
country charts, setting a record for the most Number One hits from a country album. In order of release, these were "It's Such a Small World" (a duet with then-wife Rosanne Cash
), "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried", "She's Crazy for Leaving", "After All This Time", and a cover of Buck Owens
' "Above and Beyond (The Call of Love)".
This was Crowell's first album recorded entirely in Nashville and the first aimed squarely at a country audience.
The album was later re-issued by Columbia Legacy with three bonus tracks.
AOnly included on Legacy re-issue.
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
(see 1988 in country music
1988 in country music
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1988.-Events:* May 21 — Country music stars highlight a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York. Featured: Alabama, The Judds, George Strait and Randy Travis.-No dates:...
). His fifth studio album, it was also his second release for the Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
label. The album was also his most successful, achieving RIAA gold certification. In addition, all five of its singles reached Number One on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts, setting a record for the most Number One hits from a country album. In order of release, these were "It's Such a Small World" (a duet with then-wife Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of the late country music singer Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin....
), "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried", "She's Crazy for Leaving", "After All This Time", and a cover of Buck Owens
Buck Owens
Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr. , better known as Buck Owens, was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos...
' "Above and Beyond (The Call of Love)".
This was Crowell's first album recorded entirely in Nashville and the first aimed squarely at a country audience.
The album was later re-issued by Columbia Legacy with three bonus tracks.
Track listing
All songs written by Rodney Crowell except where noted.- "Crazy Baby" (Rodney Crowell, Will JenningsWill JenningsWilbur H. "Will" Jennings is an American songwriter who is popularly known for writing the lyrics for "My Heart Will Go On", the theme for the film Titanic .-Life and education:...
) – 3:06 - "I Couldn't Leave You If I TriedI Couldn't Leave You If I Tried"I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried" is a 1988 single written and performed by Rodney Crowell. "I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried" was a track of off Rodney Crowell's "Diamonds & Dirt" album and was the first of his four number one country singles...
" – 3:18 - "She's Crazy for Leavin'She's Crazy for Leavin'"She's Crazy for Leavin" is a 1988 single by Rodney Crowell, who co-wrote the song with Guy Clark. "She's Crazy for Leavin'" was Rodney Crowell's second number one country hit as a solo artist. The single went to number one for one week and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the country...
" (Crowell, Guy ClarkGuy ClarkGuy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
) – 3:16 - "After All This TimeAfter All This Time (Rodney Crowell song)"After All This Time" is a 1989 song written and recorded by Rodney Crowell. It was Crowell's seventh single to reach the U.S. country music chart and the third of four number ones. "After All This Time" spent one week at the top and fifteen weeks on chart overall.-Chart performance:-References:...
" – 4:28 - "I Know You're Married" – 3:31
- "Above and BeyondAbove and Beyond (song)"Above and Beyond", also known as "Above and Beyond " is the title of a song written by Harlan Howard and recorded by American country music singer Buck Owens. Released in 1960 as a single with "'Til These Dreams Come True" on the b-side, Owens' rendition reached #3 on the Billboard country singles...
" (Harlan HowardHarlan HowardHarlan Perry Howard was a prolific American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote a large number of popular and enduring songs, recorded by a variety of different artists...
) – 2:28 - "It's Such a Small WorldIt's Such a Small World"It's Such a Small World" is a duet by American country music artists Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash, released in January 1988. "It's Such a Small World" was the lead-off single to Crowell's Diamonds and Dirt album, which charted five No...
" – 3:21- duet with Rosanne CashRosanne CashRosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of the late country music singer Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin....
- duet with Rosanne Cash
- "I Didn't Know I Could Lose You" – 3:21
- "Brand New Rag" (Crowell, Jennings) – 3:07
- "The Last Waltz" (Crowell, Jennings) – 5:21
- "I've Got My Pride but I Got to Feed the Kids" – 2:28A
- "It's Lonely Out" – 3:40A
- "Lies Don't Lie" – 3:04A
AOnly included on Legacy re-issue.
Personnel
- Eddie Bayers – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Barry BeckettBarry BeckettBarry Edward Beckett was a keyboardist who worked as a session musician with several notable artists on their studio albums...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organ - Rosanne CashRosanne CashRosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of the late country music singer Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin....
– background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Rodney Crowell – lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Glen Duncan – fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
- Paul FranklinPaul Franklin (musician)Paul Franklin is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Mel Tillis and Jerry Reed. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville,...
– steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use... - Vince GillVince GillVincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
– background vocals - Russell Kunkel – drums
- Mark O'ConnorMark O'ConnorMark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
– fiddle, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single... - Michael Rhodes – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Vince Santoro – background vocals
- Preston Smith – harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, background vocals - Steuart SmithSteuart SmithSteuart Smith is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, writer and producer currently working with American rock band the Eagles. Smith is from Arlington, VA.]].-Current work:...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
Chart performance
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 8 |
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 9 |