On the Way to the Sky
Encyclopedia
On the Way to the Sky is a hit album released by singer Neil Diamond
in 1981. It contained the hit "Yesterday's Songs
", which reached #11 in the U.S.. On the Way to the Sky marked a transition into a period of creative and commercial decline for Neil Diamond
that lasted, to one degree or another, until the release of the 2001 album Three Chord Opera
, followed by his collaboration with producer Rick Rubin
and the release of 2005's 12 Songs
and 2008's Home Before Dark
. While Diamond
continued having some success, some significant periodic hits, and some television specials and film appearances, the period beginning with the release of On the Way to the Sky did not have for Diamond
the same level of sales, notoriety or fame that the preceding times did.
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
in 1981. It contained the hit "Yesterday's Songs
Yesterday's Songs
"Yesterday's Songs" is a 1981 single by Neil Diamond from his album On the Way to the Sky. The song was a major adult contemporary hit reaching #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at #11.-See also:...
", which reached #11 in the U.S.. On the Way to the Sky marked a transition into a period of creative and commercial decline for Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
that lasted, to one degree or another, until the release of the 2001 album Three Chord Opera
Three Chord Opera
-Track listing:# "I Haven't Played This Song in Years"# "Don't Look Down"# "I Believe in Happy Endings"# "At the Movies"# "Midnight Dream"# "You Are the Best Part of Me"# "Baby Let's Drive"# "My Special Someone"# "A Mission of Love"# "Elijah's Song"...
, followed by his collaboration with producer Rick Rubin
Rick Rubin
Frederick Jay "Rick" Rubin is an American record producer and the co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin was the co-founder of Def Jam Records and also established American Recordings...
and the release of 2005's 12 Songs
12 Songs (Neil Diamond album)
12 Songs is a 2005 album by Neil Diamond. It was his first album of all-original, all-new material since 2001's Three Chord Opera. It was produced by Rick Rubin and is often erroneously cited as the first Diamond album since the Bang Records era to feature the artist playing guitar.The working...
and 2008's Home Before Dark
Home Before Dark
Home Before Dark is a studio album released by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond in 2008. It became his first U.S. number-one album ever on the Billboard 200 chart, with sales of over 146,000 copies in its first week. It has also reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. As of June 28, 2008,...
. While Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
continued having some success, some significant periodic hits, and some television specials and film appearances, the period beginning with the release of On the Way to the Sky did not have for Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
the same level of sales, notoriety or fame that the preceding times did.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Neil Diamond; except where indicated- "Yesterday's SongsYesterday's Songs"Yesterday's Songs" is a 1981 single by Neil Diamond from his album On the Way to the Sky. The song was a major adult contemporary hit reaching #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at #11.-See also:...
" - 2:51 - "On the Way to the Sky" (Diamond, Carole Bayer SagerCarole Bayer SagerCarole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.-Introduction:Born in New York City, Sager graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech...
) - 3:47 - "Right By You" (Diamond, Richard BennettRichard Bennett (guitarist)Richard Bennett is a touring sideman, session veteran, and record producer. As a touring sideman, he performed with Neil Diamond for 17 years, and Mark Knopfler since 1994. As a session player, he has worked with artists ranging from Billy Joel and Barbra Streisand to Rodney Crowell and Vince Gill...
, Doug Rhone) - 3:37 - "Only You" (Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren) - 4:39
- "Save Me" - 3:23
- "Be Mine Tonight" - 2:39
- "The Drifter" - 4:55
- "Fear of the Marketplace" - 4:18
- "Rainy Day Song (Diamond, Gilbert BécaudGilbert BécaudGilbert Bécaud was a French singer, composer and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et Maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love"...
) - 4:31 - "Guitar Heaven" - 3:37
- "Love Burns (Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren) - 3:45