Home Before Dark

This article is about the 2008 album by Neil Diamond. For other uses, see Home Before Dark (disambiguation).

Home Before Dark
Studio album by
Neil Diamond
ReleasedMay 6, 2008 (2008-05-06) (Columbia) December 2, 2014 (2014-12-02) (UMe)
RecordedOctober 2007–February 2008
GenreCountry rock
Length63:01
LabelAmerican/Columbia
ProducerRick Rubin
Neil Diamond chronology
Classic – The Universal Masters Collection
(2007) 		Home Before Dark
(2008) 		The Best of Neil Diamond
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Now[2]
OMM[3]
Rolling Stone[4]
The Times[5]

Home Before Dark is the twenty-seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Released on May 5, 2008, it was the artist's second album for American Recordings.

Home Before Dark received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release and topped the national albums charts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. It has since been accredited with album certifications in several regions.

In May 2008, at the age of 67, Neil Diamond was the oldest performer to have a number one record. This mark was previously held by Bob Dylan in 2006 with his Modern Times album, released when he was 65. However, Bob Dylan's 2009 album, Together Through Life, earned Dylan that position again, because Dylan released his most recent work at 67 years and 11 months compared to Diamond's releasing Home Before Dark at 67 years and 3 months.

The album is Diamond's second to be produced by Rick Rubin, a producer of hip-hop and heavy metal music, who had discovered a talent for re-invigorating the careers of musicians when he produced Aerosmith and a string of albums with Johnny Cash. After Cash's death, Diamond became the next artist to find his career given a shot in the arm via Rubin's production on his 2005 album 12 Songs. The album consists of original works and some remakes and was mixed by Dana Nielsen. The orchestral parts were arranged and conducted by David Campbell[6][7]

Track listing

All songs were written by Neil Diamond, except where noted.

  1. "If I Don't See You Again" – 7:13
  2. "Pretty Amazing Grace" – 4:53
  3. "Don't Go There" – 6:04
  4. "Another Day (That Time Forgot)" (feat. Natalie Maines) – 6:12
  5. "One More Bite of the Apple" – 6:39
  6. "Forgotten" – 4:22
  7. "Act Like a Man" – 4:04
  8. "Whose Hands Are These" – 3:12
  9. "No Words" – 4:49
  10. "The Power of Two" – 4:35
  11. "Slow It Down" – 4:56
  12. "Home Before Dark" – 6:00
  13. "Without Her" (Harry Nilsson) – 4:22
    • Deluxe Edition Bonus Track
  14. "Make You Feel My Love" (Bob Dylan) – 4:38
    • Deluxe Edition Bonus Track

Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD

  1. "Pretty Amazing Grace"
  2. "If I Don't See You Again"
  3. "Forgotten"
  4. "The Boxer" (Paul Simon)

Personnel

Production

  • Producer – Rick Rubin
  • Production Coordination – Lindsay Chase and Sam Cole
  • Recorded by Greg Fidelman and Andrew Scheps
  • Additional Recording – Bernie Becker, Jason Lader and Dana Nielsen.
  • Assistant Engineers – Phillip Broussard, Chris Holmes and Jim "Bud" Monti.
  • Recorded at Arch Angel Studios and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research (Los Angeles, CA); Conway Studios (Hollywood, CA); Punkerpad West (Van Nuys, CA);
  • Mixed by Dana Nielsen at Little People Studio (Los Angeles, CA).
  • Mastered by Vlado Meller and Mark Santangelo at Universal Mastering Studios (New York, NY).
  • Art Direction – Mary Maurer
  • Design – Mary Maurer and Michael Lau-Robles
  • Photography – Jesse Diamond

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28] Gold 35,000^
Ireland (IRMA)[29] Gold 7,500^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[30] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[32] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ "Now review". Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  3. ^ OMM review
  4. ^ Rolling Stone review
  5. ^ The Times review
  6. ^ AllMusic 'Home Before Dark' album credits
  7. ^ Discogs 'Home Before Dark'
  8. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Ultratop.be – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "Ultratop.be – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  12. ^ "Neil Diamond Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Neil Diamond". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  16. ^ "Charts.nz – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  17. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  19. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  21. ^ "Neil Diamond | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  22. ^ "Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  23. ^ "Neil Diamond Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  24. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2008". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  25. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2008". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  26. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  27. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  28. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  29. ^ "The Irish Charts - 2008 Certification Awards - Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  30. ^ "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. July 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  31. ^ "British album certifications – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  32. ^ "American album certifications – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 2, 2013.