Home Before Dark

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
Studio album by Neil Diamond
Released	May 6, 2008 (Columbia) December 2, 2014 (UMe)
Recorded	Oct 2007– Feb 2008
Genre	Country rock
Length	63:01
Label	American/Columbia
Producer	Rick Rubin
Neil Diamond chronology
Classic – The Universal Masters Collection (2007) Home Before Dark (2008) The Best of Neil Diamond (2008)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Now	[2]
OMM	[3]
Rolling Stone	[4]
The Times	[5]

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 since Dylan released his most recent work at 67 years and 11 months unlike Diamond 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

• Neil Diamond – lead vocals, guitar
• Mike Campbell – guitar, bass guitar
• Smokey Hormel – guitar, bass guitar
• Jonny Polonsky – guitar
• Matt Sweeney – guitar
• Benmont Tench – keyboards
• Marvin B. Gordy – timpani
• David Campbell – horn, string and woodwind arrangements; orchestra leader
• Charlie Bisharat – concertmaster
• Susie Katayama – orchestra contractor
• Rose Corrigan – bassoon
• Ralph Williams – clarinet
• Earl Dumler – English horn, oboe
• Dan Higgins – flute
• Larry Klimas – flute (12)
• Steve Kujala – flute
• Robert Shulgold – flute
• Don Markese – alto flute (12)
• Nathan Campbell – French horn
• Joe Meyer – French horn
• Steven Holtman – trombone
• Bill Reichenbach, Jr. – trombone
• Chuck Findley – trumpet
• Gary Grant – trumpet
• Doug Tornquist – tuba
• Larry Corbett – cello
• Rudy Stein – cello
• David Stone – double bass
• Andrew Duckles – viola
• Armen Garabedian – violin
• Julian Hallmark – violin
• Linda Press – backing vocals (3)
• Julia Waters – backing vocals (3)
• Maxine Waters – backing vocals (3)
• Natalie Maines – lead vocals (4)

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

Weekly charts Chart (2008) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] 9 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[9] 11 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[10] 5 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[11] 46 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] 3 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[13] 2 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] 14 Irish Albums (IRMA)[15] 5 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[16] 1 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[17] 19 Scottish Albums (OCC)[18] 2 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[19] 41 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 16 UK Albums (OCC)[21] 1 US Billboard 200[22] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2008) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23] 46 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[24] 38 UK Albums (OCC)[25] 28 US Billboard 200[26] 108

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27]	Gold	35,000^^
Ireland (IRMA)[28]	Gold	7,500^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29]	Gold	7,500^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30]	Platinum	300,000^^
United States (RIAA)[31]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Now review
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 September 2, 2013.
9. "Austriancharts.at – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
10. "Ultratop.be – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
11. "Ultratop.be – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
12. "Neil Diamond Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
14. "Officialcharts.de – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
15. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 25, 2008". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
16. "Charts.nz – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
17. "Norwegiancharts.com – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
18. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
19. "Spanishcharts.com – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
20. "Swisscharts.com – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
21. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
22. "Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
23. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2008". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
24. "Top Selling Albums of 2008". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
25. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
26. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
27. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
28. "The Irish Charts - 2008 Certification Awards - Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
29. "Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. July 17, 2011. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
30. "British album certifications – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 2, 2013. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Home Before Dark in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
31. "American album certifications – Neil Diamond – Home Before Dark". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 2, 2013. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.