Love on the Rocks (Neil Diamond song)

"Love on the Rocks" is a song written by Neil Diamond and Gilbert Bécaud that appeared in the 1980 movie The Jazz Singer and was performed by Diamond on the soundtrack album to the film. It was also released as a single and reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in January 1981, behind "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon. In addition to the main chart, "Love on the Rocks", also made it to #3 on Billboard's US Adult Contemporary chart.[2][3] Billboard also rated it as the #26 pop single overall for 1981.[4] It performed less well in the UK, reaching only #17.[5] It was covered by Millie Jackson on her 1981 album Just a Lil' Bit Country, and by Gladys Knight on the album Great Solo Performances by Guest Artists from the Tom Jones Show, Vol. 1.[6] Bécaud recorded the song in French as L'Amour est mort on his 1981 eponymous album.[7]

"Love on the Rocks"
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album The Jazz Singer soundtrack
B-side"Acapulco"
ReleasedOctober 1980
Recorded1980
GenrePop, soft rock
Length3:40
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bob Gaudio
Neil Diamond singles chronology
"Dancing in the Street"
(1980)		 "Love on the Rocks"
(1980)		 "Hello Again"
(1981)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Billboard(unrated)[1]

Billboard Magazine critic Vicki Pipkin called "Love on the Rocks" a "powerful ballad in true Diamond style."[8] Billboard also called the song "one of Diamond's more powerful readings."[9] Neil Diamond biographer Laura Jackson describes the lyrics as taking "a sometimes cynical look at a man who is trapped in a relationship and is disillusioned with life."[3] Allmusic critic Johnny Loftus calls it a "lite FM favorite" and "classic, raw-throated Neil."[10] Author T. Mike Childs rated it as a "terrific" ballad.[11] Pittsburgh Press music editor Carl Apone claimed that Diamond was at his best in The Jazz Singer in the songs "Hello Again" and "Love on the Rocks."[12]

In the movie, Paul Nicholas does a punk/new wave version of "Love on the Rocks."

Personnel
  • Neil Diamond – guitar, lead vocals
  • Richard Bennett – acoustic and electric guitars
  • Reinie Press – bass
  • Dennis St. John – drums
  • King Errisson – percussion
  • Alan Lindgren – synthesizer, piano, orchestra arrangements and conductor
  • Tom Hensley – keyboards

Chart history

Later uses

The Darkness paid tribute to Neil Diamond's "Love on the Rocks" with their own 2003 song "Love on the Rocks with No Ice."[22]

References
  1. "Review: Neil Diamond – Love on the Rocks" (PDF). Billboard. 85 (44). 1 November 1980. p. 91. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 30 May 2020 – via American Radio History.
  2. "The Jazz Singer Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  3. Jackson, L. (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. pp. 164, 171. ISBN 9781550227079.
  4. "Pop Singles". Billboard Magazine. December 26, 1980. p. YE-9. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  5. "Neil Diamond". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  6. "Great Solo Performances by Guest Artists from the Tom Jones Show, Vol. 1". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  7. "Gilbert Bécaud - Gilbert Bécaud". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  8. Pipkin, V. (December 20, 1980). "No Jazz Heard in 'Jazz Singer' Film". Billboard Magazine. p. 20. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  9. "Spotlight". Billboard Magazine. November 15, 1980. p. 90. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  10. Loftus, J. "The Jazz Singer". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  11. Childs, T.M. (2004). The Rocklopedia Fakebandica. Macmillan. p. 121. ISBN 9780312329440.
  12. Apone, C. (December 19, 1980). "Neil Diamond's Music Is Highlight of Updated 'Jazz Singer'". Pittsburgh Press. p. 18. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (doc) |format= requires |url= (help). Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  14. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1981-01-31. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  15. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Love on the Rocks". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  16. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  17. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  18. Cash Box Top 100 Singles, January 24, 1981
  19. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1980". Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  20. "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1981". Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  21. Musicoutfitters.com
  22. Edwards, G. (2006). Is Tiny Dancer Really Elton's Little John?. Random House. p. 124. ISBN 9780307346032.
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