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{{Refimprove|date=January 2019}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Almaz
| name = Almaz
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| B-side = "Desire" (edit)
| B-side = "Desire" (edit)
| released = {{Start date|1986|11}}
| released = {{Start date|1986|11}}
| format = 7" single, CD single, 12"
| recorded = 1986
| recorded = 1986
| studio =
| studio =
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}}
}}


"'''Almaz'''" is a single by American female soul singer [[Randy Crawford]], which was recorded in 1986.<ref>https://hitparade.ch/song/Randy-Crawford/Almaz-14526</ref> A heartfelt piano ballad, it signalled a comeback for the artist, who reached the top five in the [[UK Singles Chart]] with the song.<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/730622/Randy-Crawford-One-Day-I-ll-Fly-Away-John-Lewis-Christmas-ad-Vaults-band-Almaz-Bounce</ref> "Almaz" is one of the few songs Randy Crawford has written by herself, and the first of her own compositions that was released as a single.
"'''Almaz'''" is a single by American female soul singer [[Randy Crawford]], which was recorded in 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/song/Randy-Crawford/Almaz-14526|title=Almaz : Randy Crawford|website=Hitparade.ch|accessdate=19 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Almaz - Randy Crawford {{!}} Song Info {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/almaz-mt0016926819|language=en|access-date=2021-06-20}}</ref> The song reached number four in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/730622/Randy-Crawford-One-Day-I-ll-Fly-Away-John-Lewis-Christmas-ad-Vaults-band-Almaz-Bounce|title=What happened to Randy Crawford? John Lewis Xmas advert covers her One Day I'll Fly Away|first=Stefan|last=Kyriazis|date=10 November 2016|website=Express.co.uk|accessdate=19 January 2019}}</ref>

"Almaz" is one of the few songs Randy Crawford has written by herself, and the first of her own compositions that was released as a single.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Randy Crawford {{!}} Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/randy-crawford-mn0000333573/credits|access-date=2021-06-20|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref>


==Composition==
==Composition==
"Almaz" was written about a couple of Eritrean refugees who were neighbours of Crawford's. The man asked Crawford to write a song about his wife, who was named Almaz (which means "diamond" in Amharic, Arabic and a number of other languages). In the song, the singer reflects on their rare form of love. In Crawford's own words, "I witnessed this perfect love affair between them, although she was considerably younger than him. This beautiful couple with their baby. As refugees they were looking for 'a world where love survives'."<ref>{{cite news |first=Helen |last=Brown |title=Randy Crawford's journey from Street Life to sweet life |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3562586/Randy-Crawfords-journey-from-Street-Life-to-sweet-life.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |publisher=[[Telegraph Media Group]] |location=London, England |date=October 27, 2008 |accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref>
"Almaz" was written about a couple of Eritrean refugees who were neighbors of Crawford's. The man asked Crawford to write a song about his wife, who was named Almaz (which means "diamond" in Tigrinya, Amharic, Arabic and a number of other languages). In the song, the singer reflects on their rare form of love. In Crawford's own words, "I witnessed this perfect love affair between them, although she was considerably younger than him. This beautiful couple with their baby. As refugees they were looking for 'a world where love survives'."<ref>{{cite news |first=Helen |last=Brown |title=Randy Crawford's journey from Street Life to sweet life |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3562586/Randy-Crawfords-journey-from-Street-Life-to-sweet-life.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London, England |date=October 27, 2008 |accessdate=September 24, 2014}}</ref>


==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==
"Almaz" was released as the third single off the ''[[Abstract Emotions (Randy Crawford album)|Abstract Emotions]]'' album, in November 1986.<ref>https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/randy-crawford</ref> The first two singles had failed to have any major impact. "Almaz" entered the UK chart on 22 November 1986 at number 91, and slowly climbed the chart until peaking at number 4 in February 1987, spending 17 weeks on the chart. It is Crawford's longest run on the UK chart, and was her first top 40 hit in the UK since 1981's "[[Rainy Night in Georgia]]".<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher=Guinness World Records Limited| location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page=125}}</ref> The song was also a top 10 hit in the Irish chart, peaking at number 2. "Almaz" was released in continental Europe but it failed to chart. It was never released as a single in the US.
"Almaz" was released as the third single off the ''[[Abstract Emotions (Randy Crawford album)|Abstract Emotions]]'' album, in November 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/randy-crawford|title=Randy Crawford|website=Encyclopedia.com|accessdate=19 January 2019}}</ref> The first two singles had failed to have any major impact. "Almaz" entered the UK chart on 22 November 1986 at number 91, and slowly climbed the chart until peaking at number 4 in February 1987, spending 17 weeks on the chart. It is Crawford's longest run on the UK chart, and was her first top 40 hit in the UK since 1981's "[[Rainy Night in Georgia]]".<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher=Guinness World Records Limited| location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page=125}}</ref> The song was also a top 10 hit in the Irish chart, peaking at number 2. "Almaz" was released in continental Europe but it failed to chart there. It was never released as a single in the US. The song reached #7 on the [[Billboard Japan]] chart on June 24, 1991.


==Charts==
==Charts==
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|[[Irish Singles Chart]]
|[[Irish Singles Chart]]
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|2
|-
|[[Billboard Japan]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1991/1991-06-29-Billboard-Page-0076.pdf|title=Billboard|date=June 29, 1991|pages=72}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|-
|}
|}
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{{Randy Crawford}}
{{Randy Crawford}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:1986 singles]]
[[Category:1986 singles]]
[[Category:1986 songs]]
[[Category:1986 songs]]
[[Category:Randy Crawford songs]]

Latest revision as of 01:58, 5 July 2023

"Almaz"
Single by Randy Crawford
from the album Abstract Emotions
B-side"Desire" (edit)
ReleasedNovember 1986 (1986-11)
Recorded1986
GenreSoul
Length4:07
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Randy Crawford
Producer(s)Reggie Lucas
Randy Crawford singles chronology
"Everybody Needs a Little Rain"
(1986) 		"Almaz"
(1986) 		"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
(1989)

"Almaz" is a single by American female soul singer Randy Crawford, which was recorded in 1986.[1][2] The song reached number four in the UK Singles Chart.[3]

"Almaz" is one of the few songs Randy Crawford has written by herself, and the first of her own compositions that was released as a single.[4]

Composition

[edit]

"Almaz" was written about a couple of Eritrean refugees who were neighbors of Crawford's. The man asked Crawford to write a song about his wife, who was named Almaz (which means "diamond" in Tigrinya, Amharic, Arabic and a number of other languages). In the song, the singer reflects on their rare form of love. In Crawford's own words, "I witnessed this perfect love affair between them, although she was considerably younger than him. This beautiful couple with their baby. As refugees they were looking for 'a world where love survives'."[5]

Release and reception

[edit]

"Almaz" was released as the third single off the Abstract Emotions album, in November 1986.[6] The first two singles had failed to have any major impact. "Almaz" entered the UK chart on 22 November 1986 at number 91, and slowly climbed the chart until peaking at number 4 in February 1987, spending 17 weeks on the chart. It is Crawford's longest run on the UK chart, and was her first top 40 hit in the UK since 1981's "Rainy Night in Georgia".[7] The song was also a top 10 hit in the Irish chart, peaking at number 2. "Almaz" was released in continental Europe but it failed to chart there. It was never released as a single in the US. The song reached #7 on the Billboard Japan chart on June 24, 1991.

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1986) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[7] 4
Irish Singles Chart 2
Billboard Japan[8] 7

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Almaz : Randy Crawford". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  2. ^ Almaz - Randy Crawford | Song Info | AllMusic, retrieved June 20, 2021
  3. ^ Kyriazis, Stefan (November 10, 2016). "What happened to Randy Crawford? John Lewis Xmas advert covers her One Day I'll Fly Away". Express.co.uk. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Randy Crawford | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Brown, Helen (October 27, 2008). "Randy Crawford's journey from Street Life to sweet life". The Daily Telegraph. London, England. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "Randy Crawford". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 125. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. ^ Billboard (PDF). June 29, 1991. p. 72.
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