Solitary Man (song): Difference between revisions

"Solitary Man"
"Solitary Man"
Single by Chris Isaak
from the album San Francisco Days
B-side	"Wicked Game"
Released	1993
Recorded	1992
Genre	Rock
Length	2:37
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Neil Diamond
Chris Isaak singles chronology

"Solitary Man"
"Solitary Man"
Single by T.G. Sheppard
from the album Solitary Man
B-side	"Shame"
Released	May 29, 1976
Genre	Country
Length	2:39
Label	Hitsville
Songwriter(s)	Neil Diamond
T.G. Sheppard singles chronology

"Solitary Man"
"Solitary Man"
	Cover to 1970 re-release
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album The Feel of Neil Diamond
B-side	"Do It" (1966 release); "The Time Is Now" (1970 re-release);
Released	April 4, 1966
Recorded	January 24, 1966
Genre	Rock, soft rock
Length	2:27
Label	BANG
Songwriter(s)	Neil Diamond
Producer(s)	Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich
Neil Diamond singles chronology

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"Solitary Man" is a song written by American musician Neil Diamond, who recorded the song for Bang Records in late January 1966. It has since been covered many times, notably by T. G. Sheppard, Gianni Morandi, Chris Isaak, Johnny Cash and HIM.

History

Recorded in late January 1966 and initially released on Bang Records in April 1966, "Solitary Man" was Diamond's debut single as a recording artist, having already had moderate (but accidental) success as a songwriter for other artists; their versions of the songs he had already written and composed were released before his own versions.^[1] By July, the track had become a minor hit, rising to No. 55 on the U.S. pop singles chart.^[1] It would then be included on Diamond's first album, The Feel of Neil Diamond, which he released in August 1966.^[1]

The song is a "ballad of a loner looking for love."^[2] The theme of the song has been closely identified with Diamond himself, as evinced by a 2008 profile in The Daily Telegraph: "This is the Solitary Man depicted on his first hit in 1966: the literate, thoughtful and melodically adventurous composer of songs that cover a vast array of moods and emotions..."^[3]

In the lyrics, the singer lists some of his relationships and how they each ended. He laments "I know it's been done, having one girl who loves you." But he doubts it will happen for him. Indeed, Diamond himself would tell interviewers in the 2000s, "After four years of Freudian analysis, I realized I had written 'Solitary Man' about myself."^[4]

After Diamond had renewed commercial success with Uni Records at the end of the decade, Bang Records re-released "Solitary Man" as a single and it reached No. 21 on the U.S. pop charts in the summer of 1970.^[5] It also reached No. 6 on the Easy Listening chart.^[6]

Billboard praised the "solid dance beat and excellent production backing."^[2] Record World said that the "acoustic backing is just right for [Diamond] to get another ride to the top of the charts."^[7]

Diamond originally recorded two versions of the song, as he later did with "Cherry, Cherry." The one version had his harmonic vocal track on the refrain of the song, along with accompaniment by a wordless female chorus. The other version was him singing the song alone, without his prerecorded harmony or the female chorus.^{[citation needed]}

In a 2005 Rolling Stone retrospective, Dan Epstein wrote, "'Solitary Man' remains the most brilliantly efficient song in the Diamond collection. There's not a wasted word or chord in this two-and-a-half minute anthem of heartbreak and self-affirmation, which introduced the melancholy loner persona that he's repeatedly returned to throughout his career."^[8]

Chart history

Chart (1966)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles^[9]	56
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	55
US Cash Box Top 100	60

Chart (1970)	Peak position
Australia Go-Set	36
Canada RPM Top Singles^[11]	31
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[12]	24
US Billboard Hot 100^[10]	21
US Billboard Easy Listening^[13]	6
US Cash Box Top 100^[14]	20

Notable cover versions

T. G. Sheppard version

In 1976, T. G. Sheppard released a cover version for Hitsville Records, a country-focused sub-label of Motown Records. It went to No. 14 on the U.S. country music chart (Hot Country Songs) and No. 100 on the Hot 100. The song charted best on the Canadian country chart, at No. 11. It was also a hit on the Easy Listening charts of both nations.

Gianni Morandi version

Italian singer Gianni Morandi recorded a cover version titled "Se perdo anche te" ("If I Also Lose You"). The author of the Italian lyrics was Franco Migliacci, who was Morandi's producer at that time. "Se perdo anche te" spent ten weeks on the Italian pop chart in 1967, peaking at No. 1 for one week.^[15] The song was arranged by Ennio Morricone, who at that time conducted many tunes published by the Italian branch of the RCA Victor Records label.^{[citation needed]}

Chris Isaak version

Chris Isaak included "Solitary Man" as the only cover song on his 1993 album San Francisco Days. The music video for Isaak's version of the song was directed by Larry Clark. Isaak said that he chose the song because his mother was a fan of Diamond, and he liked the song's lyrics, especially the clever rhymes. Isaak noted that Diamond's version has a horn section playing in a manner reminiscent of the 1968 television series Hawaii Five-O.^[16]

Johnny Cash version

"Solitary Man"
Song by Johnny Cash
from the album American III: Solitary Man
Language	English
Released	October 17, 2000 (24 years ago) (2000-10-17)
Genre	Country
Length	2:26
Label	American Recordings
Songwriter(s)	Neil Diamond
Producer(s)	John Carter Cash, Rick Rubin

Johnny Cash used "Solitary Man" for the title track of his third album under the American Recordings label, American III: Solitary Man, in 2000, featuring guest backing vocals by Tom Petty. The recording received a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

HIM version

"Solitary Man"

Single by HIM

from the album And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004

Released

March 1, 2004^[17]

Length

3:36

Neil Diamond

HIM

HIM singles chronology

"The Sacrament"
(2003)

"Solitary Man"
(2004)

"And Love Said No"
(2004)

In 2004, Finnish band HIM covered "Solitary Man" for their first compilation album, And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004. It was released as a single, and Bam Margera produced a music video created for it. This cover peaked at No. 2 in Finland and became HIM's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart

Track listings

Finnish and European version

"Solitary Man" – 3:38
"Please Don't Let It Go" (live) – 3:14
"Join Me in Death" (live) – 4:59
"Website extras included as Enhanced CD content"

UK DVD single

"Solitary Man" (video) – 3:36
"Right Here in My Arms" (video) – 3:30
Bam Margera's making of Buried Alive By Love" – 1:58
Pandora's slideshow – 4:00
"Your Sweet 666" (audio—live 2003) – 4:40

UK CD single

"Solitary Man"
"Please Don't Let it Go" (punk rock version—live 2003)

UK 7-inch vinyl

"Solitary Man"
(Etched B-side contains no music)

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[17]	45
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[18]	2
Germany (GfK)^[19]	17
Scotland (OCC)^[20]	13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[21]	37
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[22]	40
UK Singles (OCC)^[23]	9
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[24]	2

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d William Ruhlmann. "Neil Diamond: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
^ ^a ^b "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. April 16, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
^ Neil McCormick (March 5, 2008). "Neil Diamond: the hurt, the dirt, the shirts". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
^ Pete Paphides (April 7, 2006). "I'll be what I am. A solitary man". The Times. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1983). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955 to present. Billboard Publications. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7. p. 88.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 72.
^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 4, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
^ Dan Epstein (November 3, 2005). "Neil Diamond's Jewels". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 18, 1966. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. September 19, 1970. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. August 14, 1976. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 72.
^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 19, 1971^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Musica e dischi Italian music chart. (In Italian.) Search for "se perdo anche te" under tipo = singoli.
^ Cronin, Peter (June 12, 1993). "Music Publishing: 'They're Playing My Song'". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 24. p. 17. ISSN 0006-2510.
^ ^a ^b "HIM – Solitary Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "HIM: Solitary Man" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "HIM – Solitary Man" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "HIM – Solitary Man". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "HIM – Solitary Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

External links

Neil Diamond - Solitary Man on YouTube

[amg-bio-1] William Ruhlmann. "Neil Diamond: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 30, 2008.

[bb-2] "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. April 16, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

[3] Neil McCormick (March 5, 2008). "Neil Diamond: the hurt, the dirt, the shirts". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2008.

[4] Pete Paphides (April 7, 2006). "I'll be what I am. A solitary man". The Times. Retrieved May 8, 2008.

[bb40-5] Whitburn, Joel (1983). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955 to present. Billboard Publications. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7. p. 88.

[6] Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 72.

[7] "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 4, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved April 26, 2023.

[8] Dan Epstein (November 3, 2005). "Neil Diamond's Jewels". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2008.

[9] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 18, 1966. Retrieved April 4, 2017.

[ReferenceA-10] Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X

[11] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. September 19, 1970. Retrieved April 4, 2017.

[12] "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. August 14, 1976. Retrieved October 28, 2018.

[13] Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 72.

[14] Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 19, 1971^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[15] Musica e dischi Italian music chart. (In Italian.) Search for "se perdo anche te" under tipo = singoli.

[16] Cronin, Peter (June 12, 1993). "Music Publishing: 'They're Playing My Song'". Billboard. Vol. 105, no. 24. p. 17. ISSN 0006-2510.

[aut-17] "HIM – Solitary Man" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[sc_Finland_HIM-18] "HIM: Solitary Man" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[sc_Germany_HIM-19] "HIM – Solitary Man" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[sc_Scotland_-20] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[sc_Sweden_HIM-21] "HIM – Solitary Man". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[sc_Switzerland_HIM-22] "HIM – Solitary Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[sc_UK_-23] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

[sc_UKrock_-24] "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 15, 2022.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|1966 single by Neil Diamond}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
 {{Infobox song
 | name          = Solitary Man
@@ Line 11: / Line 14: @@
 | recorded      = January 24, 1966
 | studio        =
-| venue         =
+| genre         = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[soft rock]]
-| genre         = [[Soft rock]], [[rock]]
 | length        = {{Duration|m=2|s=27}}
 | label         = [[Bang Records|BANG]]
@@ Line 22: / Line 24: @@
 | next_year     = 1966
 }}
-"'''Solitary Man'''" is a song that was written and composed by American musician [[Neil Diamond]], who himself initially recorded the song for [[Bang Records|BANG Records]] in late January 1966. It has since been covered many times by such artists as [[Billy Joe Royal]], [[B.J. Thomas]], [[Jay and the Americans]], [[T. G. Sheppard]], [[Gianni Morandi]], [[The Sidewinders]], [[Chris Isaak]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Johnny Rivers]], [[HIM (Finnish band)|HIM]], [[Crooked Fingers]], [[Cliff Richard]], [[Ólöf Arnalds]], [[Theuns Jordaan]] and [[Farhad Mehrad]].
+"'''Solitary Man'''" is a song written by American musician [[Neil Diamond]], who recorded the song for [[Bang Records]] in late January 1966. It has since been covered many times, notably by [[T. G. Sheppard]], [[Gianni Morandi]], [[Chris Isaak]], [[Johnny Cash]] and [[HIM (Finnish band)|HIM]].
 ==History==
-Recorded in late January 1966 and initially released on [[Bang Records|BANG Records]] in April 1966, "Solitary Man" was Diamond's debut single as a recording artist, having already had moderate (but accidental) success as a songwriter for other artists; their versions of the songs he had already written and composed were released before his ''own'' versions of them were.<ref name="amg-bio">{{cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4083/biography|pure_url=yes}} | title=Neil Diamond: Biography | author=William Ruhlmann | publisher=[[Allmusic]] | access-date=2008-04-30}}</ref> By July, the track had become a minor hit, rising to #55 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. pop singles chart]].<ref name="amg-bio"/> It would then be included on Diamond's first album, ''[[The Feel of Neil Diamond]],'' which he released in August 1966.<ref name="amg-bio"/>
+Recorded in late January 1966 and initially released on [[Bang Records]] in April 1966, "Solitary Man" was Diamond's debut single as a recording artist, having already had moderate (but accidental) success as a songwriter for other artists; their versions of the songs he had already written and composed were released before his ''own'' versions.<ref name="amg-bio">{{cite web | url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4083/biography|pure_url=yes}} | title=Neil Diamond: Biography | author=William Ruhlmann | publisher=[[Allmusic]] | access-date=April 30, 2008}}</ref> By July, the track had become a minor hit, rising to No. 55 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. pop singles chart]].<ref name="amg-bio"/> It would then be included on Diamond's first album, ''[[The Feel of Neil Diamond]],'' which he released in August 1966.<ref name="amg-bio"/>
+The song is a "ballad of a loner looking for love."<ref name=bb/> The theme of the song has been closely identified with Diamond himself, as evinced by a 2008 profile in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'': "This is the Solitary Man depicted on his first hit in 1966: the literate, thoughtful and melodically adventurous composer of songs that cover a vast array of moods and emotions..."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/05/03/bmdiamond103.xml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503110753/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/05/03/bmdiamond103.xml | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 3, 2008 | title=Neil Diamond: the hurt, the dirt, the shirts | author=Neil McCormick | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=March 5, 2008 | access-date=May 2, 2008}}</ref>
-The song is a "ballad of a loner looking for love."<ref name=bb/>  While nominally about young romantic failure, lines in the lyrics that read:
+In the lyrics, the singer lists some of his relationships and how they each ended.  He laments "I know it's been done, having one girl who loves you."  But he doubts it will happen for him.  Indeed, Diamond himself would tell interviewers in the 2000s, "After four years of [[Psychoanalysis|Freudian analysis]], I realized I had written 'Solitary Man' about {{em|myself}}."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article702596.ece | title=I'll be what I am. A solitary man | author=Pete Paphides | newspaper=[[The Times]] | date=April 7, 2006 | access-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref>
-{{poemquote|
-Don't know that I will
-But until I can find me
-A girl who'll stay
-And won't play games behind me
-I'll be what I am—
-A solitary man...
-Solitary man
-}}
+After Diamond had renewed commercial success with [[Uni Records]] at the end of the decade, Bang Records re-released "Solitary Man" as a single and it reached No. 21 on the U.S. pop charts in the summer of 1970.<ref name="bb40">{{cite book | last=Whitburn | first=Joel | author-link=Joel Whitburn | title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955 to present | publisher=[[Billboard Publications]] | year=1983 | isbn=0-8230-7511-7 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/billboardbookoft0000whit_x9d9 }} p. 88.</ref>  It also reached No. 6 on the Easy Listening chart.<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=72}}</ref>
-have been closely identified with Diamond himself, as evinced by a 2008 profile in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]:'' "This is the Solitary Man depicted on his first hit in 1966: the literate, thoughtful and melodically adventurous composer of songs that cover a vast array of moods and emotions..."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/05/03/bmdiamond103.xml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503110753/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/05/03/bmdiamond103.xml | url-status=dead | archive-date=2008-05-03 | title=Neil Diamond: the hurt, the dirt, the shirts | author=Neil McCormick | newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=2008-03-05 | access-date=2008-05-02}}</ref> Indeed, Diamond himself would tell interviewers in the 2000s, "After four years of Freudian analysis, I realized I had written 'Solitary Man' about ''myself''."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article702596.ece | title=I'll be what I am. A solitary man | author=Pete Paphides | newspaper=[[The Times]] | date=2006-04-07 | access-date=2008-05-08}}</ref>
+''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' praised the "solid dance beat and excellent production backing."<ref name=bb>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=March 4, 2021|date=April 16, 1966|page=18|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-04-16.pdf}}</ref> ''[[Record World]]'' said that the "acoustic backing is just right for [Diamond] to get another ride to the top of the charts."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Single Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=July 4, 1970|page=1|accessdate=April 26, 2023|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-07-04.pdf}}</ref>
-"Solitary Man's" dynamic melody, matched with the melancholic universality of its lyrics, would make the song an attractive target for later interpretations.
+Diamond originally recorded two versions of the song, as he later did with "[[Cherry, Cherry]]." The one version had his harmonic vocal track on the refrain of the song, along with accompaniment by a wordless female chorus. The other version was him singing the song alone, without his prerecorded harmony or the female chorus.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}<!-- the whole paragraph -->
-After Diamond had renewed commercial success with [[Uni Records]] at the end of the decade, BANG Records re-released "Solitary Man" as a single and it reached No. 21 on the U.S. pop charts in the summer of 1970.<ref name="bb40">{{cite book | last=Whitburn | first=Joel | author-link=Joel Whitburn | title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955 to present | publisher=[[Billboard Publications]] | year=1983 | isbn=0-8230-7511-7 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/billboardbookoft0000whit_x9d9 }} p. 88.</ref>  It also reached No. 6 on the Easy Listening chart.<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=72}}</ref>  ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' praised the "solid dance beat and excellent production backing."<ref name=bb>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2021-03-04|date=April 16, 1966|page=18|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1966/Billboard%201966-04-16.pdf}}</ref>
+In a 2005 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' retrospective, Dan Epstein wrote, {{"'}}Solitary Man' remains the most brilliantly efficient song in the Diamond collection. There's not a wasted word or chord in this two-and-a-half minute anthem of heartbreak and self-affirmation, which introduced the melancholy loner persona that he's repeatedly returned to throughout his career."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725135738/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 25, 2008 | title=Neil Diamond's Jewels | author=Dan Epstein | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=November 3, 2005 | access-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref>
-Diamond originally recorded two versions of the song, as he later did with "[[Cherry, Cherry]]." The one version had his harmonic vocal track on the refrain of the song, along with accompaniment by a wordless female chorus. The other version was him singing the song alone, without his prerecorded harmony or the female chorus.
-On such live albums as ''[[Gold: Recorded Live at the Troubadour]],'' ''[[Hot August Night]],'' and some subsequent recordings, Diamond altered the lyrics to "then ''you'' came along" from the original "then ''Sue'' came along."  Many critics consider "Solitary Man" to be Diamond's signature tune.
-In a 2005 ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' retrospective, Dan Epstein wrote, {{"'}}Solitary Man' remains the most brilliantly efficient song in the Diamond collection. There's not a wasted word or chord in this two-and-a-half minute anthem of heartbreak and self-affirmation, which introduced the melancholy loner persona that he's repeatedly returned to throughout his career."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725135738/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 25, 2008 | title=Neil Diamond's Jewels | author=Dan Epstein | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=2005-11-03 | access-date=2008-05-08}}</ref>
 ==Chart history==
@@ Line 59: / Line 49: @@
 !Peak<br />position
 |-
-|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=2820& |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1966-07-18 |access-date=2017-04-04}}</ref>
+|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=2820& |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=July 18, 1966 |access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|56
 |-
@@ Line 78: / Line 68: @@
 | style="text-align:center;"|36
 |-
-|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3805&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3805.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3805 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1970-09-19 |access-date=2017-04-04}}</ref>
+|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3805&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3805.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3805 |title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=September 19, 1970 |access-date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|31
 |-
-|Canada ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4281&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4281.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4281|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=1976-08-14 |access-date=2018-10-28}}</ref>
+|Canada ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4281&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4281.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4281|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=August 14, 1976 |access-date=October 28, 2018}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|24
 |-
@@ Line 108: / Line 98: @@
 | recorded      =
 | studio        =
-| venue         =
 | genre         = [[Country music|Country]]
 | length        = {{Duration|m=2|s=39}}
@@ Line 120: / Line 109: @@
 }}
-In 1976, [[T. G. Sheppard]] released a cover version for Hitsville Records, a country-focused sub-label of [[Motown Records]]. It went to #14 on the U.S. country music chart ([[Hot Country Songs]]) and #100 on the Hot 100. The song charted best on the Canadian country chart, at No. 11.<br />
+In 1976, [[T. G. Sheppard]] released a cover version for Hitsville Records, a country-focused sub-label of [[Motown Records]]. It went to No. 14 on the U.S. country music chart ([[Hot Country Songs]]) and No. 100 on the Hot 100. The song charted best on the Canadian country chart, at No. 11. It was also a hit on the Easy Listening charts of both nations.
-It was also a hit on the Easy Listening charts of both nations.
 {{Clear}}
 === Gianni Morandi version ===
-In 1966, famous Italian singer [[Gianni Morandi]] recorded a cover version titled "Se perdo anche te" ("If I also lose you"). The author of the Italian lyrics was [[Franco Migliacci]], who was Morandi's producer at that time and who, eight years before, had written the lyrics to [[Domenico Modugno]]'s international hit "[[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song) |Nel blu, dipinto di blu]] (Volare)."<br />
+Italian singer [[Gianni Morandi]] recorded a cover version titled "Se perdo anche te" ("If I Also Lose You"). The author of the Italian lyrics was [[Franco Migliacci]], who was Morandi's producer at that time. "Se perdo anche te" spent ten weeks on the Italian pop chart in 1967, peaking at No. 1 for one week.<ref>[http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php ''Musica e dischi''] Italian music chart. (In Italian.) Search for "se perdo anche te" under tipo = singoli.</ref> The song was arranged by [[Ennio Morricone]], who at that time conducted many tunes published by the Italian branch of the [[RCA Victor]] Records label.{{cn|date=May 2024}}
-This song was arranged by [[Ennio Morricone]], who at that time conducted many tunes published by the Italian branch of the [[RCA Victor]] Records label, and was the B-Side of "[[C'era un ragazzo che come me amava i Beatles e i Rolling Stones]]," or "There was a boy who, like me, loved the Beatles and the Rolling Stones," a song against the [[Vietnam war|Vietnam War]].
-=== The Sidewinders version ===
-The [[Tucson, Arizona]] alternative rock band [[The Sidewinders]] added a version of the song as the fifth track on their 1989 hit album ''Witchdoctor.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/witchdoctor-mw0000653333|title=Witchdoctor - Sidewinders - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref>
 === Chris Isaak version ===
@@ Line 155: / Line 139: @@
 }}
-[[Chris Isaak]] covered "Solitary Man" as the last selection of his 1993 album ''[[San Francisco Days]].'' The music video for Isaak's version of the song was directed by [[Larry Clark]]. {{Clear}}
+[[Chris Isaak]] included "Solitary Man" as the only cover song on his 1993 album ''[[San Francisco Days]].'' The music video for Isaak's version of the song was directed by [[Larry Clark]]. Isaak said that he chose the song because his mother was a fan of Diamond, and he liked the song's lyrics, especially the clever rhymes. Isaak noted that Diamond's version has a [[horn section]] playing in a manner reminiscent of the 1968 television series ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9A8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17 |page=17 |title=Music Publishing: 'They're Playing My Song' |last=Cronin |first=Peter |date=June 12, 1993 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=105 |number=24 |issn=0006-2510}}</ref>
+{{Clear}}
 === Johnny Cash version ===
@@ Line 166: / Line 151: @@
 | album    = [[American III: Solitary Man]]
 | language = [[English language|English]]
-| released = October 17, [[2000 in music|2000]]
+| released = {{start date and age|2000|10|17|paren=y|br=y}}
 | recorded =
 | studio   =
-| venue    =
 | genre    = [[Country music|Country]]
 | length   = {{Duration|m=2|s=26}}
@@ Line 177: / Line 161: @@
 }}
-[[Johnny Cash]] used "Solitary Man" for the title track of his 3rd album under the ''[[American Recordings (record label)|American Recordings]]'' label, ''[[American III: Solitary Man]],'' in 2000 featuring guest back vocals of [[Tom Petty]]. The recording received a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Best Male Country Vocal Performance]]. His recording of the song was used in the penultimate episode of ''[[Stargate Atlantis]],'' "Vegas," and in the 17th episode of the fifth season of ''[[Criminal Minds]].'' In ''Stargate Atlantis,'' the song was used twice during the same episode: the first time had the character, Detective John Shepard listening to it on the radio as he drove with a montage going, and the second was shortly before the credits, when Shepard apparently died. This recording was also used for the opening credits of the 2010 film ''[[Solitary Man (film)|Solitary Man]],'' which starred [[Michael Douglas]].{{Clear}}
+[[Johnny Cash]] used "Solitary Man" for the title track of his third album under the ''[[American Recordings (record label)|American Recordings]]'' label, ''[[American III: Solitary Man]]'', in [[2000 in music|2000]], featuring guest backing vocals by [[Tom Petty]]. The recording received a [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Best Male Country Vocal Performance]].
+{{Clear}}
 === HIM version ===
@@ Line 190: / Line 175: @@
 | recorded   =
 | studio     =
-| venue      =
 | genre      =
 | length     = 3:36
@@ Line 246: / Line 230: @@
 {{single chart|UKrock|2|date=20040508|access-date=January 15, 2022}}
 |}
-=== Skin Flesh & Bones version ===
-[[Lloyd Parks|Skin Flesh & Bones]] recorded a reggae cover of it on their 1974 [[7"]] release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Skin-Flesh-Bones-I-Got-To-Go-On-Without-You/release/3425309|title=Skin, Flesh & Bones - Solitary Man|website=Discogs|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref>
-=== Tony Carey version ===
-[[Tony Carey]] covered "Solitary Man" on his album ''Only the Young Die Good'' and on the album ''The Boystown Tapes.''{{cn|date=May 2022}}
-=== Jussi Syren and the Groundbreakers version ===
-Jussi Syren and the Groundbreakers <ref>[[:fi:Jussi Syren and The Groundbreakers|Jussi Syren And The Groundbreakers]]</ref> recorded a [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] version on their album ''Heartagrass - An Acoustic Tribute to HIM,''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Jussi-Syren-And-The-Groundbreakers-Heartagrass-An-Acoustic-Tribute-To-HIM/release/1984993|title=Jussi Syren And The Groundbreakers - Heartagrass - An Acoustic Tribute To HIM|website=Discogs|access-date=13 August 2017}}</ref> a tribute to fellow [[Finland|Finnish]] performers [[HIM (Finnish band)|HIM]], whose version of the selection is described above.
 ==References==
@@ Line 263: / Line 238: @@
 {{Neil Diamond singles}}
-{{Jay and the Americans}}
 {{T. G. Sheppard}}
 {{Chris Isaak}}
@@ Line 277: / Line 251: @@
 [[Category:Songs written by Neil Diamond]]
 [[Category:Neil Diamond songs]]
-[[Category:Billy Joe Royal songs]]
-[[Category:Jay and the Americans songs]]
 [[Category:T. G. Sheppard songs]]
 [[Category:Johnny Cash songs]]
@@ Line 286: / Line 258: @@
 [[Category:Bang Records singles]]
 [[Category:Reprise Records singles]]
-[[Category:Songs about infidelity]]
+[[Category:Bertelsmann Music Group singles]]
+[[Category:RCA Records singles]]
 [[Category:Songs about loneliness]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jeff Barry]]
+[[Category:Song recordings produced by Ellie Greenwich]]

v t e Neil Diamond
Discography
Studio albums	The Feel of Neil Diamond Just for You Velvet Gloves and Spit Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show Touching You, Touching Me Tap Root Manuscript Stones Moods Serenade Beautiful Noise I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight You Don't Bring Me Flowers September Morn On the Way to the Sky Heartlight Primitive Headed for the Future The Best Years of Our Lives Lovescape The Christmas Album Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building The Christmas Album, Volume II Tennessee Moon The Movie Album: As Time Goes By Three Chord Opera 12 Songs Home Before Dark A Cherry Cherry Christmas Dreams Melody Road
Soundtrack albums	Jonathan Livingston Seagull The Jazz Singer
Live albums	Gold: Recorded Live at the Troubadour Hot August Night Love at the Greek Hot August Night II Live in America Stages: Performances 1970–2002 Hot August Night/NYC
Compilation albums	Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits Shilo Rainbow His 12 Greatest Hits And the Singer Sings His Song Classics: The Early Years The Greatest Hits: 1966–1992 The Neil Diamond Collection Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings...Plus! The Essential Neil Diamond Neil Diamond 50 – 50th Anniversary Collection A Neil Diamond Christmas
Singles	"Solitary Man" "Cherry, Cherry" "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" "Kentucky Woman" "New Orleans" "Red Red Wine" "Two-Bit Manchild" "Shilo" "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" "Sweet Caroline" "Holly Holy" "Until It's Time for You to Go" "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind" "Solitary Man" (re-release) "Cracklin' Rosie" "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" "I Am... I Said" "Done Too Soon" "I'm a Believer" "Crunchy Granola Suite" "Song Sung Blue" "Play Me" "Cherry, Cherry" "The Last Thing on My Mind" "Longfellow Serenade" "I've Been This Way Before" "If You Know What I Mean" "Don't Think... Feel" "Desiree" "God Only Knows" "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" "Forever in Blue Jeans" "Dancing in the Street" "Love on the Rocks" "Hello Again" "America" "Yesterday's Songs" "On the Way to the Sky" "Heartlight"
Other songs	"Sunflower"
Concert tours	50 Year Anniversary World Tour
Related articles	The Jazz Singer (film) A Beautiful Noise (musical)
Category

v t e T. G. Sheppard
Discography
Studio albums	3/4 Lonely Smooth Sailin' I Love 'Em All Finally! Perfect Stranger Slow Burn One Owner Heart Livin' on the Edge It Still Rains in Memphis One for the Money
Compilation albums	T. G. Sheppard's Greatest Hits
Singles	"Devil in the Bottle" "Tryin' to Beat the Morning Home" "Motels and Memories" "Solitary Man" "Happy Together" "You Feel Good All Over" "Last Cheater's Waltz" "I'll Be Coming Back for More" "Smooth Sailin'" "Do You Wanna Go to Heaven" "I Feel Like Loving You Again" "I Loved 'Em Every One" "Party Time" "Only One You" "Finally" "War Is Hell (On the Homefront Too)" "Faking Love" "Without You" "Slow Burn" "Make My Day" "Somewhere Down the Line" "One Owner Heart" "You're Going Out of My Mind" "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" "Doncha?" "In Over My Heart" "Strong Heart" "Half Past Forever (Till I'm Blue in the Heart)" "You're My First Lady" "One for the Money" "You Still Do"

v t e Chris Isaak
Discography
Studio albums	Silvertone Chris Isaak Heart Shaped World San Francisco Days Forever Blue Baja Sessions Speak of the Devil Always Got Tonight Christmas Mr. Lucky Beyond the Sun First Comes the Night
Singles	"Heart Full of Soul" "Wicked Game" "Solitary Man" "Somebody's Crying" "Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing" "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (with Stevie Nicks) "I Want You to Want Me"
Compilation/live albums	Wicked Game 3 for One Best of Chris Isaak Live in Australia Live at the Fillmore
Television	The Chris Isaak Show The Chris Isaak Hour

v t e HIM
Ville Valo Mige Linde Gas Lipstick Burton
Studio albums	Greatest Lovesongs Vol. 666 Razorblade Romance Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights Love Metal Dark Light Venus Doom Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice Tears on Tape
Live albums	Digital Versatile Doom
Compilation albums	And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997–2004 Uneasy Listening Vol. 1 & 2 XX – Two Decades of Love Metal
Remix albums	SWRMXS
Extended plays	666 Ways to Love: Prologue
Box sets	Lashes to Ashes, Lust to Dust: A Vinyl Retrospective '96–'03
Singles	"Wicked Game" "Join Me in Death" "Pretending" "The Funeral of Hearts" "Buried Alive by Love" "The Sacrament" "Solitary Man" "Wings of a Butterfly" "Killing Loneliness" "The Kiss of Dawn" "Heartkiller" "Strange World"
Video releases	The Video Collection: 1997–2003 Love Metal Archives Vol. I Digital Versatile Doom
Related articles	Discography Helldone Bang and Whimper 2017 – The Farewell Tour Daniel Lioneye