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| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs/tier-asc/50 |title=Explore: Soft Rock &#124; Top Songs &#124; AllMusic |date=2011-11-12 |accessdate=2014-06-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124014050/http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs/tier-asc/50 |archivedate=January 24, 2012 }}</ref>
| genre = [[Soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs/tier-asc/50 |title=Explore: Soft Rock &#124; Top Songs &#124; AllMusic |website=[[AllMusic]] |date=2011-11-12 |accessdate=2014-06-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124014050/http://allmusic.com/explore/metastyle/soft-rock-d4494/songs/tier-asc/50 |archivedate=January 24, 2012 }}</ref>
| length = 3:27
| length = 3:27
| label = [[Bang Records]]
| label = [[Bang Records]]
| writer = [[Neil Diamond]]
| writer = [[Neil Diamond]]
| producer =
| producer = [[Jeff Barry]]
| prev_title = [[Holly Holy]]
| prev_title = [[Holly Holy]]
| prev_year = 1969
| prev_year = 1969
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}}
}}


"'''Shilo'''" is a song written and recorded by [[Neil Diamond]]. It was originally recorded in 1967 for [[Bang Records]], but Diamond and Bang founder [[Bert Berns]] disagreed over Diamond's career path.<ref name="jackson"/> The singer wanted to move away from his early teen-oriented pop type of recordings that Berns favored, which led to Berns' refusal to release the more introspective "Shilo" as a single,<ref name="amg-bio"/> even though Diamond felt it was part of his development as an artist. "Shilo" was instead relegated to an album track on 1967's ''[[Just for You (Neil Diamond album)|Just for You]]''.<ref name="amg-bio">{{cite web | url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4083/biography|pure_url=yes}} | title=Neil Diamond: Biography | author=William Ruhlmann | website=[[Allmusic]] | accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref> Shortly after what was said to be a "tense" confrontation with Berns, Diamond departed Bang for [[Uni Records]] in 1968.
"'''Shilo'''" is a song written and recorded by [[Neil Diamond]]. It was originally recorded in 1967 for [[Bang Records]]. Though not one of Diamond's biggest hits, "Shilo" has become one of his best-known songs, and was a staple of his concert appearances. It was included on Diamond's 1972 ''[[Hot August Night]]'' live album as well as almost all of his compilation albums.
==Background==
Neil Diamond and Bang founder [[Bert Berns]] disagreed over Diamond's career path.<ref name="jackson"/> The singer wanted to move away from his early teen-oriented pop type of recordings that Berns favored, which led to Berns' refusal to release the more introspective "Shilo" as a single,<ref name="amg-bio"/> even though Diamond felt it was part of his development as an artist. "Shilo" was instead relegated to an album track on 1967's ''[[Just for You (Neil Diamond album)|Just for You]]''.<ref name="amg-bio">{{cite web | url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p4083/biography|pure_url=yes}} | title=Neil Diamond: Biography | author=William Ruhlmann | website=[[Allmusic]] | accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref> Shortly after what was said to be a "tense" confrontation with Berns, Diamond left Bang for [[Uni Records]] in 1968.
Diamond went into a commercial slump, without hits, but by January 1970, his career had rebounded with "[[Sweet Caroline]]" and "[[Holly Holy]]" on Uni/[[MCA Records]]. Bang Records finally released "Shilo" as a single, albeit with a new backing track recorded to make it sound fresher and more like Diamond's current style.<ref name="amg-bio"/> This reached #24 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. pop singles chart]] in spring 1970,<ref name="bb40">{{cite book | last=Whitburn | first=Joel | authorlink=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> inspiring Bang to release a new Neil Diamond compilation album that year titled ''[[Shilo (album)|Shilo]]''. It reached #8 on the [[Easy Listening]] chart, and peaked at #10 in South Africa.
Diamond went into a commercial slump, without hits, but by January 1970, his career had rebounded with "[[Sweet Caroline]]" and "[[Holly Holy]]" on Uni/[[MCA Records]]. Bang Records finally released "Shilo" as a single, albeit with a new backing track recorded to make it sound fresher and more like Diamond's current style.<ref name="amg-bio"/>


Following this, Diamond reissued his 1968 debut album with Uni, ''[[Velvet Gloves and Spit]]'', in October 1970, to incorporate a completely new recording of "Shilo".<ref name="amg-bio"/>
Following this, Diamond reissued his 1968 debut album with Uni, ''[[Velvet Gloves and Spit]]'', in October 1970, to incorporate a completely new recording of "Shilo".<ref name="amg-bio"/>
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:And we'd play ...
:And we'd play ...


The song was Diamond's most autobiographical to date, making reference to his lonely childhood amid turmoil.<ref name="jackson"/> Diamond's emotional investment in the song contributed to his and Berns's coming into intense conflict.<ref name="jackson"/> Decades later, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' would compare the song's posture to the [[emo]] style.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels |title=Neil Diamonds' Jewels |author=Dan Epstein |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2005-11-03 |accessdate=2008-05-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725135738/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels |archivedate=July 25, 2008 }}</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' called it a "hitting rhythm number with lover’s lyric."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=September 14, 1968 |page=20 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1968/CB-1968-09-14.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}</ref>
The song was Diamond's most autobiographical to date, making reference to his lonely childhood amid turmoil.<ref name="jackson"/> Diamond's emotional investment in the song contributed to his and Berns's coming into intense conflict.<ref name="jackson"/> Decades later, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' compared the song's posture to the [[emo]] style.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels |title=Neil Diamonds' Jewels |author=Dan Epstein |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=2005-11-03 |accessdate=2008-05-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725135738/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/neildiamond/articles/story/8730821/neil_diamonds_jewels |archivedate=July 25, 2008 }}</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' called it a "hitting rhythm number with lover’s lyric."<ref>{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=September 14, 1968 |page=20 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1968/CB-1968-09-14.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}</ref>


==Chart performance==
Though not one of Diamond's biggest hits, "Shilo" has become one of his best-known songs, and was a staple of his concert appearances. It was included on Diamond's 1972 ''[[Hot August Night]]'' live album as well as almost all of his compilation albums.
"Shilo" reached #24 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|U.S. pop singles chart]] in spring 1970,<ref name="bb40">{{cite book | last=Whitburn | first=Joel | authorlink=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> inspiring Bang to release a new Neil Diamond compilation album that year titled ''[[Shilo (album)|Shilo]]''. It reached #8 on the [[Easy Listening]] chart, and peaked at #10 in South Africa.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1970)
!Peak<br>position
|-
|South Africa
|align="center"|10
|-
|align="left"|US ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Easy Listening]]<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=78}}</ref>
|align="center"|8
|-
|align="left"|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]
|align="center"|24
|}


==Uses in popular culture==
==Uses in popular culture==
It appears in the [[2013 in film|2013]] film ''[[Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues]].''
*It appears in the [[2013 in film|2013]] film ''[[Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues]].''
⚫
*Shilo Dortmund, the protagonist in [[Andre Norton]] and Jean Rabe's fantasy novel ''[[Andre Norton bibliography#The Magic Sequence|Dragon Mage]]'', was named after the song by her Neil Diamond-fan parents.

⚫
*The song is used in the [[Disney+]] series ''[[The Mysterious Benedict Society (TV series)|The Mysterious Benedict Society]]'' in the episode "The Art of Conveyance and Round-Trippery".
⚫
Shilo Dortmund, the protagonist in [[Andre Norton]] and Jean Rabe's fantasy novel ''[[Andre Norton bibliography#The Magic Sequence|Dragon Mage]]'', was named after the song by her Neil Diamond-fan parents.

⚫
The song is used in the [[Disney+]] series ''[[The Mysterious Benedict Society (TV series)|The Mysterious Benedict Society]]'' in the episode "The Art of Conveyance and Round-Trippery", during a rather ironic moment when the character of Constance does the complete opposite of what the character Kate asked her to do, only for her to discover something vital.

Shilo is the name of the protagonist of ''[[Repo! The Genetic Opera]]'' and her name is a likely reference to the song.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Songs written by Neil Diamond]]
[[Category:Songs written by Neil Diamond]]
[[Category:Bang Records singles]]
[[Category:Bang Records singles]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jeff Barry]]

Latest revision as of 04:43, 18 December 2024

"Shilo"
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album Just for You
B-side"La Bamba"
Released1970
GenreSoft rock[1]
Length3:27
LabelBang Records
Songwriter(s)Neil Diamond
Producer(s)Jeff Barry
Neil Diamond singles chronology
"Holly Holy"
(1969) 		"Shilo"
(1970) 		"Until It's Time for You to Go"
(1970)

"Shilo" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond. It was originally recorded in 1967 for Bang Records. Though not one of Diamond's biggest hits, "Shilo" has become one of his best-known songs, and was a staple of his concert appearances. It was included on Diamond's 1972 Hot August Night live album as well as almost all of his compilation albums.

Background

[edit]

Neil Diamond and Bang founder Bert Berns disagreed over Diamond's career path.[2] The singer wanted to move away from his early teen-oriented pop type of recordings that Berns favored, which led to Berns' refusal to release the more introspective "Shilo" as a single,[3] even though Diamond felt it was part of his development as an artist. "Shilo" was instead relegated to an album track on 1967's Just for You.[3] Shortly after what was said to be a "tense" confrontation with Berns, Diamond left Bang for Uni Records in 1968. Diamond went into a commercial slump, without hits, but by January 1970, his career had rebounded with "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly Holy" on Uni/MCA Records. Bang Records finally released "Shilo" as a single, albeit with a new backing track recorded to make it sound fresher and more like Diamond's current style.[3]

Following this, Diamond reissued his 1968 debut album with Uni, Velvet Gloves and Spit, in October 1970, to incorporate a completely new recording of "Shilo".[3] "Shilo" is about a childhood imaginary friend:[2]

Shilo, when I was young —
I used to call your name
When no one else would come,
Shilo, you always came
And we'd play ...

The song was Diamond's most autobiographical to date, making reference to his lonely childhood amid turmoil.[2] Diamond's emotional investment in the song contributed to his and Berns's coming into intense conflict.[2] Decades later, Rolling Stone compared the song's posture to the emo style.[4] Cash Box called it a "hitting rhythm number with lover’s lyric."[5]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Shilo" reached #24 on the U.S. pop singles chart in spring 1970,[6] inspiring Bang to release a new Neil Diamond compilation album that year titled Shilo. It reached #8 on the Easy Listening chart, and peaked at #10 in South Africa.

Chart (1970) Peak
position
South Africa 10
US Billboard Easy Listening[7] 8
US Billboard Hot 100 24
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Explore: Soft Rock | Top Songs | AllMusic". AllMusic. 2011-11-12. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  2. ^ a b c d Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-707-6. p. 50.
  3. ^ a b c d William Ruhlmann. "Neil Diamond: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  4. ^ Dan Epstein (2005-11-03). "Neil Diamonds' Jewels". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  5. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 14, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1983). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: 1955 to present. Billboard Publications. ISBN 0-8230-7511-7. p. 88.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 78.
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