Cracklin' Rosie

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"Cracklin' Rosie"
Single by Neil Diamond
from the album Tap Root Manuscript
B-side"Lordy"
ReleasedJuly 30, 1970
GenreSoft rock, pop
Length2:54
LabelUni
Songwriter(s)Neil Diamond
Producer(s)Tom Catalano
Neil Diamond singles chronology
"Until It's Time For You To Go"
(1970) 		"Cracklin' Rosie"
(1970) 		"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
(1970)

"Cracklin' Rosie" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond in 1970, with instrumental backing by Los Angeles session musicians from the Wrecking Crew,[1] including Hal Blaine on drums, Larry Knechtel on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, Al Casey on guitar and Gene Estes on percussion – arranged by Don Randi. The song was included on Diamond's album Tap Root Manuscript. In October 1970[2] the song became Diamond's first American No. 1 hit within the Billboard Hot 100, and his third to sell a million copies.[2] It was his breakthrough single on the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 3 for four weeks in November and December. Billboard ranked the record as the No. 17 song of 1970.[3] It also reached No. 2 in both the Australian Singles Chart[4] and the Irish Singles Chart. Its best performance was in New Zealand, where it stayed at No. 1 for five weeks at the end of the year.[5]

The single version released by Uni Records was in mono, while the album version from Tap Root Manuscript was in stereo.

Song meaning[edit]

Married to a catchy and dynamic melody and arrangement, the lyrics suggested to some a devotion to a woman of the night:[2]

Oh, I love my Rosie child —
You got the way to make me happy.
You and me, we go in style...
Cracklin' Rose, you're a store-bought woman
But you make me sing like a guitar hummin' ...

The stories about how Diamond was inspired to write the song are apocryphal. "Crackling Rosé" is the name of an inexpensive sparkling wine once produced by Andres Wines of British Columbia, Canada, which was popular among the Indigenous population. One story suggests that Diamond heard a story about a native Canadian tribe while interviewing in Toronto, Canada—the tribe had more men than women, so the lonely men of the tribe would sit around the fire and drink their wine together—which inspired him to write the song.[2]

Reception[edit]

Record World said that it "has the sound of a classic like 'Sweet Caroline'" and "an excellent chance for quick gold."[6] Billboard called it a "clever rhythm item that has it to hit with all the potent sales of another 'Sweet Caroline' or 'Holly Holy.'"[7]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions[edit]

Mexican singer Roberto Jordán recorded a Spanish language version of the song, titled "Rosa marchita" (Which Means "Withered rose"). The lyrics of this version depart from the original Neil Diamond lyrics, instead telling a story about a lost love. This version topped the charts in Mexico in 1971.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  2. ^ a b c d Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion. ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-707-6. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2016-10-14. pp. 70–71.
  3. ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970
  4. ^ "Go-Set Australian charts - 5 December 1970". Poparchives.com.au. 1970-12-05. Archived from the original on 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  5. ^ The official New Zealand music chart;RIANZ website
  6. ^ "Single Picks of the Week" (PDF). Record World. August 15, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  7. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. August 15, 1970. p. 78. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
  8. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Cracklin' Rosie". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  10. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1970" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Flavour of New Zealand". 1970-12-21. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  12. ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Neil Diamond: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  14. ^ "Neil Diamond Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  15. ^ "Neil Diamond Chart History (Easy Listening)". Billboard
  16. ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 17, 1970
  17. ^ "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2018-01-13.
  18. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca. 17 July 2013.
  19. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1970" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  20. ^ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1970". Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  21. ^ Musicoutfitters.com
  22. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1970". Archived from the original on July 22, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  23. ^ "British single certifications – Neil Diamond – Cracklin Rosie". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  24. ^ "American single certifications – Neil Diamond – Cracklin' Rosie". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  25. ^ "Billboard "Hits of the World"". 13 November 1971. p. 64. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
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