What Was Neil Diamond’s First U.S. Top-40 Hit Single?

Few artists in music history proved as consistent and durable in terms of singles success as Neil Diamond. The legend posted an astounding 37 U.S. Top-40 hits over a stretch of roughly 20 years. That doesn’t even take into account the songs that he wrote for others that turned into smashes.

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But what was the song that started it all off for Neil in terms of his chart dominance? For that, you have to go back to the mid-’60s, when it was far from a foregone conclusion that Diamond could make the leap from writer-for-hire to artist in his own right.

Early Struggles

Did you know that, if the United States had a professional fencing league, it’s possible the world would have never been turned on to Neil Diamond’s copious musical skills? Diamond did indeed go to college on a fencing scholarship. But he dropped out when he got a job doing what he loved the most: writing songs.

Alas, that job was short-lived, as Diamond struggled to write any hits in the early ’60s. He was also scuffling trying to build a career as an artist. For a while, he was part of a duo, and he also released some singles on his own. None went anywhere.

As someone who also wrote poetry, Diamond surmised he was focusing a bit too much on the words and not the music. By the middle of the decade, he was starting to find his hook-filled groove as a writer. But he would get significant help on the song that would become his breakthrough hit.

Oh “Cherry”

Having secured a deal with Bang Records in 1966, Diamond delivered his first minor chart hit in “Solitary Man,” which went to No. 55 in 1966. But it was “Cherry, Cherry,” the closing track on his debut album The Feel of Neil Diamond, which truly captured the public’s imagination.

Diamond came up with an acoustic guitar riff that sounded like an homage to “Bye Bye Love” by The Everly Brothers. Co-producer Jeff Barry liked what he heard, and suggested the artist finish it. Barry’s producing partner (and ex-wife) Ellie Greenwich came up with the song title (it was originally “Money, Money”) and also arranged (and helped perform) the backing vocals.

Diamond and company produced a demo they all liked. But when full drums and horns were added to “Cherry, Cherry,” it lost some of its charm. The demo was eventually chosen to be the finished version. With Diamond’s slick delivery of some sultry lyrics (Won’t need bright lights, no, no, we won’t / Gonna make our own lightning), a simple, ruthlessly catchy song was born.

A Hit So Nice, They Recorded It Twice

“Cherry, Cherry” rolled to No. 6 upon its release in 1966. Not only did it solidify Diamond’s solo career, but it also raised his profile as a songwriter other artists might cover. That’s exactly what happened a year later, when The Monkees took Diamond’s “I’m a Believer” all the way to the top of the charts.

Diamond wasn’t quite done with his first big hit, however. In 1972, he released the album Hot August Night, which showcased what an engaging live performer he was. To promote the record, he released the concert version of “Cherry, Cherry” as a single, and that made it into the Top 40 as well.

The song remained a staple of Diamond’s performances throughout his career, which is perhaps evidence of how special it was to him. After all, the floodgates likely would have opened eventually for such a talented performer. But as leadoff hits go, it’s hard to find too many as likable and fun as “Cherry, Cherry.”

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