Tag Archives: Diamond

AC/DC: Back In Black

ACDC_Back_in_Black

On July 25, 1980, “Albert / Atlantic” labels released “Back in Black”, the seventh  AC/DC studio album. It was recorded April–May 1980, at “Compass Point Studios” in Nassau, Bahamas, and was produced by Robert John “Mutt” Lange. The album’s all-black cover was designed as a “sign of mourning” for band’s original singer Bon Scott, who died in 1980. “Back in Black” was huge commercial success; it has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide, becoming the the second-highest-selling album in history. “Back in Black” was certified Platinum in Argentina by “CAPIF”; 12 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIIA”; Platinum in Austria by “IFPI”; Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada”; 2 x Platinum in France by “SNEP”; 2 x Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; Platinum in Italy by “FIMI”; 2 x Platinum in Switzerland by “IFPI”; Platinum in UK by “BPI” and 22 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”. In 2001, “VH1” ranked “Back in Black” at number 82 on its list of the “Top 100 Albums”; in 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 77 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; in 2010, “Back in Black” was ranked at number 2 in the book “100 Best Australian Albums”.

Personnel:

  • Brian Johnson– lead vocals
  • Angus Young– lead guitar
  • Malcolm Young– rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Cliff Williams– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Phil Rudd– drums
  • Tony Platt– engineer assistant
  • Benji Armbrister – engineer assistant
  • Jack Newber – engineer assistant
  • Brad Samuelsohn –mixing
  • Bob Ludwig– mastering
  • Bob Defrin –art direction
  • Robert Ellis –photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson.

  1. Hells Bells
  2. Shoot to Thrill
  3. What Do You Do for Money Honey
  4. Given the Dog a Bone
  5. Let Me Put My Love into You
  6. Back in Black
  7. You Shook Me All Night Long
  8. Have a Drink on Me
  9. Shake a Leg
  10. Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution

Van Halen: Same

Van_Halen

On February 10, 1978, “Warner Bros” released the self titled, debut Van Halen studio album.  It was recorded August – September 1977, at “Sunset Sound Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Ted Templeman. “Guitar World” magazine readers ranked the album at number 7 on a list of the “Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time”. In 2013, magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked “Van Halen” at number 27 of its list of the “100 Best Debut Albums of All Time”. The album sold more than ten million copies in the US by 1999 and was certified Diamond  by the “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • David Lee Roth– lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Eddie Van Halen– guitar, backing vocals
  • Michael Anthony– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Alex Van Halen– drums
  • Dave Bhang – art direction, design
  • Elliot Gilbert – photography
  • Jodi Cohen – typesetting

Track listing:

All tracks by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, except where noted.

  1. Runnin’ with the Devil
  2. Eruption
  3. You Really Got Me – Ray Davies
  4. Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love
  5. I’m the One
  6. Jamie’s Cryin’
  7. Atomic Punk
  8. Feel Your Love Tonight
  9. Little Dreamer
  10. Ice Cream Man – John Brim
  11. On Fire

Nirvana: Nevermind

Nirvana Nevermind

On September 24, 1991, “DGC” label released “Nevermind” the second Nirvana studio album.  It was recorded in 1991, at “Sound City Studios”, in Van Nuys, and “Smart Studios”,in Madison, and was produced by Butch Vig. The album was certified Diamond in the US by the “RIIA”. “Nevermind” has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Personnel:

  • Kurt Cobain – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitar
  • Krist Novoselic – vocal, bass
  • Dave Grohl – drums, backing vocals
  • Chad Channing– cymbals, drums
  • Kirk Canning – cello

All compositions by Kurt Cobain, except where noted.

  1. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic
  2. In Bloom
  3. Come as You Are
  4. Breed
  5. Lithium
  6. Polly
  7. Territorial Pissings – Kurt Cobain, Chet Powers
  8. Drain You
  9. Lounge Act
  10. Stay Away
  11. On a Plain
  12. Something in the Way

Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here

On September 12, 1975, “Harvest” label released “Wish You Were Here”, the ninth Pink Floyd studio album. It was recorded January–July 1975, at the “Abbey Road Studios” in London and was produced by David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Nick Mason. The album features composition “Shine on you crazy diamond”, a tribute to Syd Barrett, who left the band seven years earlier due to a mental illness. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 211 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified 7 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; 2 x Platinum in Austria by “IFPI Austria”; 3 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”; Diamond in France by “SNEP”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 2 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 6 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • David Gilmour– vocals, guitars, lap steel guitar, EMS Synth AKS, keyboards, tape effects
  • Richard Wright– keyboards, VCS3, clavinet, backing vocals
  • Roger Waters– vocals, bass guitar, guitar, VCS3, tape effects
  • Nick Mason– drums, percussion, tape effects
  • Dick Parry– saxophone
  • Roy Harper– vocals
  • Venetta Fieldsand Carlena Williams – backing vocals

Track listing

All lyrics by Roger Waters, music as noted.

  1. Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts I – V) – David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Roger Waters
  2. Welcome to the Machine – Roger Waters
  3. Have a Cigar – Roger Waters
  4. Wish You Were Here – Roger Waters, David Gilmour
  5. Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts VI – IX) – David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Roger Waters

Boston: Same

BostonBoston

On August 25, 1976, “Epic” label the self-titled, debut Boston studio album. It was recorded October 1975 – April 1976, and was produced by John Boylan and Tom Scholz. The album was big commercial success, selling more than 25 million copies worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. The album was certified Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada” and 17 x Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Tom Scholz– acoustic and electric guitars,  clavinet, organ, bass guitar
  • Brad Delp– lead and harmony vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Barry Goudreau– rhythm and lead guitars
  • Fran Sheehan– bass guitar
  • Sib Hashian– drums
  • Jim Masdea– drums
  • Kim Hart – design consulting
  • Roger Huyssen – illustrations
  • Gerard Huerta – cover lettering
  • Jeff Albertson – photography
  • Ron Pownall – photography
  • Gary Pihl – photo editing

Track listing:

All tracks by Tom Scholz, except where noted.

  1. More Than a Feeling
  2. Peace of Mind
  3. Foreplay / Long Time
  4. Rock & Roll Band
  5. Smokin – Brad Delp, Tom Scholz
  6. Hitch a Ride
  7. Something About You
  8. Let Me Take You Home Tonight – Brad Delp

U2: The Joshua Tree

The_Joshua_Tree

On March 9, 1987, “Island” label released “The Joshua Tree”, the fifth U2 studio album . It was recorded January 1986 – January 1987, at “STS Studios”, “Danesmoate House”, “Windmill Lane Studios”, and was produced by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. In 1988, “The Joshua Tree” won “Grammy Awards”  for  “Album of the Year” and “Best Rock Performance” by a “Duo or Group with Vocal”.  It is U2 best sold album with more than 25 million copies sold worldwide.  In 1995, the album was certified 10× Platinum in US by “RIAA”, and  album subsequently received the “Diamond” certificate. In Canada it was certified Diamond by “Canadian Recording Industry Association”, In UK it was certified 8 x Platinum by “BPI”, with an additional silver certification for the 20th anniversary edition. In 2012, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 27 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Bono– lead vocals, harmonica, guitars
  • The Edge– guitars, piano, backing vocals
  • Adam Clayton– bass guitar
  • Larry Mullen, Jr.– drums, percussion
  • Brian Eno– keyboards, DX7 programming, backing vocals
  • Daniel Lanois– tambourine, Omnichord, additional guitar, backing vocals
  • The Armin Family – strings
  • The Arklow Silver Band – brass

Track listing:

All lyrics by Bono, all music by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen.

  1. Where the Streets Have No Name
  2. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
  3. With or Without You
  4. Bullet the Blue Sky
  5. Running to Stand Still
  6. Red Hill Mining Town
  7. In God’s Country
  8. Trip Through Your Wires
  9. One Tree Hill
  10. Exit
  11. Mothers of the Disappeared