This Diamond Ring
{{short description|1965 single by Gary Lewis & the Playboys}}
{{about||the album by Gary Lewis & the Playboys|This Diamond Ring (album)}}
"This Diamond Ring" is a 1965 song written by Al Kooper, Bob Brass and Irwin Levine. The original demo was sung by Jimmy Radcliffe. It was first released as a single by Sammy Ambrose on Musicor #1061, then by Gary Lewis & the PlayboysGary Lewis & The Playboys, The Complete Liberty Singles, Collectors' Choice CCM-2013 (2009) on Liberty #55756. Lewis' version charted first, number 101 on the January 2, 1965, Billboard "Bubbling Under" chart. Both versions charted on January 9, Lewis still at number 101 and Ambrose at number 117. Ambrose dropped off the chart at that point, but Lewis made number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the next week (January 16) and his version continued to climb until it reached number 1 on February 20, 1965.
Gary Lewis & the Playboys version
{{Infobox song
| name = This Diamond Ring
| cover = This_Diamond_Ring_-_Gary_Lewis_&_the_Playboys.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Gary Lewis & the Playboys
| album = This Diamond Ring
| B-side = {{ubl|"Hard to Find" (original B-side)|"Tijuana Wedding" (later pressings)}}
| released = {{startdate|1965|1|}}
| format =
| recorded = {{startdate|1964|11|19}}
| studio = United Western Recorders, Hollywood, California
| venue =
| genre = Pop rock
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=15}}
| label = Liberty
| writer = Al Kooper, Bob Brass, Irwin Levine
| producer = Snuff Garrett
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Count Me In
| next_year = 1965
}}
According to David Brackett, Lewis' vocals were heavily supported by Ron Hicklin's overdubs.Brackett, David (1995/2000). Interpreting Popular Music, p.2-3. {{ISBN|0-520-22541-4}}. The session drummer was Hal Blaine,Brackett (1995/2000), p.5. Joe Osborn played bass{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ODKrCwAAQBAJ&q=this+diamond+ring+joe+osborn&pg=PA201|title=The Quest for the Melodic Electric Bass: From Jamerson to Spenner|first=Per Elias|last=Drabløs|date=3 March 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317018377|via=Google Books}} and Leon Russell played keyboards and arranged the music. The song was produced by Snuff Garrett.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} Lewis has denied claims that the Playboys did not play on the record, and says that not only was the band largely self-contained, but the Wrecking Crew session musicians only came to do overdubs or solos.{{Cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/gary_lewis/|title=This Diamond Ring|website=Songfacts.com|access-date=29 May 2022}}
Although it has been his biggest commercial success as a songwriter, Al Kooper has reportedly stated many times that he was unhappy with the record.{{cite book|last1=Kooper|first1=Al|title=Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards: Memoirs of a Rock 'N' Roll Survivor|url=https://archive.org/details/backstagepassesb00alko|url-access=registration|date=2008|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-8230-8257-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/backstagepassesb00alko/page/26 26]|edition=2nd}} He originally hoped the song would be recorded by a group like The Drifters and based on the original demo of the song as recorded by Jimmy Radcliffe. Kooper would later re-visit the song, recording a funky version for his 1976 album Act Like Nothing's Wrong.
Charts
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1965)
!Peak |
|---|
| Australia
|{{center|6}} |
| Canada RPM Top Singles{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5606.pdf| title=RPM Top 40&5 - February 1, 1965}}
|{{center|3}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Gary Lewis and the Playboys}} |
Other versions
- Alvin and the Chipmunks recorded the song for their 1965 album Chipmunks à Go-Go.
- Billy Fury included it on the 1965 Decca album 14, also known as The Lord's Taverners Charity Album.{{cite web|title= Various – 14|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-14/release/3026153|website=Discogs.com|year=1965 |access-date=2017-09-12}}
- Singer Wendy Hill released an answer record to “This Diamond Ring” entitled “(Gary, Please Don’t Sell) My Diamond Ring” on Liberty Records. The single “Bubbled Under” the Billboard Hot 100 Charts at No. 134 in 1965.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Gary Lewis & the Playboys}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Gary Lewis & the Playboys songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles