Two-Bit Manchild
{{Infobox song
| name = Two-Bit Manchild
| cover = Two-Bit Manchild.jpg
| alt = Two-Bit Manchild Cover
| type = single
| artist = Neil Diamond
| album = Velvet Gloves and Spit
| B-side = "Broad Old Woman (6 AM Insanity)"
| released = {{Start date|1968}}
| recorded = 1968
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Pop, Rock
| length = {{Duration|m=03|s=04}}
| label = Uni
| writer = Neil Diamond
| producer = Tom Catalano, Neil Diamond
| prev_title = Brooklyn Roads
| prev_year =
| next_title = Shilo
| next_year =
}}
"Two-Bit Manchild" is a song written and performed by Neil Diamond. It appears on Neil's 1968 album Velvet Gloves and Spit, and was released as an A-side with a B-side of "Broad Old Woman (6 a.m. Insanity)". It is a "strong and interesting" song according to Robert Jamieson.{{cite web|last=Jamieson |first=Robert |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/diamondneil-play/ |title=Neil Diamond: Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings . . . Plus! < PopMatters |publisher=Popmatters.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-16}}
"Two-Bit Manchild" also appears on the Neil Diamond compilation albums Glory Road 1968-1972, Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings Plus, Gold, and Reflections.
Reception
Allmusic recommends "Two-Bit Manchild" as one of the top four songs on the album Velvet Gloves and Spit, calling it, "a fascinating adaptation of his Brill Building-era sound to a personal/introspective lyric and approach (picture the Monkees' sound melded to a singer/songwriter persona)."{{cite web|author=Bruce Eder |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/velvet-gloves-and-spit-mw0000192670 |title=Velvet Gloves and Spit - Neil Diamond | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2016-10-14}} It has also been described as "brilliant and very Bang-ish"{{cite web|url=http://bsnpubs.websitetoolbox.com/printthread/?id=4742099&perpage=100 |title=The Shelved Neil Diamond Bang Box Set - Both Sides Now Stereo Chat Board |publisher=Bsnpubs.websitetoolbox.com |date=2010-04-19 |accessdate=2011-04-16}} and a "jewel".{{cite web|last=Armstrong |first=Gene |url=http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/rhythm-and-views/Content?oid=1082567 |title=Rhythm & Views | Rhythm & Views |publisher=Tucson Weekly |date= |accessdate=2011-04-16}} The opening riff is also reminiscent of Day Tripper by The Beatles.
Billboard described the single as having a "driving rock groove" and called it a "powerful follow-up" to Neil's previous single "Brooklyn Roads."{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2021-02-22|date=June 29, 1968|page=95|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1968/Billboard%201968-06-29.pdf}} Cash Box said that it is "danceable and sales oriented" with "a touch of Latin and a fine hand-clapping support."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=June 22, 1968 |page=20 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1968/CB-1968-06-22.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}
Debut
Neil Diamond performed "Two-Bit Manchild" on July 2, 1968, on Showcase 68. Officially released as a 45 single in July, 1968 with the B-Side "Broad Old Woman (6 a.m. Insanity)" as UNI 55075. It eventually reached No.66 on the charts.{{cite web |url=http://tomziber.com/LOOKINGBACK1968.html |title=LOOKING BACK-1968-Neil Diamond Through The Years |publisher=Tomziber.com |accessdate=2011-04-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717071640/http://tomziber.com/LOOKINGBACK1968.html |archivedate=2011-07-17 }}
At least two versions of the 45 sleeve were released. One featured a picture of Neil Diamond. The other featured a swirly, psychedelic graphic. It was arranged by Renzetti, Altman, Cerone, Richards and Sandler.
International release
In the United Kingdom, "Two-Bit Manchild" was also released with Broad Old Woman (6 a.m. Insanity) as the B-Side. It was released by MCA records in August 1968,{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/mu1033 |title=Neil Diamond - Two Bit Manchild / Broad Old Woman - MCA - MU 1033 |publisher=45cat |date= |accessdate=2011-04-16}} and licensed by MCA INC. USA as UK MCA MU 1033. It did not chart in the U.K.
Subsequent history
The copyright has been registered twice, first as EP0000284487 on December 12, 1970, and again as RE0000772415 on January 2, 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/copyright/its-so-strange-the-way-love-works-w-and-m-neil-diamond-jeff-2/ |title=It's so strange (the way love works) w & m Neil Diamond, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich part 2 - song, music - Copyright Info |publisher=Faqs.org |date= |accessdate=2011-04-16}}
The poor chart performance of "Two-Bit Manchild" forebode the poor chart performance of Velvet Gloves and Spit.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1MCvNbOTdSgC&q=two-bit+manchild+-lyrics+-mp3+-lyric+neil+diamond&pg=PA58 |title=Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music ... - Google Books |date=2004-11-04 |isbn=9781550227079 |accessdate=2011-04-16|last1=Jackson |first1=Laura |publisher=ECW Press }} "Two-Bit Manchild" is now considered one of the "obscurities" of Neil Diamond's catalog.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bgn9SGmA4dkC&q=two-bit+manchild+-lyrics+-mp3+-lyric+neil+diamond&pg=PA309 |title=All music guide to rock: the ... - Google Books |isbn=9780879306533 |accessdate=2011-04-16|last1=Bogdanov |first1=Vladimir |last2=Woodstra |first2=Chris |last3=Erlewine |first3=Stephen Thomas |year=2002 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation }}
"Two-Bit Manchild" was covered by Australian pop singer Johnny Farnham on his second studio album Everybody Oughta Sing a Song released on EMI Records in November 1968. The song is now covered by the Neil Diamond coverers Nine Inch Neils,{{cite web|author=US |url=https://www.myspace.com/nineinchneils |title=Neil Diamond Tribute - Nine Inch Neils | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's |publisher=Myspace.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-16}} and Mike Tyler.{{cite web|url=http://www.unitoneentertainment.co.uk/biog_mike_tyler1.html |title=Mike Tyler - Neil Diamond Tribute - Biography|accessdate=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028040805/http://www.unitoneentertainment.co.uk/biog_mike_tyler1.html |archivedate=October 28, 2010 }}
Non-performance on ''American Idol''
On April 29, 2008, contestants on American Idol sang Neil Diamond penned songs. One song they did not perform was "Two-Bit Manchild". Perhaps, as New York suggested, it was too "on-the-nose."{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/04/neil_diamond_may_destroy_ameri.html |title=Neil Diamond May Destroy 'American Idol' Tonight - Vulture |publisher=Nymag.com |date=2008-04-29 |accessdate=2011-04-16}} Some were "desperate" that David Cook perform it.{{cite web|url=http://pondculture.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/american-idol-news-battle-over-song-choices-for-neil-diamond-week/ |title=American Idol News. Battle Over Song Choices for Neil Diamond Week. | Pond Culture |publisher=Pondculture.wordpress.com |date= 26 April 2008|accessdate=2011-04-16}}