On This Day in 1978: Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand Hit No. 1 With Their Surprise Duet

How an Unlikely Duet Was Born

On December 2, 1978, the song You Don’t Bring Me Flowers by Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand reached No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart. What made the hit unusual was how it came together — not first in a studio, but through a radio station’s creative splice.

Originally, Neil Diamond recorded this song for his 1977 album. Around the same time, Streisand also laid down her solo version for her own album in 1978. At a Louisville radio station, a program director named Gary Guthrie created a mix — combining the two solo takes into a makeshift duet. He played it as a going-away present for his wife, and it struck a huge chord with station listeners.

The buzz spread fast. Record stores began getting flooded with calls. Fans wanted a copy. Demand built up so quickly that the labels stepped in — and soon, Diamond and Streisand went into the studio to record an official duet version.

 

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From Radio Remix to Chart-Topper

The official duet entered the charts in late October 1978, debuting at No. 48 and quickly climbing. Within five weeks it entered the top 10, and by December it reached No. 1. The single stayed at the top for a week, then briefly slipped, only to return for another week at No. 1 — giving it two non-consecutive weeks at the summit.

The song became a defining ballad of the late 1970s. Its story — of love fading and distance growing between partners — spoke to many listeners. Its path from separate albums to a top hit single shows how sometimes music’s biggest moments come from unexpected places.

Why This Track Left a Mark

At the time, the idea of merging two solo versions into a duet was almost unheard of. This manufacture-turned-official hit opened the door for a new kind of collaboration, one that ignored traditional release methods. Reviewers and fans realized that while the voices of Diamond and Streisand came from different worlds, together they added emotional weight to the lyrics.

“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” also became a lasting standard for both artists. It remains a symbol of creative risk and sudden success — a song with a history as unusual as its emotional impact. Even decades later, the story behind it still surprises and reminds people how sometimes, a spark of creativity and a bit of daring can rewrite the rules of the music business.