On This Day in 1970: Neil Diamond Scores His First U.S. Chart-Topper After Years Writing for Others
via Arnie & Sue Tice / YouTube
From Behind the Scenes to Center Stage
On October 10, 1970, Neil Diamond earned his first No. 1 hit as a performing artist with “Cracklin’ Rosie.” The song reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a major moment in the singer-songwriter’s career.
Before achieving solo success, Diamond built his reputation writing songs for others—most famously penning “I’m a Believer” in 1966 for The Monkees, which became a No. 1 hit. His work in the Brill Building era laid the foundation for his own rise to fame as a solo performer.
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The Story Behind “Cracklin’ Rosie”
“Cracklin’ Rosie” was both written and recorded by Diamond and backed by top session musicians, including Hal Blaine, Larry Knechtel, Joe Osborn, and Al Casey. The track appeared on his Tap Root Manuscript album, released that same year.
The song’s inspiration came from a tale he heard while in Canada about a reservation where men outnumbered women. Lawrence tells of lonely men turning to a cheap sparkling wine called “Cracklin’ Rosé” to fill the void. Diamond turned that idea into a kind of metaphorical romance with the wine.
Chart Impact and Legacy
“Cracklin’ Rosie” was Diamond’s breakthrough as a performer. In the U.S., it reached No. 1 on the pop charts. Internationally, it climbed into the Top 3 in the UK and hit No. 1 in New Zealand.
The song helped propel Tap Root Manuscript to commercial success, even though the album included experimental elements and an African-themed suite. It also marked the start of Diamond’s era as a hitmaker in his own right, after years of writing chart-topping songs for others.
Over time, “Cracklin’ Rosie” has become a signature of Diamond’s catalog—a song that bridged his past as a songwriter with his future as a performer driven by his own voice and vision.
