Cherry, Cherry by Neil Diamond

Album: The Feel Of Neil Diamond (1966)

Charted: 6

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Songfacts®:

In this pop nugget from early in Neil Diamond's career (1966), Cherry is a girl, not a fruit, although we get the sense it's a nickname - perhaps her real name is Dorothy. Details are sparse, but it's clear that Cherry knows just how to move and groove him.

It's a masterclass in pop songwriting, with a very singable chorus and a danceable beat. Notice how well the word "Cherry" sings.

Neil Diamond is the only credited songwriter on this track, but he got some help from Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, who worked with him after he signed with Bang Records - they produced the song. Barry and Greenwich were part of the Brill Building songwriting community, and had written many major hits, including "Be My Baby" and "Chapel Of Love." They mentored Diamond early in his career and helped make him a star.
The song started out with a guitar lick Diamond came up with that caught Jeff Barry's ear. He and Ellie Greenwich loved it and encouraged Neil to finish the song.
In an interview with Melody Maker, Jeff Barry said that this song was originally "Money, Money," but that he and Bang records owner Bert Berns convinced Diamond to make it lighter and more teen-friendly. They were on to something with the original title: In 1968, Tommy James & the Shondells released Mony Mony.
Ever notice that there are no drums in this song? That's because the version you hear was intended as a demo, with hand claps providing the drum beat. Diamond recorded the demo with Barry and Greenwich on backing vocals and Artie Butler on piano and Hammond organ. When they recorded the song in an official session complete with horns and drums, they couldn't capture the exuberance of the demo. The drum and horn version was included on Diamond's 1996 anthology In My Lifetime.
When "Cherry, Cherry" became a hit, rising to #6 in October 1966, Neil Diamond's songs were in demand. This led to The Monkees recording Diamond's "I'm A Believer," which was the biggest hit of 1967.
Ellie Greenwich was not just a premier-league songwriter, she was a fine backing singer as well; she and Jeff Barry often did the backing vocals for the songs they wrote. Neil Diamond recalled to Rolling Stone her contribution to this song: "Ellie was the best background singer ever. She did all the background parts on my early Bang records, 'Cherry Cherry,' 'She Got the Way to Move Me,' 'Kentucky Woman' - all of those records were Jeff and Ellie. They just had this great knack of singing all kinds of background parts and they were great at it. She invented the background parts to 'Cherry Cherry.'"
Diamond made his TV debut performing this song on American Bandstand in 1966. Said Diamond, "American Bandstand was the holy grail of television shows for any Rock and Roll artist at that time."
"Cherry, Cherry" held up as one of Neil Diamond's most popular songs, and he played it at just about every concert throughout his career. The only song he performed more often is "Sweet Caroline."

Comments: 14

Phil Blythe from AkIt was The Romantics, not the Ramones, who wrote and performed What I Like About You, and they opened for Mellencamp before he wrote R.O.C.K. (In The U.S.A.), which is another song that used the Cherry, Cherry progression, with a B chord added.
John from UtahAfter seeing the newly released movie “Song Sung Blue”, I’m discovering Neil Diamond’s music and am loving what I’ve found. I was a 70’s hard rocker and discounted his music at the time. His ability to capture emotions is refreshing in a divided world. I plan to purchase his music and enjoy his library. The movie reaffirms which I feel is true for most music, the best songs are on the “B” sides.
Anonymous from WashingtonI am not capable of dissecting a Diamond song. He's one of the best songwriter singers in the history of music. Truly gifted
Ian Spencer from Solihull, UkJust heard this on the radio without an intro and my assumption on hearing the intro was it was a Diamond cover of one of his Monkees songs. Then it went off piste but then it was a song that clearly has had several phrases lifted (by Diamond himself) for different Monkees songs - there's a game to be played there spotting them.

The sound is very Monkees too, and you could imagine it was Davey Jones singing backing on this.
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI love songs where the rhythm is carried by non-percussion and this is one of the greatest ever. Diamond's early songs were so much better than all the schlock he did later, like "Heartlight."
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 17th 1966, Neil Diamond performed "Cherry, Cherry" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
At the time the song was at #24 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and about three weeks on October 9th, 1966 it would peak at #6 {for 1 week}...
{See next post below}.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 11th 1973, "Cherry, Cherry" (live version) by Neil Diamond entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; and on April 29th it peaked at #31 (for 2 weeks) and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
Seven years earlier on August 14th, 1966 the original studio version of the song entered the Top 100 at position #88 and reached #6 (for 1 week) on October 9th and stayed on the Top 100 for 12 weeks...
The live version was track six on side one from his 'Hot August Night' album (the album peaked at #5 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart)...
Mr. Neil Leslie Diamond celebrated his 73rd birthday two months ago on January 24th (2014).
Sam Williams from Sherman Oaks, CaI've known this song for a long time, but I haven't noticed something about it that I've just noticed, but now I wonder. Was this song partially about sex? I mean the chorus "she got the way to move it Cherry" could refer to her dancing but they could also refer to something else. but it's the Line "I love the way you do me" that really struck a chord with me recently. It sounds like the line is blatantly a sexual innuendo, but I don't know for sure. It certainly couldn't have been "I love the way you do my hair" or taxes, but who knows..
Esskayess from Dallas, TxMy all-time favorite of his. The lack of drums and Greenwich's eerie background vocals make it one-of-a-kind.
Coy from Palestine, TxJeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich DID not co-write this song. They encouraged Neil and helped him get started as an artist but they don't have a writing credit on Cherry, Cherry. Barry and Greenwich produced the record and Neil has said that Ellie came up with the "we've got the way to move you cherry" on the handclaps
Barry from Sauquoit, NyWhen originally released in 1966 it peaked at #6, and then was re-released seven years later in 1973 and peaked at #31!!!
Teresa from Mechelen, BelgiumEllie Greenwich died on August 26 2009, Neil Diamond not only lost a talented songwriter and background singer but also a wonderful friend. R.I.P. Ellie and thanks for music.
Drew from B\'ham, AlDon, you forgot about something else by Neil Diamond: "Thank the Lord For the Night Time". Its similarity to "Cherry, Cherry" was probably intentional, for they're by the same artist. As for "What I Like About You" by the Ramones, I have no idea how intentional, if at all. The most subtle similarity I know is a note collection in both "I Go Crazy" by Paul Davis & "Babe" by Styx.
Don from Phoenix, AzI always get a kick out of it when two very different songs nevertheless have a similar line, rhythm, or chord progression. I started playing The Ramones' "What I Like About You" on the guitar, and my brother started singing "Cherry, Cherry." Good music is good music, whatever the context.

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