September Morn (album)

September Morn is the thirteenth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Released in 1979, the album includes a disco version of the Motown song "Dancing in the Street" and a remake of "I'm a Believer".

September Morn
Studio album by Neil Diamond
Released	December 1, 1979
Recorded	1979
Studio	A&M (Hollywood) Arch Angel (Hollywood) Cherokee (Hollywood) Dawnbreaker (San Fernando) Indigo Ranch (Malibu) Sunset Sound (Hollywood)
Genre	Rock, pop
Length	37:45^[1]
Label	Columbia
Producer	Bob Gaudio
Neil Diamond chronology
You Don't Bring Me Flowers (1978) September Morn (1979) The Jazz Singer (1980)

The title track was an international chart hit, and became Diamond's 30th Top 40 hit in the U.S. The song peaked at number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, number 14 on the Cash Box Top 100,^[2] and number 7 on Record World. In Canada, it peaked at number 15.^[3] The song was a much bigger hit on the Adult Contemporary charts, reaching number two in the U.S. and spending two weeks at number one in Canada.^[4] "September Morn'" ranks as the 90th biggest U.S. charting single of 1980.^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[6]

Cash Box called "September Morn" a "lushly orchestrated ballad [that] builds from a simple piano line to a full-blown chorus."^[7]Record World praised Diamond's "awesome vocal talent."^[8] The Boston Globe concluded that "the usual fire-and-brimstone Diamond seems a bit too subdued here."^[9]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"September Morn"	Gilbert Bécaud, Neil Diamond	3:51
2.	"Mama Don't Know"	Bécaud, Diamond	3:55
3.	"That Kind"	Carole Bayer Sager, Diamond	3:18
4.	"Jazz Time"	Diamond, Tom Hensley	3:30
5.	"The Good Lord Loves You"	Richard Fagan	4:42

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"Dancing in the Street"	Ivy Jo Hunter, Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson	4:09
7.	"The Shelter of Your Arms"	Jerry Samuels	4:05
8.	"I'm a Believer"	Diamond	2:23
9.	"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"	Bob Crewe, Bob Gaudio	3:39
10.	"Stagger Lee"	Harold Logan, Lloyd Price	4:10

Personnel

• Neil Diamond – vocals, guitar
• Tom Hensley – piano, keyboards
• Bob Gaudio – piano
• Alan Lindgren – piano, synthesizers
• Reinie Press – bass guitar
• Doug Rhone, Richard Bennett – guitar
• Dennis St. John – drums
• King Errisson, Vince Charles – percussion
• Lou McCreary, Arthur Maebe, Dennis Smith, Graham Young, Henry Sigismonte, Jerry Hey, Lloyd Ulyate, Tommy Johnson, Vincent DeRosa, Warren Luning, Chuck Findley, Dick Hyde, Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb, Steve Madaio – horns
• Sid Sharp – concertmaster
• Linda Press, Becky Lopez Lewis, Julia Tillman Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields – background vocals

Charts

Chart (1979-1980)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[10]	3
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[11]	13
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[12]	13
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[13]	17
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[14]	28
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[15]	3
UK Albums (OCC)^[16]	14
US Billboard 200^[17]	10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[18]	Platinum	50,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[19]	Gold	7,500^^
United Kingdom (BPI)^[20]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)^[21]	Platinum	1,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Neil Diamond – September Morn ; Songs, Reviews, Credis, Awards ; AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
2. Cashbox Magazine
3. . Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. . Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "Pop Singles" Billboard December 20, 1980: TIA-10
6. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 195.
7. "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 22, 1979. p. 11. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
8. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. December 22, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
9. Santosuosso, Ernie (January 17, 1980). "Neil Diamond September Morn". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
10. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
11. "Austriancharts.at – Neil Diamond – September Morn" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
12. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9485a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Neil Diamond – September Morn" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
14. "Offiziellecharts.de – Neil Diamond – September Morn" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
15. "Charts.nz – Neil Diamond – September Morn". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
16. "Neil Diamond | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
17. "Neil Diamond Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
18. "Kent Music Report No 341 – 5 January 1981 > Platinum and Gold Albums 1980". Kent Music Report. Retrieved November 12, 2021 – via Imgur.com.
19. "New Zealand album certifications – Neil Diamond – Living In The Present Future". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
20. "British album certifications – Neil Diamond – Living In The Present Future". British Phonographic Industry.
21. "American album certifications – Neil Diamond – September Morn". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 14, 2019.