"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.[1]
"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.
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)."[2] It has also been described as "brilliant and very Bang-ish"[3] and a "jewel".[4] 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" Diamond's previous single "Brooklyn Roads."[5]Cash Box said that it is "danceable and sales oriented" with "a touch of Latin and a fine hand-clapping support."[6]
Debutedit
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 #66 on the charts.[7]
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 releaseedit
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,[8] and licensed by MCA INC. USA as UK MCA MU 1033. It did not chart in the U.K.
Subsequent historyedit
The copyright has been registered twice, first as EP0000284487 on December 12, 1970, and again as RE0000772415 on January 2, 1998.[9]
The poor chart performance of "Two-Bit Manchild" forebode the poor chart performance of Velvet Gloves and Spit.[10] "Two-Bit Manchild" is now considered one of the "obscurities" of Neil Diamond's catalog.[11] "Two-Bit Manchild" was covered by Australian pop singerJohnny 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,[12] and Mike Tyler.[13]
Non-performance on American Idoledit
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."[14] Some were "desperate" that David Cook perform it.[15]
Referencesedit
^Jamieson, Robert. "Neil Diamond: Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings . . . Plus! < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^Bruce Eder. "Velvet Gloves and Spit - Neil Diamond | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-14.
^"The Shelved Neil Diamond Bang Box Set - Both Sides Now Stereo Chat Board". Bsnpubs.websitetoolbox.com. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^"Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. June 29, 1968. p. 95. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
^"CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 22, 1968. p. 20. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
^. Tomziber.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^"Neil Diamond - Two Bit Manchild / Broad Old Woman - MCA - MU 1033". 45cat. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^"It's so strange (the way love works) w & m Neil Diamond, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich part 2 - song, music - Copyright Info". Faqs.org. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^Jackson, Laura (2004-11-04). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music ... - Google Books. ECW Press. ISBN9781550227079. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All music guide to rock: the ... - Google Books. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN9780879306533. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^US. "Neil Diamond Tribute - Nine Inch Neils | Gratis muziek, tourneedata, foto's, video's". Myspace.com. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
^. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
^"American Idol News. Battle Over Song Choices for Neil Diamond Week. | Pond Culture". Pondculture.wordpress.com. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-16.
January 01, 1970
manchild, song, written, performed, neil, diamond, appears, neil, 1968, album, velvet, gloves, spit, released, side, with, side, broad, woman, insanity, strong, interesting, song, according, robert, jamieson, single, neil, diamondfrom, album, velvet, gloves, s. 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 1 Two Bit Manchild Single by Neil Diamondfrom the album Velvet Gloves and SpitB side Broad Old Woman 6 AM Insanity Released1968 1968 Recorded1968GenrePop RockLength3 04LabelUniSongwriter s Neil DiamondProducer s Tom Catalano Neil DiamondNeil Diamond singles chronology Brooklyn Roads Two Bit Manchild Shilo 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 Contents 1 Reception 2 Debut 3 International release 4 Subsequent history 5 Non performance on American Idol 6 ReferencesReception editAllmusic 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 2 It has also been described as brilliant and very Bang ish 3 and a jewel 4 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 Diamond s previous single Brooklyn Roads 5 Cash Box said that it is danceable and sales oriented with a touch of Latin and a fine hand clapping support 6 Debut editNeil 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 66 on the charts 7 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 editIn 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 8 and licensed by MCA INC USA as UK MCA MU 1033 It did not chart in the U K Subsequent history editThe copyright has been registered twice first as EP0000284487 on December 12 1970 and again as RE0000772415 on January 2 1998 9 The poor chart performance of Two Bit Manchild forebode the poor chart performance of Velvet Gloves and Spit 10 Two Bit Manchild is now considered one of the obscurities of Neil Diamond s catalog 11 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 12 and Mike Tyler 13 Non performance on American Idol editOn 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 14 Some were desperate that David Cook perform it 15 References edit Jamieson Robert Neil Diamond Play Me The Complete Uni Studio Recordings Plus lt PopMatters Popmatters com Retrieved 2011 04 16 Bruce Eder Velvet Gloves and Spit Neil Diamond Songs Reviews Credits AllMusic Retrieved 2016 10 14 The Shelved Neil Diamond Bang Box Set Both Sides Now Stereo Chat Board Bsnpubs websitetoolbox com 2010 04 19 Retrieved 2011 04 16 Armstrong Gene Rhythm amp Views Rhythm amp Views Tucson Weekly Retrieved 2011 04 16 Spotlight Singles PDF Billboard June 29 1968 p 95 Retrieved 2021 02 22 CashBox Record Reviews PDF Cash Box June 22 1968 p 20 Retrieved 2022 01 12 LOOKING BACK 1968 Neil Diamond Through The Years Tomziber com Archived from the original on 2011 07 17 Retrieved 2011 04 16 Neil Diamond Two Bit Manchild Broad Old Woman MCA MU 1033 45cat Retrieved 2011 04 16 It s so strange the way love works w amp m Neil Diamond Jeff Barry amp Ellie Greenwich part 2 song music Copyright Info Faqs org Retrieved 2011 04 16 Jackson Laura 2004 11 04 Neil Diamond His Life His Music Google Books ECW Press ISBN 9781550227079 Retrieved 2011 04 16 Bogdanov Vladimir Woodstra Chris Erlewine Stephen Thomas 2002 All music guide to rock the Google Books Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 9780879306533 Retrieved 2011 04 16 US Neil Diamond Tribute Nine Inch Neils Gratis muziek tourneedata foto s video s Myspace com Retrieved 2011 04 16 Mike Tyler Neil Diamond Tribute Biography Archived from the original on October 28 2010 Retrieved October 10 2010 Neil Diamond May Destroy American Idol Tonight Vulture Nymag com 2008 04 29 Retrieved 2011 04 16 American Idol News Battle Over Song Choices for Neil Diamond Week Pond Culture Pondculture wordpress com 26 April 2008 Retrieved 2011 04 16 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Two Bit Manchild amp oldid 1186932899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
