Decades into his career, Neil Diamond reaches one U.K. chart for the first time with his new album Wild at Heart — and it nearly opens at No. 1. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 07: Honoree Neil Diamond attends the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive “Power of Love Gala” benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health honoring him at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
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Throughout much of his career, the music Neil Diamond recorded was largely classified as pop, although sometimes the word rock seemed more appropriate. As is the case with many successful musicians from decades past, new labels are applied from time to time as the industry reevaluates certain collections or tunes using more specific phrases.
In the United Kingdom this week, Diamond collects a new charting album, one which brings him to a genre-specific list for the first time in his career – and he almost earns a very late champion.
Neil Diamond Debuts Wild at Heart – Almost at No. 1
Wild at Heart brings Diamond to the Official Americana chart for the first time as it debuts at No. 2. The tally looks at the top-selling releases of any length in that one style, and despite being a musician that is always closely associated with American music, Diamond has never before scored a win on the Official Americana roster.
Neil Diamond Debuts His Latest Behind Noah Kahan
Noah Kahan performs onstage at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala held at The Beverly Hilton on February 3, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images)
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The only title that keeps the legendary singer from earning a No. 1 on his initial visit to the Official Americana chart is The Great Divide by Noah Kahan. That project launched atop the roster three weeks ago, and it has not budged since. There’s a high likelihood that The Great Divide will continue to rule the Americana rundown for weeks, if not months.
Noah Kahan Has Scored Four Hits – and Two No. 1s
Kahan has earned four placements on the Official Americana chart since first appearing on the tally in October 2022. His breakout full-length Stick Season has lived on the tally for 104 frames – exactly two years. Just over half of all of those periods, 53 in total, have been at the summit. Kahan’s other two successes, Live From Fenway Park and Town Hall, which debuted months apart from one another in 2024, peaked at Nos. 4 and 9, respectively.
Neil Diamond’s Wild at Heart Launches on Five Charts
Wild at Heart launches on five charts in the U.K., and it’s a top 10 success on three of them. In addition to the Official Americana list, Diamond debuts his latest studio LP at No. 5 on the Official Physical Albums tally and at No. 7 on the Official Albums Sales rundown.
He’s up to 11 top 10s on the list of the bestselling projects on any physical format. That’s exactly half of all of his 22 appearances on the ranking. Diamond scores his third top 10 and his lowest-peaking of the sets that have broken into that region on the U.K.’s look at the bestselling projects of any genre and via any format.
Wild at Heart Launches Beneath the Top 10 on Several Lists
Wild at Heart misses the top 10 on another two tallies, though the fact that he’s still collecting new wins at this late stage in his career is notable. Wild at Heart begins its time on the Official Album Downloads chart at No. 18. The set can also be found on the most competitive albums ranking across the Atlantic, the Official Albums chart, where it opens at No. 61.
Wild at Heart Is Already Almost Two Decades Old
Wild at Heart was recorded nearly 20 years ago, and it is the last piece of a trilogy by the superstar. The project marks Diamond’s first album of original material since Melody Road more than a decade ago.
Neil Diamond Doubles His Wins on One Chart
SAN FRANCISCO – MARCH 1: Neil Diamond performs at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, Ca. on March 1, 1979. (Photo by Ed Perlstein/Redferns/Getty Images)
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As Wild at Heart debuts, Diamond doubles up on one of the five tallies where his newest effort arrives. All-Time Greatest Hits finds its way back to the Official Album Downloads chart, coming in at No. 65. It seems that the compilation was buoyed by all the excitement around what may prove to be the beloved musician’s final recording.