# Tap Root Manuscript

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***Tap Root Manuscript*** is the sixth studio [album](/source/Album) recorded by [Neil Diamond](/source/Neil_Diamond), released in October 1970. It was one of the most experimental albums he ever recorded, featuring [rock music](/source/Rock_music) fused with prominent African sounds and instruments. The album was a commercial success, going Gold in three months, eventually certified Platinum by the [RIAA](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America).[1] The album's success was powered primarily by "[Cracklin' Rosie](/source/Cracklin'_Rosie)", his first number 1 single, with help from Diamond's cover of "[He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother](/source/He_Ain't_Heavy,_He's_My_Brother)", which rose to number 20.[2] The latter song had been a major hit for [the Hollies](/source/The_Hollies) the previous year.

While the first side of the LP contained five [pop rock](/source/Pop_rock) songs, side two was a [conceptual suite](/source/Concept_album) of related songs expressing an African theme, titled "The African Trilogy". Within this suite was the song "Soolaimón", which rose to number 30 in the US.[2] The 19-minute suite saw African folk styles twined with blues and gospel elements to create what Diamond called "a folk ballet".[3] This effort predates many Western pop artists' interest in [world music](/source/World_music), for instance [Peter Gabriel](/source/Peter_Gabriel)'s 1980 founding of [World of Music, Arts and Dance](/source/World_of_Music,_Arts_and_Dance) (WOMAD), and the African-influenced album *[Graceland](/source/Graceland_(album))* by [Paul Simon](/source/Paul_Simon) in 1986.[4] *Tap Root Manuscript* was one of the most novel experimental recording projects of its time, and the [Uni](/source/Uni_Records) label, to which Diamond was then under contract, initially was not sure whether it would be commercially viable.

*[Cash Box](/source/Cash_Box)* said of the single "Soolaimón" that "Neil Diamond applies his composer's sophistication in an approach at primitivism that stands apart as a new slant on top forty sound. The effect is very much like a 'Brother Love' and '[Brooklyn Roads](/source/Brooklyn_Roads)' gone afro with excellent results."[5] *[Record World](/source/Record_World)* said that "Neil Diamond is into some far out things with 'Soolaimon.'"[6]

## Track listing

All selections written and composed by [Neil Diamond](/source/Neil_Diamond) except "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother," written and composed by [Bob Russell](/source/Bob_Russell_(songwriter)) and [Bobby Scott](/source/Bobby_Scott_(musician)).

## Personnel

- Vocals, keyboards, guitar, ukulele, steel guitar: Neil Diamond
- Guitar: [Al Casey](/source/Al_Casey_(rock_guitarist)), [David Bennett Cohen](/source/David_Bennett_Cohen), [Neil LeVang](/source/Neil_LeVang), Don Peake, [Louis Shelton](/source/Louis_Shelton)
- Steel guitar: [Red Rhodes](/source/Red_Rhodes)
- Bass guitar: Randy Cierley, [Joe Osborn](/source/Joe_Osborn), [Ray Pohlman](/source/Ray_Pohlman)
- Keyboards: [Artie Butler](/source/Artie_Butler), [Larry Knechtel](/source/Larry_Knechtel), [Larry Muhoberac](/source/Larry_Muhoberac), [Marty Paich](/source/Marty_Paich), [Don Randi](/source/Don_Randi)
- Drums: [Hal Blaine](/source/Hal_Blaine), [Larry Bunker](/source/Larry_Bunker), [Sandra Crouch](/source/Sandra_Crouch), [Earl Palmer](/source/Earl_Palmer)
- Percussion: Gary Coleman, Gene Estes, [Emil Richards](/source/Emil_Richards), Lee Shamburger
- Saxophone: Joe Estren, Andrea Kostelas, [Ronnie Lang](/source/Ronnie_Lang), [Don Menza](/source/Don_Menza), [Jay Migliori](/source/Jay_Migliori), [Tom Scott](/source/Tom_Scott_(saxophonist))
- Woodwinds: Shirley Marcus, George Poole, Henry Sigismonti
- Strings: Jim Arkatov, [Israel Baker](/source/Israel_Baker), Benjamin Barrett, Paul Bergstrom, [Harry Bluestone](/source/Harry_Bluestone), David Burk, Assa Drori, Jesse Ehrlich, James Getzoff, [Lee Holdridge](/source/Lee_Holdridge), Armand Kaproff, Jan R. Kelley, Ray Kelley, Lou Klaes, Erno Neufeld, Harvey Newmark, Gareth Nuttycombe, [Nathaniel Rosen](/source/Nathaniel_Rosen), Nathan Ross, Henry Roth, Myron Sandler, Joseph Saxon, Sidney Sharp, Jack Shulman, Paul Shure
- Horns: [Harry Betts](/source/Harry_Betts), [Roger Bobo](/source/Roger_Bobo), [Bud Brisbois](/source/Bud_Brisbois), [Roy Caton](/source/Roy_Caton), Paul Hubinon, [Dick Hyde](/source/Dick_Hyde_(musician)), Oliver Mitchell, [George Roberts](/source/George_Roberts_(trombonist)), [Tony Terran](/source/Tony_Terran)
- Supporting Vocals: Nancy Adams, Sherrill Atwood, [Billie Barnum](/source/The_Blackberries), H.B. Barnum Jr., Mabel Bishop, George Bledsoe, Fred Burton, [Merry Clayton](/source/Merry_Clayton), Marjorie Cranford, Oma Drake, Sean Engerman, Joe Greene, Alexander Hale, Christopher Hale, Graynston Hale, Molly Halloran, Gwen Johnson, [Lou Johnson](/source/Lou_Johnson_(singer)), Stacey Johnson, [Clydie King](/source/Clydie_King), Jessie Kirkland, Bill Lee, [Sherlie Matthews](/source/Sherlie_Matthews), Evelyn Meyer, Dwayne Moody, Matthews Muhoberac, Ekundayo Paris, Kevin Parker, Aubrey Porter, Dean Porter, Ricky Porter, Douglas Schwartz, Jean Sewell, Ed Wallace, Phillip Whigham, John Woodson, Donald Wyatt

## Charts

Chart (1970–1971) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[7] 31

## References

1. ["Gold & Platinum"](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=neil+diamond#search_section). *[Recording Industry Association of America](/source/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America)*

1. ["Neil Diamond"](https://www.billboard.com/artist/neil-diamond/chart-history/hsi/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*

1. Plasketes, George (2016). *B-Sides, Undercurrents and Overtones*. Routledge. p. 86. ISBN 9781317171133.

1. Joseph K. Adjaye & Adrianne R. Andrews (eds.) (1997). *Language, Rhythm, & Sound: Black Popular Cultures Into the Twenty-first Century*. University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 253. ISBN 9780822939672.

1. ["CashBox Singles Reviews"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-04-18.pdf). *Cash Box*. April 18, 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 2023-04-28.

1. ["Single Picks of the Week"](https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/70/RW-1970-04-18.pdf). *Record World*. April 18, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-28.

1. Kent, David (1993). *[Australian Chart Book 1970–1992](/source/Kent_Music_Report)*. St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

## External links

- [Neil Diamond's Official Website](http://www.neildiamond.com/)
- [Record Label](http://www.umeportal.com/product.aspx?ob=disc&src=art&pid=11045)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tap Root Manuscript](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_Root_Manuscript) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_Root_Manuscript?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.