Diamond Light Boogie
"Diamond Light Boogie" is a song by American band the Cherry Poppin' Daddies on their 2000 album Soul Caddy. It was the first and only single released off Soul Caddy and the Daddies' fourth and final single to be released by Mojo Records.
Overview
Music and lyrics
Despite the international success the Cherry Poppin' Daddies had experienced with their 1998 swing-influenced single "Zoot Suit Riot", the band became vocal by the end of the decade about what they saw as a career pigeonholing due to media representation of the Daddies as just a "swing band" at the exclusion of the punk, ska and funk material that had comprised much of their albums.[1] As such, Soul Caddy marked a progression of the Daddies' sound into new stylistic territory, drawing from the rock and pop of the late 1960s and early 1970s.[2]
"Diamond Light Boogie" was written as the album's lead single, a rock song intended to introduce the Daddies' "true" sound to a wider audience as well as bridge the gap between their swing-based fans and their non-swing music.[1] The song is composed as a fusion of glam rock and jump swing, boasting a guitar riff-driven melody in the vein of bands like T. Rex and set against the rhythmic backbeat and horns common of swing. Said songwriter Steve Perry of the track:
| “ |
"Diamond Light Boogie"...was inspired, like its predecessor, "Zoot Suit Riot", by a historical time period...the glitter, glam rock of the early '70s. The vibe is about partying, fun and absurd fashion...and, like "Zoot Suit Riot", it is both a celebration of a period and an attempt to bring something new to the table.[3] |
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Production of the single was supervised by legendary glam rock producer Tony Visconti, while backing vocals were provided by Mark Volman of The Turtles.[4]
Lyrically, "Diamond Light Boogie" reflects America's transition into the 21st century: the narrator, though warmly welcoming the arrival of a new era, bids farewell to the past with reluctance, fondly recalling the innocence and naiveté of the twentieth century, though assuring the listener that everything will be all right in the end.[5]
Reception
Due to Mojo's poor response to Soul Caddy, the label did little to promote either the album or its single, at one point releasing the latter without the Daddies' name on it, allegedly due to hesitancy over releasing a rock single from a band more widely known as swing.[6][7] Both Soul Caddy and "Diamond Light Boogie" ultimately failed to chart, but the single received moderate media attention, meeting to mixed reviews. Allmusic, having given Soul Caddy a positive review, described the song's glam styling and "sassy songwriting" as the epitome of the album's "musical excitement"[8], while The Boston Globe, in a negative review, extensively criticized the album for being derivative of other artists, citing "Diamond Light Boogie" as being "ripped straight from The Soup Dragons' catalog".[9]
Formats and track listing
| 1. |
"Diamond Light Boogie" (single edit) |
3:30 |
| 2. |
"Diamond Light Boogie" (album version) |
3:42 |
| 3. |
"Diamond Light Boogie" (instrumental) |
3:37 |
Personnel
Additional musicians
Production
References
- ^ a b Koffman, Linda (June 20, 1998). "A Not So Cheery Cherry Daddy". www.virginmegamagazine.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2003. http://web.archive.org/web/20030517105041/http://www.virginmegamagazine.com/default.asp?aid=21. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
- ^ Salvia, Vanessa (September 14, 2000). "Soul Daddies: Hometown Boys Play the Celebration Sunday". Eugene Weekly.
- ^ Perry, Steve (2000). "Diamond Light Boogie CD single".
- ^ 'Soul Caddy' production credits. AllMusic.com. Retrieved 9-15-2009.
- ^ Salvia, Vanessa. "Soul Caddies" Eugene Weekly. September 14, 2000.
- ^ duBrowa, Corey. 'Dropping In' Oregon Quarterly. 2008
- ^ Salmon, Ben (July 11, 2008). "A different kind of revival: Cherry Poppin' Daddies are back, doing what they've always done". Bend Bulletin. http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080711/NEWS0107/807110314/1002&nav_category=. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
- ^ Wilson, Mackenzie. 'Soul Caddy Review'. Allmusic.
- ^ Greenlee, Steve. Soul Caddy review, The Boston Globe, February 15, 2001.
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| Singles |
" Zoot Suit Riot" • "Brown Derby Jump" • "Here Comes the Snake" • "Diamond Light Boogie" |
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| Related articles |
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