"Longfellow Serenade" is the title of a 1974 song by the American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. It was written by Diamond, produced by Tom Catalano, and included on Diamond's album Serenade.
"Longfellow Serenade" spent two weeks at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1974.Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 177. It was Diamond's second No. 1 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, following his 1972 single, "Song Sung Blue".Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of No. 1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 150. The song reached No. 1 in Switzerland and No. 2 in Germany.
Diamond described "Longfellow Serenade" in the liner notes to his 1996 compilation album, In My Lifetime: "Occasionally I like using a particular lyrical style which, in this case, lent itself naturally to telling the story of a guy who woos his woman with poetry." The title of the song is a reference to the 19th-century American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Diamond chose to reference Longfellow specifically after recalling an instance in which, while in his teens, Diamond had used one of the poet's works to successfully seduce a significantly older woman.Jackson, Laura (2005). Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion (ECW Press), page 112.
Cash Box called it a "powerful up-tempo ballad", saying, "Neil handles the tune with his usual expertise and rich smooth vocal." Record World said that Diamond "invokes a classic 19th century bard and turns in a true masterpiece of thought and performance perfection."
Chart history
Weekly charts Chart (1974–75)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)7Canada RPM Adult Contemporary1Canada RPM Top Singles7South Africa (Springbok)1U.S. Cash Box Top 1004
Year-end charts Chart (1974)RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)68Canada85U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)67 Chart (1975)RankSouth Africa14SwitzerlandSwiss Year-End Charts, 19759U.S. Billboard Easy ListeningTop 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 197536
Cover versions Petr Spálený – Velký Muž Serenád
See also List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1974 (U.S.)
References
External links Single release info from discogs.com Retrieved February 10, 2009.