''Velvet Gloves and Spit'' is the third

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records co ...

by Neil Diamond. His first for MCA's

Uni Uni or UNI may refer to: Entertainment *Uni Records, a division of MCA, formally called Universal City Records *"U.N.I.", a song by Ed Sheeran from ''+'' (''Plus'') *Uni, a species in the Neopets Trading Card Game *Uni, a character in the anim ...

label, it included three low-charting singles: "Brooklyn Roads" (No. 58), "Two-Bit Manchild" (No. 66) and "Sunday Sun" (No. 68). Upon its initial release in 1968, the album had 10 songs. After the success of Diamond's next three albums, it was re-issued in October 1970 with a new sleeve and included a remake of " Shilo", a song that had previously been recorded for

Bang Records Bang Records was created by Bert Berns in 1965 together with his partners from Atlantic Records: Ahmet Ertegun, Nesuhi Ertegun and Jerry Wexler. The first letters of their names (Bert, Ahmet, Nesuhi, Gerald) formed the label's name. Forming the ...

and had appeared on the preceding album, '' Just For You''. His motivation for doing this was the release of the song as a single by his old record label with a new backing track and different vocal take recorded at Chips Moman's American Studios in

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

, and its chart position at No. 24 outselling Diamond's concurrently released single "

Until It's Time for You to Go "Until It's Time for You to Go" is a song from the 1965 album '' Many a Mile'' by Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie. Sainte-Marie included a French-language reworking of the song, "T'es pas un autre", on her 1967 album '' Fire & Flee ...

", which reached No. 53. The album sleeve states that "Much credit for 'The Pot Smoker's Song' must go to the kids of

Phoenix House Phoenix House is a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation organization operating in ten states with 150 programs. Programs serve individuals, families, and communities affected by substance abuse and dependency. History Phoenix House was ...

in New York City. Without the cooperation and frankness of these young ex-drug addicts who are still struggling to find their way back, this 'song' never could have been done." On early UK copies, "The Pot Smoker's Song" was replaced by a b-side titled "Broad Old Woman (6 A.M. Insanity)". '' Cash Box'' called "Brooklyn Roads" a "nostalgia filled glimpse of the 'good old days' of childhood" that has "solid vocal and lyrical impact" as well as "excellent production work and reasonable dance appeal."

Track listing

All tracks written by Neil Diamond's . 1970 re-release

Arrangements

Artie Schroeck Arthur Bruce Schroeck (born October 10, 1938) is an American musician, best known for arranging and composing popular songs and jingles. He has won multiple Clio Awards, such as when he composed the music for the 1981 ABC-TV promo "Now is t ...

(tracks: A5),

Don Costa Dominick P. "Don" Costa (June 10, 1925 – January 19, 1983) was an American conductor and record producer. He discovered singer Paul Anka and worked on several hit albums by Frank Sinatra, including ''Sinatra and Strings'' and '' My Way''. ...

(tracks: A1 to A3), Don Hockett (tracks: B4), Howard Johnson (tracks: B2),

Joe Renzetti Joe Renzetti (born January 4, 1941) is an American film composer and session musician. He scores for films and television, and composes works for orchestra, chamber groups, and solo artists. Career Born in Philadelphia, Renzetti began his career ...

(tracks: B5, B1),

Stuart Scharf Stuart Scharf (1941 – November 8, 2007) was an American composer, guitarist, and record producer. Scharf grew up in Crown Heights and attended Winthrop Junior High School. Scharf graduated, with honors, from CCNY in 1962 (mathematics majo ...

(tracks: B3)

References

1968 albums Neil Diamond albums Uni Records albums Albums arranged by Don Costa Albums produced by Tom Catalano {{1960s-pop-album-stub