Did You Know Ub40 Didn't Write 'Red Red Wine'? the True Neil Diamond Origins Explained

Is did You Know Ub40 Didn't Write 'Red Red Wine'? the True Neil Diamond Origins Explained a hot topic right now? Uncover the pros and cons in our dedicated article.

To understand the song history and origins of "Red Red Wine," you have to wipe away the synthesized brass, the skank guitar, and the bouncy basslines. Strip the track down to its bare bones: a solitary acoustic guitar, weeping orchestral strings, and a defeated singer drinking alone in the dark.

Neil Diamond recorded the track in 1967 during his productive, combative stint with Bang Records in New York. Released on his second studio record, the 1968 Just for You album, the song arrived as a dark, mid-tempo acoustic lament. Diamond sang it with raw, weary resignation. He was not toasting to a good time at a weekend festival; he was playing a broken man numbing the pain of abandonment with alcohol.

Bang Records released the track as a single in early 1968. It broke into the charts, peaking at number 62 on the US Billboard Hot 100. While it demonstrated Diamond’s distinct knack for hook writing, the cut was quickly overshadowed by his brighter, uptempo radio smashes like "Cherry, Cherry" and "Sweet Caroline." Diamond himself soon moved on to Uni Records, leaving the Bang master tapes behind. The acoustic ballad roots of the song seemed destined to gather dust in record bins.