'Shilo'
1970
Neil Daimond
Hard as it is to believe, Neil Diamond had a slump in the late 60s and actually went a couple of years without a single hit. He had just left Bang Records after a heated disagreement about his career path and the kind of music he wanted to sing Vs the kind of music the record company wanted him to sing. This song was at the center of that disagreement.
Neil Diamond wanted to leave the lighter teen-pop music behind and go with more introspective songs such as Shilo, which he wrote in 1967 for Bang. They refused to release it as a single, keeping it a track on Diamond's album 'Just For You', and shortly thereafter he left Bang and signed with Uni Records.
Three years later, in 1970, he had a Hat Trick of hits, two of them (Holly Holy and Sweet Caroline) with Uni, while Shilo was finally released by Bang after they added new backing tracks. This started a string of hits that any Teen Of The Seventies will recognize instantly just from the first few notes.
Shilo wasn't his biggest hit by any means...it only made it to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100...but it's very likely his most introspective and autobiographical. The song is about a young boy and the imaginary friend who helped him through a life of loneliness and turmoil.
Shilo became one of his best known songs, a staple at his concerts, and as the years passed and The Hits of The Seventies became the Memories on The Oldies Stations, Shilo continued to be a well loved staple. Around Richmond and Hampton Roads/Tidewater (My two Home Areas in Virginia) if you listen to 96.5 or 107.3 in Richmond, or 106.9 in Hampton Roads you'll hear it on one of the three at least once or so a night.
SO enjoy! Shilo, by Neil Diamond.
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