What classic track was written by Neil Diamond but made a hit by the Monkees? It’s today’s classic song of the day, “I’m a Believer.”
Neil Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer” back in 1966. He originally pitched the tune to a band called the Fifth Estate, who ended up recording it for their 1967 album, Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead. But producer Jeff Barry got to it first and gave it to Mickey, Davy, Peter, and Mike to record. Mickey Dolenz sang lead on this one and the instrumental backing was recorded in RCA Victor studios in New York. Studio musicians on the track included Al Gorgoni and Sal DiTroia on guitars, George Butcher on electric piano, Stan Free on organ, Russ Savakus on bass, and Buddy Saltzman on drums. Neil Diamond himself pitched in on acoustic guitar.
Colgems Records released “I’m a Believer” as a single in November of 1966, with “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” on the flip side. The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 31 and stayed there for the first seven weeks of 1967. That made “I’m a Believer” the last #1 hit in 1966 and the best-selling single for all of 1967. The track hit #1 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the UK; it also peaked at #1 on the Cash Box Top 100. Billboard ranked the single as the number-five song for the year 1967.
And here’s your daily bonus video of the day, “I’m a Believer” as it first appeared on The Monkees television show. Enjoy.
