John was obliged to record this album against his wishes after his record label refused to release another album (Perhaps love) that he had prepared. John never liked this album but his professionalism ensured that the album has a lot to like about it. While country themes have often been a part of John's music, he never wanted to be typecast as a country singer, preferring a hybrid mix of folk, pop and country although John's most successful album of all time (Back home again) was a country album.John only contributed two of his own songs to the album (Country love, Sleeping alone), presumably feeling that if he couldn't record what he wanted, somebody else could provide most of the songs. The title track became a top ten country hit and might have been followed by other country hits, but American country radio stations soon discovered that John was not committed to a country music career and stopped playing his music.
San Francisco Mabel Joy (written by Mickey Newbury) is a very sad song about a country boy and a city prostitute, which has also been recorded by Joan Baez, Waylon Jennings and Kenny Rogers among others. Cowboy and the lady (a Bobby Goldsboro song) has been covered by Dolly Parton with slightly different lyrics as Cowgirl and the dandy - it appeared on her classic album, Here you come again.
There are many other fine songs here. Given the circumstances in which it was recorded, this album didn't deserve to be as good as it is, but if you enjoy John's other music and you also enjoy country music, you'll love this album.
Some Days Are Diamond for me is the second of a 'quartet' of albums which truly demonstrate John's development as a singer and composer during a four-year period. There are only two of his own compositions on this cd which is the most 'country' of all his albums. The arrangements for the songs on this album have also been produced as a beautifully complimentary vehicle for John's delivery of this wide range of songs within the 'country' genre.However, although there are just the two of his songs (Sleepin' Alone, which is a poignant (self?) reflection on money not being able to buy everything, and Country Love - a bitter-sweet reminiscence on 'home-grown lovin'), this cd is one of the most remarkable for showing John's ability as a story-singer at his best.
The album starts with the title song of an intimate reflection on handling a painful separation and the 'truth' which we would all try to hide with a public face - and demonstrates the immense vocal range which John could truly attain. Gravel on the Ground moves into a tender, lilting reflection on life and relationships that moves the listener with an inviting rhythm along the road of life. And then San Francisco Mabel Joy shows John's outstanding ability to tell the story in song. His immense gift to truly sing the tale, speak and cry the song, ache with real pain and emotion is given full range in this song of country boy in the city and his vocal range is a heart-wrenching listening experience.
The Cowboy and the Lady is a lovely reminder of an age ago in old airports, but which is still very much today - I can relate very easily to that - and the upbeat, intimate delivery hints at something far more sexy than the words alone could do. You could almost picture John dressed in rhinestone - I can imagine me with the hat and the sherry all too easily.
Wild Flower in a Mason Jar is beautifully rhythmic song from a young man reflecting on being a child with his grandfather. The lyrics would take anyone back to a time they spent with a loved grandparent, and this is a tender, lilting and happy reflection on a life which does still exist. Take a few rides on a long-haul bus journey and you will find times have not changed one bit. And is Boy from the Country as personal for John as if he had written it himself?
Listen to it all for yourself and see just how his voice was developing and maturing during this time.
![Some Days Are Diamonds [Us Import]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QJ2GMWWML._SL160_.jpg)
