Hailing from Scotland, singer-songwriter Jim Diamond first broke through on the UK Top 5 with the 1982 hit “I Won’t Let You Down,” as part of the group PhD (featuring keyboardist Tony Hymas and drummer Simon Phillips). On 1984’s Double Crossed, our album of the week, the track “I Should Have Known Better” became a Euro-pop UK and Australian No. 1 hit, and entered the Top 5 in three other countries (but surprisingly, not in the US).
Diamond was first discovered by Alexis Korner. After leaving Korner’s group, he formed a band (Bandit) with AC/DC member Cliff Williams, and later moved on to Los Angeles and formed another group called Slick Diamond with guitarist Earl Slick. After disbanding PhD, Diamond would record Double Crossed for A&M. He would follow this up with the Top 5 hit “Hi Ho Silver” from the soundtrack to the British crime drama Boon.
In later years, Diamond would make guest appearances on a handful of other artists’ albums, and release a few more himself, including City of Soul from which all proceeds went to charity. Diamond passed away in 2015.
This album is available as an import CD, and selected tracks are featured on the Best of Jim Diamond anthology.
Never heard this one, but the liner notes you just posted make me really curious to go out and find a copy. I recognize a lot of the names in the credits. Simon Kirke, of course, was the longtime drummer for Free and Bad Company. Graham Lyle was one-half of the (very underrated) A&M duo Gallagher and Lyle in the '70s (Breakaway isn't easy to find these days but is worth picking up) and would go on to write many a hit for Tina Turner during the '80s (including the massive singles "What's Love Got to Do with It" and "Typical Male.") Earl Slick played on many a David Bowie album, as well as John Lennon's Double Fantasy and Milk and Honey, and, during the '80s, was also a member of the bands Silver Condor (of "You Could Take My Heart Away" fame) and Phantom, Rocker & Slick (alongside two of the three Stray Cats). Wix would go on in '89 to join Paul McCartney's band as keyboardist and has been playing with Sir Paul ever since. And Zoot Money, I believe, was a former member of Eric Burdon and the Animals. Cool cast of players on this one!
This place can be dangerous to your (financial) health sometimes. :laugh:
Hailing from Scotland, singer-songwriter Jim Diamond first broke through on the UK Top 5 with the 1982 hit “I Won’t Let You Down,” as part of the group PhD (featuring keyboardist Tony Hymas and drummer Simon Phillips). On 1984’s Double Crossed, our album of the week, the track “I Should Have Known Better” became a Euro-pop UK …
Read the rest of our Jim Diamond feature at A&M Corner…