A-side "Stones" Format 7" (45 rpm) Length 3:15 | Released 1971 Genre Pop rock | |
B-side "Crunchy Granola Suite" | ||
"Crunchy Granola Suite" is a Pop rock song written and recorded in 1971 by Neil Diamond.
Contents
Release
The song was released on the album, Stones and also released as a B-side on the single also called Stones.
The song appears on a number of Diamond's albums, most notably the live album Hot August Night which is opened by a combination of the instrumental the Prologue and Crunchy Granola Suite.
Meaning of lyrics
James Perone writes: "The song describes how a man who previously suffered through all sorts of hang-ups has found solace with his newfound adherence to the stereotypical California, macrobiotic, granola, health food lifestyle"
The song was inspired by the healthy lifestyle Diamond was exposed to after moving to Los Angeles. In the liner notes to his 1996 compilation album "in My Lifetime" Diamond says he was "newly transported to California and was impressed by the health food consciousness there. I actually thought Crunchy Granola Suite might change peoples eating habits!"
Critical reception and chart success
The single "Stones" (for which "Crunchy Granola Suite" was the B Side) charted at #16 on the Billboard Chart in the US and #14 on the Australian charts.
The track "Prologue / Crunchy Granola Suite" was nominated for the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement (for conductor Lee Holdridge).
David Wild in his book "He Is-- I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond", said "he managed to write the coolest song ever written about granola or any other breakfast food made of rolled oats, nuts and honey".
Cover versions
Easy listening artist Percy Faith released a version in 1973 on his album Corazon which was released as a single reaching # 16 in the USA.
The song was used in the Tony Award winning musical review Dancin', directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse.