Diamonds for Breakfast

Background

The recording of the album commenced in 1979 in Munich, Germany. Again, Amanda wrote almost all the lyrics and worked with German producer and composer Anthony Monn. However, as a result of changing trends in the industry and Amanda's personal musical preferences, the album shifted musically from the straightforward disco music towards pop rock. Lear explained the title Diamonds for Breakfast in the liner notes, comparing diamonds to "every tear, every frustration, every heartache (...). Good and bad experiences, pleasure and pain". She went on to say she pities "people without feelings, they don't have diamonds for breakfast".

The album cover portrait of Lear, with Tiffany-designed diamond tears running down her cheek, is notable in the history of art and design as it was one of the first major assignments for French photographers Pierre et Gilles.

"Fabulous (Lover, Love Me)", released as the lead single in 1979, was a Top 10 hit in Sweden and a minor chart success in Germany. The second single, "Diamonds", was commercially successful as well, performing best in Norway, where it reached the Top 10. Three more singles were selected for different territories: "When" was released in Sweden, "Ho fatto l'amore con me" in Italy and France, and "Japan" was chosen for the Japanese market.

The Italian pressing of Diamonds for Breakfast included Italian language versions of "Insomnia" and "When", the former featuring guest vocals by Amanda's husband Alain-Philippe Malagnac d'Argens de Villèle. The album was met with a commercial success. It was Lear's breakthrough album in the Scandinavia, placing within the Top 10 in Sweden and Norway. However, it reported disappointing sales in Germany, her biggest market up to that point, charting outside the Top 40.

The rights to the Ariola-Eurodisc back catalogue are currently held by Sony BMG. Like most of Amanda's albums from the Ariola Records era, Diamonds for Breakfast has not received the official CD re-issue, excluding Russian bootleg re-releases.

Standard edition

1. "Rockin' Rollin' (I Hear You Nagging)" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 3:05
2. "I Need a Man" (Anthony Monn, Dieter Kawohl, Amanda Lear) – 3:40
3. "It's a Better Life" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 4:30
4. "Oh Boy" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 4:30
5. "Insomnia" (Charly Ricanek, Amanda Lear) – 3:15

1. "Diamonds" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 4:55
2. "Japan" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 3:15
3. "Fabulous (Lover, Love Me)" (Rainer Pietsch, Amanda Lear) – 5:25
4. "Ho fatto l'amore con me" (Cristiano Malgioglio) – 3:15
5. "When" (Rainer Pietsch, Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 3:25

Italian edition

1. "Rockin' Rollin' (I Hear You Nagging)" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 3:05
2. "I Need a Man" (Anthony Monn, Dieter Kawohl, Amanda Lear) – 3:40
3. "It's a Better Life" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 4:30
4. "Oh Boy" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 4:30
5. "Insomnia" (Charly Ricanek, Amanda Lear) – 3:15

1. "Ciao" (Rainer Pietsch, Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 3:25
2. "Ho fatto l'amore con me" (Cristiano Malgioglio, Maria Antonietta Sisini, Giuni Russo) – 3:15
3. "Diamonds" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 4:55
4. "Japan" (Anthony Monn, Amanda Lear) – 3:15
5. "Fabulous (Lover, Love Me)" (Rainer Pietsch, Amanda Lear) – 5:25

Personnel