Description
Check the exclusive video showing the LP for sale
Check the exclusive video showing the LP for sale
Alan Frew the GLASS TIGER singer with Bryan Adams (1985)
Diamond Sun = Studio album by Glass Tiger
Released April 13, 1988
Recorded 1987-1988 at Le Studio, Morin-Heights, Quebec, Canada, Distorto Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Phase One, and Eastern Sound Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Windmill Lane, Dublin, Ireland
Genre Pop, Rock, Pop rock
Length 46:54
Label Capitol
Producer Jim Vallance
Singles from Diamond Sun
“”I’m Still Searching”” Released: 1988
“”Diamond Sun”” Released: 1988
“”My Song”” Released: 1988
“”Send Your Love”” Released: 1989
“”(Watching) Worlds Crumble”” Released: 1989
Diamond Sun is the second album by Canadian band Glass Tiger. It was released by Capitol Records April 13, 1988. It went certified Double Platinum in Canada.
Track listing:
“”Diamond Sun”” (Alan Frew, Jim Vallance) – 5:22
“”Far Away From Here”” (Frew, Michael Hanson, Sam Reid) – 4:08
“”I’m Still Searching“” (Frew, Hanson, Reid) – 3:58
“”A Lifetime of Moments”” (Frew, Hanson) – 4:58
“”It’s Love U Feel“” (Frew, Reid, Vallance) – 5:32
“”My Song“” (featuring The Chieftains) (Frew, Reid, Vallance) – 3:26
“”(Watching) Worlds Crumble”” (Frew, Reid, Vallance) – 4:53
“”Send Your Love”” (Frew, Hanson) – 4:28
“”Suffer in Silence”” (Frew, Reid) – 3:35
“”This Island Earth”” (Frew, Hanson, Reid) – 6:30
Glass Tiger:
Alan Frew – vocals
Sam Reid – keyboards
Al Connelly – guitars
Wayne Parker – electric bass
Michael Hanson – drums
Additional musicians
Backing Vocals: Dalbello, Arnold Lanni, Sheree Jeacocke, Colina Phillips
Additional Guitars: Michael Hanson, Keith Scott
Additional Drums and Keyboards: Jim Vallance
Additional Fretless Bass: Rene Worst
Saxophone: Earl Seymour
Synclavier Programming: John Grier
CHECK audio (all songs):
The harmonies, guitar, and violins are so beautiful in this song! I love the marching snare drum, and the man calling out…This song fills the room with musical confidence! I remember when I got the album…yes, ALBUM! a time in my life that I will never forget…The most perfect song. PERIOD.
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5.0 out of 5 stars DIAMOND SUN MADE OF PURE GOLD,
Glass Tiger songs are longing and nostalgic for those “”ancient evenings”” and equally as impressive are Alan Frew’s writing and especially unique soaring and heartfelt vocals. The other lads play at a more mature level of musicianship and “”Diamond Sun”” is definitely the greatest Glass Tiger song ever! A little bit of prejudice, I know =) But with lines such as: “”as with the shadows of lonely trees, we are in bondage but our hearts are still free”” ~ My God, what brilliance! “”I’m Still Searching”” is melodic and highly energising, not to mention the commercial hit of the album. Remember that classic video? “”My Song”” keeps the Gaelic heart of the band beating strong with The Chieftains playing along a catchy melody you will find yourself humming constantly! “”This Island Earth”” is haunting ~ Amazing! “”Send Your Love”” brings U2 to mind at first, but then becomes uniquely Glass Tiger. Alan Frew, as evidenced on the track “”(Watching) Worlds Crumble””, is one of the FEW male singers that can sing in falsetto and not sound like John Cleese impersonating an old woman in a Monty Python skit! This album is alive, breathing with emotion and impressive musicianship. The production is excellent, much better in the “”production”” sense than “”The Thin Red Line””. The instruments just sound better here. Let’s pray for a reunion of this brilliant band one day soon! Also, check out Alan Frew’s solo stuff if you are a GT fan. You won’t be disappointed mates!
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5.0 out of 5 stars A Grounded and Mature Progression,
Lack of airplay in the U.S. prevented this fine album from achieving the success it had in Canada, but for this American fan it is still a personal favorite. As a follow-up to Glass Tiger’s sparkling debut Thin Red Line, Diamond Sun is simpler and more down-to-earth in terms of production. The theme and rhythms of the title track alluding to Canada’s indigenous peoples introduce an organic feel that carries through to the joyful and good-humored “”My Song”” flavored with the music of vocalist Alan Frew’s native Scotland. “”Far Away From Here”” is one of their best pop/rock guitar-oriented tracks–and it is only available here, as the hits compilations neglected to include it. The exuberance of “”Send Your Love”” with its spirited vocal and fast driving beat is another highlight, as is the gentle introspective vocal on “”Suffer In Silence”” with its nicely done fade-out. Frew uses his powerful instrument with sensitive restraint as can be heard in the way he opens the first track and ends the last–creating a quiet thoughtful mood to introduce the album, and then as the final track draws to a close letting his voice fade into the background so the instruments can swell back in and have the final say. He doesn’t sacrifice the music for the sake of ego. The variety of tone, texture, and character in his voice is remarkable and rare–from the angelic falsetto of “”Watching Worlds Crumble”” to the earthy resonant grunt at the beginning of “”This Island Earth,”” and everything in between; the Beatles’ influence is evident here, and if McCartney was the master of vocal versatility then Frew is the star pupil who matured with Glass Tiger and comes to full fruition in his subsequent solo releases. For me, Diamond Sun is one of the musical high points of the 1980’s and I highly recommend it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Diamond Sun Shines Brilliantly!, The depth and layering of their vocals coupled with the crispness of guitar riffs and a sharp precise percussion left a lasting impression on me. Diamond Sun was my first Glass Tiger purchase and their studio effort is exceedingly sharp and polished. Not quite a concept album, there is a theme.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome – Extraordinary – Enthralling.
I was so enthralled by Diamond Sun… I play it all of the time. It is one collection that suits every mood. This Island Earth is indescribable, ethereal, mind-altering. I can only hope that the other collections by Glass Tiger are somewhat close.
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5.0 out of 5 stars GLASS TIGER! WHAT MORE CAN YOU SAY!! FANTASTIC!!,
Another Great LP From My Favorite Band! Since Living Here In Toronto, They Played Here So Many Times, And Having Been To All Their Concerts Here, There Is Just No Word To Express Just How They Rock The Place!! For The Life Of My Sanity, I Pray They would Get Back Together and Continue All The Greatness They started.
It’s Love U Feel
Recording Artist: Glass Tiger
Writers: Jim Vallance
Alan Frew
Sam Reid
Date Written: 1987
Albums: Diamond Sun (1988)
Lyrics:
She’s crying
But it’s now over you
Lying, is just something you do
They’re telling me
I’m telling you
It’s just a game for you
Dying, she’s not making it through
It makes me cry
It’s just love that you feel
I wonder why?
It’s love that you feel
Wish I could die
It’s just love that you feel
Falling,
You get kicked when you’re down
Calling
It’s goin’ all over town
They’re telling me
I’m telling you
It’s just a game you play
Calling
She’s got something to say
Sam Reid of Glass Tiger, a founding member, and keyboardist. Sam Reid along with Glass Tiger is a Grammy Award-Nominated Canadian Rock Band from Newmarket, Ontario that formed in 1983. Glass Tiger released five studio albums in 1986, Glass Tigers’ debut album, The Thin Red Line, went Quadruple Platinum in Canada and went Gold here in the United States. Two singles from that album, “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” and “Someday”, reached the U.S. Top 10.
Diamond Sun by Glass Tiger
Peak Month: August 1988
13 weeks on Vancouver’s CKLG Chart
Peak Position ~ #4
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “Diamond Sun”
Lyrics: “Diamond Sun”
Discovered in the summer of 1984 when a band from Newmarket, Ontario called Tokyo spent two evenings performing before capacity crowds at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens opening for Boy George and Culture Club. Their dynamic original sound captured the moment, and the race to sign them was on. Tokyo, which had become a major force in suburban high schools and the Ontario club circuit, officially became Glass Tiger early the following year when a record deal was finally signed with Capitol Records. The band consisted of Alan Frew on vocals and guitar, Sam Reid on keyboards, Al Connelly on guitar, Wayne Parker on bass and Michael Hanson on drums.
After being introduced to Jim Vallance, who had previously produced albums for Prism and Bryan Adams, Glass Tiger was off to the recording studio to work on their first album. The Thin Red Line set a record for being the fastest selling debut recording in Canadian history, going gold within weeks of its release. To date, this album has received four Platinum records in Canada and earned Gold status in the USA. One of Glass Tiger’s many hit singles “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” climbed all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, followed by “Someday” which peaked on the US charts at #5. Both songs were written by Jim Vallance and made Canadian history when Glass Tiger won successive Juno’s a year apart for Single of the Year from the same album. Additional singles from their debut album were “Thin Red Line” and “You’re What I Look For“. Both peaked in the Top Ten in Vancouver.
On July 25, 1986, Glass Tiger performed in concert at the Expo Theatre at Expo ’86.
With five Juno awards and a Grammy nomination under their belt, Glass Tiger was invited as concert openers for Tina Turner’s 1987 European tour. Glass Tiger’s second release Diamond Sun, established Glass Tiger’s reputation as being one of Canada’s better recording artists at crafting a song. Diamond Sun ended up charting four singles into the Canadian RPM Top 30 singles chart. The first of these was “I’m Still Searching”. The second album release was the title track “Diamond Sun”.
Alan Frew wrote “Diamond Sun”. He told the Chicago Tribune that ”Diamond Sun” addresses itself in part to the fate of smaller cultures that suffer at the hands of larger or more powerful cultures. ”Vanishing Tribes” dealt with that topic on the first album, and the title song deals with it on ”Diamond Sun.” A video for ”Diamond Sun” consists largely of images of North American Indians, although Frew hastens to point out that the song is not about Indian culture and history alone. ”That whole feeling of people who through monetary power or physical power just impose themselves on others. . . . It really does disgust me.”
At the end of “Diamond Sun” Glass Tiger predicts that those in the dominant culture will “hear the heartbeat of a nation’s unrest.” The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was in place from 2008 to 2015. It was established by the Canadian Government with the purpose of documenting the history and lasting impacts of the Canadian Indian Residential School System on Indigenous students and their families. It provided residential school survivors with an opportunity to testify to their experiences during public and private meetings held across the country. At the conclusion of its term in 2015, the TRC issued 94 “calls to action” regarding reconciliation between Canadians and Indigenous peoples. The TRC report in December 2015 stated that the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Canada in the residential school system represented “cultural genocide.”
An example of cultural genocide cited in the TRC report was Language and Culture. First Nations children in residential schools were not allowed to speak their native languages or practice their culture. According to UNESCO, 36% of Canada’s Indigenous languages are listed as being critically endangered. The calls to action in the TRC report request increased funding, from governmental and educational institutions, for educating children in Indigenous languages and also request that post-secondary institutions provide degrees and diplomas in Indigenous languages.
Starting in 2016 the Canadian government has gave the CBC an additional yearly budget of $75 million to enable it to support reconciliation through its programming.
“Diamond Sun” peaked at #4 in Vancouver (BC) and Calgary (AB), and #12 in Hamilton (ON). Internationally, the single peaked at #3 in Port Saint Johns in Transkei, South Africa.
Subsequently, Glass Tiger released more singles from their album: “My Song”, and “Watching (Worlds Crumble)”. The album was awarded Double Platinum status based on its sales.
After Diamond Sun was released drummer Michael Hansen left the band. While Glass Tiger didn’t replace him with a drummer until Chris McNeill in 2000, they had studio musicians who were drummers hired for subsequent album productions.
Glass Tiger’s third album, Simple Mission, sold well and went Platinum in Canada. It featured the hit singles “Animal Heart” and the band’s duet with Rod Stewart on the Celtic tune, “My Town”.
After the Simple Mission album Glass Tiger went dormant, but reformed and began to tour again ten years later in 2003. On January 20, 2006, Glass Tiger performed at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.
Keyboard player Sam Reid founded his own production company called Willow Music. Alan Frew wrote the 2010 Olympic Broadcast theme song “I Believe”. Guitarist Al Connelly has continued producing and writing new material, as well as performing. And Chris McNeil has been a drummer with Randy Bachman, Honeymoon Suite and Platinum Blonde. As well, McNeil has been a producer. On September 12, 2012, Glass Tiger appeared in concert at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, with Roxette the opening act. Two years later Glass Tiger returned to Vancouver to appear at the PNE Summer Nights Concert series on September 1, 2014.
In 2015 Alan Frew suffered a stroke and was partially paralyzed for awhile. In 2018 Glass Tiger released their fourth studio album 31. In June 2019 they went on tour with Corey Hart, performing at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver on June 25th. They also released their fifth studio album titled 33. As of October 2019, Glass Tiger had 12 upcoming concert dates between October 2019 and early March 2020.
January 22, 2021
Ray McGinnis
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