Diamond Head (song)

"Diamond Head"
Single by the Ventures
from the album Walk, Don't Run, Vol. 2
B-side"Lonely Girl"
Released1964
GenreSurf
Length2:01
LabelDolton
Composer(s)Danny Hamilton
Producer(s)Dick Glasser
The Ventures singles chronology
"Slaughter on Tenth Avenue"
(1964) 		"Diamond Head"
(1964) 		"Pedal Pusher"
(1965)

"Diamond Head" was an instrumental by the Ventures in Japan and Hong Kong. It also charted in the United States in both the Billboard and Cashbox charts. It was written by Dan Hamilton.

Background

In addition to being recorded by the Ventures,[1] it has also been covered by Aqua Velvets,[2] and Susan and the Surftones.[3] It was also covered with Japanese lyrics by Joō-sama as an OP for the anime adaptation of Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo.

Charts

For the week ending March 13, 1965, "Diamond Head" had moved up two notches from #4 to #2 in the Hong Kong Top Ten.[4] The following week it had reached #1 there.[5] The song became Japan's first million-seller and sold more than 1,850,000 copies there. It was a hit in Iran and got to #70 in the US.[6]

References

  1. ^ AllMusic - The Ventures, Surfin' Guitars
  2. ^ AllMusic - Aqua Velvets, Radio Waves, Track Listing - Disc 1
  3. ^ Discogs - Susan & The Surftones – All The Beat... Live!!! All The Best
  4. ^ Billboard, March 13, 1965 - Page 22 Billboard Hits of the World, Hong Kong
  5. ^ Billboard, March 20, 1965 - Page 22 Billboard Hits of the World, Hong Kong
  6. ^ Walk-Don't Run - The Story of the Ventures, By Del Halterman - Page 116