Neil Diamond’s Timeless Hit Proves It’s Still A Winner

Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” reenters the U.K.’s Official Singles Sales and Downloads charts, decades after its 1969 debut. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 07: Neil Diamond performs onstage at the 24th annual Keep Memory Alive ‘Power of Love Gala’ benefit for the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive)

Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive

Neil Diamond has been one of the most recognizable names in music for decades, thanks to a string of chart-topping singles and hugely successful albums. In recent years, health concerns have slowed his career, but his fans have never stopped playing his hits. Among his many successes, one track stands out as his defining anthem — a sing-along classic instantly recognizable after just a few notes. This week, that cut manages to return to a pair of rankings in the United Kingdom, where Diamond’s fans are still dedicated to him.

“Sweet Caroline” Reappears on Two Charts

“Sweet Caroline” is back on both the Official Singles Sales and the Official Singles Downloads charts this frame. The track reenters the former at No. 65 and the latter just a few spaces higher, at No. 62.

A Modern Chart Run That Started Years After Release

When “Sweet Caroline” was first released in 1969, neither of the tallies it appears on in the U.K. this week existed, at least not in their current form. The track didn’t make its first appearance on the Official Singles Downloads chart until 2008, and it reached the Official Singles Sales roster for the first time in 2016. In the summer of 2021, the cut soared to No. 3 on both charts, and that position still stands as its all-time high.

Neil Diamond Approaches Triple-Digit Weeks

To date, “Sweet Caroline” has now spent 83 weeks on the Official Singles Sales chart and 97 on the Official Singles Downloads tally. It hasn’t been spotted on either list since August 2024, making this latest reappearance an impressive comeback for one of the most beloved tracks in U.K. chart history.

The Legacy of “Sweet Caroline”

First featured on Diamond’s Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show album, “Sweet Caroline” went on to appear on numerous compilations and live recordings from the singer. Over the past half-century, the cut has become a staple at sporting events, weddings, and public gatherings, and its “so good, so good” refrain is now deeply embedded in pop culture.