The Diamonds - Solemnly Yours

sambolton

Review by Sam Bolton

Solemnly Yours by The Diamonds: A Soulful Ride Worth Taking Let’s cut to the chase—Solemnly Yours isn’t your run-of-the-mill R&B album. Released in 2000 on Endangered Species Records (yes, that’s a real label name), this project from The Diamonds dives deep into genres like Contemporary R&B, Funk/Soul, and even throws some Contemporary R vibes for good measure. It’s got layers, man. Layers you can groove to. Now, before we get too serious here, let me just say—if someone told me there’d be multiple versions of tracks like “Life Is A Groove” or “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” I’d have been skeptical. But hey, it works. Somehow, they pull off these remixes without making you feel like you’re stuck in a musical Groundhog Day. And trust me, repetition usually drives me bananas. Why You’ll Remember These Tracks First up, “Life Is A Groove.” This track is basically what happens when smooth basslines and chill vocals collide. It’s funky enough to make you wanna shake whatever you’ve got but laid-back enough that you won’t break a sweat doing it. Plus, with Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson, and Yadonna Wise lending their voices, it feels richer than grandma’s gravy at Thanksgiving dinner. The version with the featured artists? Chef’s kiss. Smooth as butter, baby. Then there’s “Break the Chains.” This one hits different. There’s an urgency in the beat, a rawness in the lyrics that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. When the Diamonds team up with their powerhouse vocalists again, it’s like watching fireworks explode mid-song. One minute you’re vibing; the next, you’re ready to storm the barricades and overthrow something. Maybe not literally, though. Let’s keep it peaceful, folks. Quirks and Observations Here’s the thing about Solemnly Yours: it’s kinda all over the place, but in the best way possible. With 25+ tracks—including duplicates—it’s less of an album and more of a soul buffet. You don’t need to eat everything on the menu to leave satisfied. Just grab what speaks to you. Whether it’s the spiritual lift of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” or the retro charm of “Chapel of Love,” there’s plenty to chew on. And yeah, okay, maybe having three versions of certain songs feels excessive. Like, come on, guys, we get it—you really liked “Cool Runnins’.” But honestly? That’s part of its charm. It’s messy, sure, but so are most things worth remembering. Final Thoughts Solemnly Yours might not reinvent the wheel, but it spins it damn well. It’s the kind of album that reminds you why soul music still matters—it connects. It makes you move, think, laugh, cry—all while keeping your feet tapping. If anything, it proves that sometimes imperfection is perfection. Oh, and one last thing—don’t ask me why “The Tition” is spelled weird. I gave up trying to figure it out after two cups of coffee. Call it artistic license or just plain typos, either way, it adds to the mystery. So slap on those headphones, hit play, and enjoy the ride. Your ears will thank you… probably.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: the-diamonds-solemnly-yours.zip
  • MP3 size: 241.4 mb
  • FLAC size: 1173 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Cool Runnins' (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:10
Come to Me04:31
Lift Every Voice and Sing (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:8
The Tition
Playthang'
Solemn Vow (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)3:58
Chapel Of Love
Cool Runnins'04:12
Break The Chains
Take A Chance
Life Is a Groove (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:24
You Haven't Done Nothin' (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)3:34
Chapel of Love04:20
I Was The One
You haven't Done Nothin'
Take a Chance (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:15
Come To Me (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:28
I Was the One04:07
Playthang'03:52
Take a Chance04:18
You Haven't Done Nothin'03:36
Break the Chains (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:18
Life Is a Groove04:26
I Was the One (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:6
The Tition (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)3:52
Lift Every Voice And Sing
Come To Me
Life Is A Groove
Chapel of Love (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)4:18
Solemn Vow
Break the Chains04:19
Cool Runnins'
Lift Every Voice and Sing04:08
Playthang' (feat. Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson & Yadonna Wise)3:51

Images

ladda ner album The Diamonds - Solemnly Yours
télécharger l'album The Diamonds - Solemnly Yours
lataa albumi The Diamonds - Solemnly Yours

Catalog Numbers

ES-1704-2

Labels

Endangered Species Records

Listen online

  • escuchar en línea
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • online anhören
  • ouvir online
  • online luisteren
  • lyssna på nätet
  • lytte på nettet
  • écouter en ligne
  • ascolta in linea

Formats

  • CD
  • Album

Notes

New Orleans based modern Female R&B outfit.

Barcodes

Barcode: 744701170425

About The Diamonds

The Diamonds are a Canadian vocal quartet that rose to prominence in the 1950s and early 1960s. Formed in 1953 the group has had a number of line-up changes and is still active. Original members: Phil Levitt (Baritone vocals, born July 9, 1935) Ted Kowalski (Tenor vocals, born May 16, 1931, died August 8, 2010) Bill Reed (Bass vocals, born January 11, 1936, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, died October 22, 2004) Dave Somerville (Lead vocals, born October 2, 1933, died July 14, 2015) In 1958 Phil Leavitt retired and was replaced by Michael Douglas, and, in the following year, two Californians, Evan Fisher and John Felton took over from Bill Reed and Ted Kowalski.

Name Vars

  • Diamonds
  • Les Diamonds
  • Los Diamantes
  • Los Diamonds
  • The Diamond
  • À¤¢âóº

Members

  • Don Weir
  • David Somerville
  • Gary Owens
  • Jerry Siggins
  • Glenn Stetson
  • Bob Duncan
  • Steve Smith
  • Gary Cech

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: The album *Solemnly Yours* by The Diamonds, released in 2000, is like a musical time capsule. It blends genres like R&B, funk, and soul with a modern twist. What’s wild is how many tracks feature the same trio of vocalists—Gaynielle Neville, Dane Wilson, and Yadonna Wise—adding this rich, consistent harmony throughout. And check this out: the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often called the Black National Anthem, is tucked into the tracklist. It shows how the album mixes deep cultural significance with groovy, feel-good vibes. Not your typical release for the year 2000!