"Cracklin' Rosie" is a 1970 song written and performed by
Neil Diamond in 1970, from his album
Tap Root Manuscript. This was Neil Diamond's first
American #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1970, and
his third to sell a million copies. It become Diamond's
breakthrough single on the UK Singles Chart in 1970, reaching
#3 in December 1970. It also reached #2 on the Australian
Singles Chart.
Married to a catchy and dynamic melody and arrangement, the
lyrics suggested to some a devotion to a woman of the
night:
But in actuality, Cracklin' Rosie is a type of wine drunk by
a native Canadian tribe that Diamond had visited in Canada.
Apparently the tribe had more men than women. Cracklin' Rosie
was the nickname they used for their homemade alcoholic brew,
which the single men, who did not have dates, would sit around
the fire and drink together.
In terms of wine itself, the title is seen to refer to
(misspelled) rosé wine which is "crackling" - a U.S. term
equivalent to pétillant or lightly sparkling. A Crackling Rosé
is produced by, for example, Paul Masson Vineyards and
Beckett's Flat.
The single version released by Uni Records in 1970 was in
mono, while the album version from
Tap Root Manuscriptwas in stereo.
"Cracklin' Rosie" is heard on the Perth based radio station
882 6pr as part of a weather segment.