Diamond Rio is the self-titled debut studio album by American country music band Diamond Rio. Released in 1991 on Arista Records, it produced five chart singles on the Billboard country music charts: the Number One hit "Meet in the Middle", as well as the Top Ten hits "Mirror, Mirror", "Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me", "Norma Jean Riley" and "Nowhere Bound". The album received a RIAA platinum certification.

Diamond Rio
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 28, 1991 (1991-05-28)
Recorded1990–91
StudioMidtown Tone & Volume, Digital Studios, and Recording Arts (Nashville, Tennessee)
GenreCountry
Length38:47
LabelArista
ProducerTim DuBois, Monty Powell
Diamond Rio chronology
Diamond Rio
(1991)
Close to the Edge
(1992)
Singles from Diamond Rio
  1. "Meet in the Middle"
    Released: February 11, 1991
  2. "Mirror, Mirror"
    Released: July 1, 1991
  3. "Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me"
    Released: November 4, 1991
  4. "Norma Jean Riley"
    Released: March 23, 1992
  5. "Nowhere Bound"
    Released: June 29, 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[3]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Meet in the Middle"Chapin Hartford, Jim Foster, Don Pfrimmer3:18
2."This State of Mind"Michael Puryear, Aaron Tippin2:42
3."They Don't Make Hearts (Like They Used To)"Monty Powell, Sam Mullins, Stan LaGrange3:32
4."Mirror, Mirror"Bob DiPiero, John Jarrard, Mark D. Sanders3:12
5."The Ballad of Conley and Billy (The Proof's in the Pickin')"Powell, Jimmy Olander4:59
6."Nowhere Bound"Powell, Jule Medders3:41
7."It's Gone"Herb McCullough, Larry Cordle3:17
8."Norma Jean Riley"Powell, Dan Truman, Rob Honey3:03
9."Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me"Cordle, Larry Shell4:12
10."Pick Me Up""Powell, Marty Roe3:25
11."Poultry Promenade" (instrumental track)Olander3:26

Personnel

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Diamond Rio

  • Marty Roe – acoustic guitars, lead vocals
  • Dan Truman – keyboards
  • Jimmy Olander – lead guitars, banjo
  • Gene Johnson – mandolin, backing vocals
  • Dana Williams – bass, backing vocals
  • Brian Prout – drums

Production

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  • Tim DuBois – producer
  • Monty Powell – producer
  • Mike Clute – engineer, mixing
  • Chris Armstrong – assistant engineer
  • Ted Greene – assistant engineer
  • Paula Montondo – assistant engineer
  • Doug Williams – assistant engineer
  • Glenn Meadows – mastering
  • Anthony Ranieri – art direction, design
  • Peter Nash – photography

Charts

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Singles

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Year Single Peak positions
US Country CAN Country
1991 "Meet in the Middle" 1 1
"Mirror, Mirror" 3 4
"Mama Don't Forget to Pray for Me" 9 9
1992 "Norma Jean Riley" 2 3
"Nowhere Bound" 7 15

Certifications

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Certifications for Diamond Rio
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[7] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Mansfield, Brian. Diamond Rio at AllMusic
  2. ^ Chicago Tribune review
  3. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
  4. ^ "Diamond Rio Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Diamond Rio Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "American album certifications – Diamond Rio – Diamond Rio". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 12, 2022.