Neil Diamond

I have loved Neil Diamond since I saw him at the Bitter End in New York City in 1967. Since then I have seen him in concert at least 10 times and I will also always be grateful for the autographed photo he sent my 8th grade students in 1972. It therefore pains me to say this long awaited follow-up to "12 Songs" is a deep disappointment.

I admired the work Rick Rubin did with Johnny Cash, especially his last CD. I've come to the conclusion, however, that Neil's songs benefit from more accompaniment. Because Neil uses only simple basic chords in his compositions, the songs begin to sound repetitious when other instruments do not add some varied texture. For example, can you imagine his landmark "I Am I Said" without the glorious and blood chilling brass and strings? Another problem with this CD is the length of the songs. They just go on and on and on. Without arrangements to provide some color, the songs become tiresome and dreary. Finally, this time around Neil's lyrics sound like bits of essays put to music -- I find little poetry.

I think one of the reasons this CD tanked so quickly after the initial sales was the poor word of mouth. As my friend said to me recently, "I haven't played it in months."

Being a baby boomer and having listened to Neil Diamond for years, it is nice to get some new stuff. He is "eternal" and this new DVD is awesome.
Some good stuff....

It's not the worst CD you could buy at Wal-Mart. And Neil shows an occasional spark of the genius of his early years with Bang and Uni Records. But this sounds like a crude demo tape he recorded in his Malibu home basement. Every song has a bum chord change or bad lyric that needed a little more work. The sparse production is dreadful. Neil's gruff, constipated vocals NEED a fuller arrangement. He isn't Mario Lanza. Neil needs to tap back into his prime sound, that folk/gospel/pop/Brill Building concoction that grooved the public 40 years ago and still sounds bright. Who wants to hear a world-famous rich guy sound like he's ready to call the Suicide Hot Line? This one's a downer. C'mon, Neil, get on board.

And they are "If I Don't See You Again" (with some Lennon and McCartney feel), "The Power Of Two", "Slow It Down", and "Whose Hands Are These?". All listenable, memorable, respectful of his still incredibly voluminous fan base. Additional instrumentation is done with taste; though the duet on "Another Day" is hardly successful: Natalie Maines sounds like..."Hey Rick, you really think this will sell?".
There are two tracks which must have been written at Starbuck's just prior to entering the studio: "No Words" and "Don't Go There". Gimme a break...please.
I'll take Neil's Greatest Hits, from "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" to "Heartlight", over this melancholy melange.

Neil Diamond is my favorite secular male vocalist, and has been for nearly three decades. I always loved his voice, as well as his music. This project has the intensity you associate with Diamond, as well as great vocals.

Gone are the great string arrangements of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" or the rock 'n' roll of "Crunchy Granola Suite" or "Desiree". This is basically an unplugged project, but it has a great sound.

Some of the songs remind you of old Neil Diamond songs, such as "Act Like A Man" and "No Words".

My favorites on this project are "If I Don't See You Again", "Pretty Amazing Grace", "Whose Hands Are These", and "No Words".

Let me switch hats from being a music reviewer to being a theologian. Neil Diamond is an artist that I wonder about where he is at religiously, and this project feeds a lot of those questions. There is something that reflects faith in several of the songs, but one wonders if they are of the Christian faith or something similar.

When you ask yourself, "What would I expect from a Neil Diamond Christmas album?", what you're thinking is almost EXACTLY what you're going to get in this case. True, Neil really murders the hell out of some tunes by "soft-rocking" them to death...and I mean murder in the first. That being said, Diamond's emmotional delivery proves absolutely stunning when paired with "Oh Holy Night", "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel", and more. The record is incredibly strong in the strong points and highly skip-able at its low. I would highly encourage you to buy this record. It's Neil. As a 22 year-old Radiohead fanatic, I still bust this record out for all occasions, ironic or otherwise.

this cd isn't a gift its an award, kinda like the nobel peace prize. only given the people who are deemed worthy of such an honor. the diamond realy feels chirstmas like know one else can. his passion for the season is showing though with such classics as "little drumer boy". the way he sings it, he must have been there for that experence, or "you make it feel like christmas", after listening to that one i feel like chirstmas, if you know what i mean. so don't give this to friend, award it to them and then celebrate chistmas everyday the diamond way!

It's almost impossible to find a low point on this cd, and that's because they're all low points. This one is a travesty; an album so bad, so melodically vacuous, so uninspired and derivative, it deserves a special place in the pantheon of bad Christmas music (or the trash can, take your choice). Hear Neil "Three Note" Diamond savagely butcher such standards as Silent Night and The Christmas Song. Hear John Lennon spin in his grave as Neil treats Happy Christmas (War is Over) with all the delicacy and grace of a charging rhinocerous. And let's not forget the virtual note-for-note rip-off of Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. And to think, this guy put out another collection of anti-holidy cheer only a few years later. Play this one on Halloween instead and scare all the kids away.

Dating probably back to when Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas," there's been a tradition of popular Jewish artists recording Christmas songs. Having seen his contemporary New Yorkers Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel, Barbra Streisand and Barry Manilow record Christmas songs at various stages in their careers, in 1992 Neil Diamond interrupted his decade-long descent into irrelevant schmaltz by producing this somewhat uneven but overall entertaining collection of holiday music. He wisely begins with "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," with an arrangement a bit reminiscent of "Kol Nidre" from "The Jazz Singer, but that's about the only concession to his Jewish tradition Neil makes on this album. He employs choirs on several of the most spiritual Christmas songs ("We Three Kings," "Silent Night," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "O Holy Night"), and for the most part he offers an enthusiastic if not exactly soulful interpretation. He does a really nice number on "Little Drummer Boy," making it sound unlike any other interpretation.

He hits a rough patch with several songs that already have definitive versions and would've been better left alone. Neil comes nowhere remotely close to the raw power of Springsteen's "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," and it would've been a much better idea to just have done the traditional Sinatraesque rendition instead. Neil's "Christmas Song" isn't likely to make anybody forget Nat King Cole's classic interpretation. For reasons which boggle the imagination, he then launches into "Morning Has Broken," which isn't even a Christmas song and which was definitively done by Cat Stevens years ago, and then even more amazingly, he tackles John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)."

Neil redeems himself handsomely, though, with a "doo-wop" version of "White Christmas," followed by a barbershop quartet take on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." His "Jingle Bell Rock" is okay, too. He launches into a "Crying In Your Pretzels" country twang on "Silver Bells," which if nothing else offers up that classic Neil Diamond cheese we all love, where he stops in the middle of a song to reminisce about those Brooklyn roads he grew up on. The only song on the album, though, that ever gets any airplay these days is the one he'd previously recorded on the "Primitive" album in 1984, "You Make It Feel Like Christmas."

All in all, a decent enough effort, and popular enough that it led to a second volume in 1994, which is not only a much better showcase for Neil's talent, but in fact is one of the best Christmas CDs of the past 20 years.

Yes Neil is Jewish, and that matters how?
He has a terrific voice and he sings these songs GREAT!
If you dont like Neil Diamond or you dont like the fact a "jewish" person is singing them THEN DONT BUY IT!
Everyone else, this is a GREAT CD... gets me in the xmas spirit every year. Even my kids like it!

Lightning fast delevery! Item was in excellent condition. I was extremely pleased with this purchase. I highly recommend this seller, A++++!

I didn't think I'd like this CD. I mean, come on--the same old songs of Manilow's again? But wow! What a delight to hear new versions of his greatest hits. And here's the kicker: I have never liked Copacabana, even though I have been a fan of the Barry for...well, forever. This version of Copa with guitars is simply amazing. In fact, I like all of his remade hits better than the songs of other artists. Who'da thunk?

His voice and rendition of all these songs is like wine that has aged to golden perfection. Gave this as a gift to "Un-Fan-ilows" and they loved his rendition of the 70's songs and his own classics. Can't go wrong with this one.

for over 20 years I have been a fan, you were such a talented man, but your looks are gone, your voice is too, you are not the same man who sung "THIS ONE'S FOR YOU". This album is weak which is sad, with all the good records that you have had. If you can no longer make good records on your own, find someone who can, or pack it up and go home

Some of the songs chosen have been heard quite a few times before.
Would have appreciatred a better selection from the Seventies!

Absolutely wonderful. We have the original vinyl, one of the best albums of its time, and decided to get the CD. Sound quality is great, and feels as if you're hearing it live. Takes me back to the days....A must have for all Neil Diamond fans.

This is superb - the sound quality much improved from original. The previously unpublished tracks are worth the extra money alone! For anyone like myself who regards this as the definitive Neil Diamond recording of all time, this version is a must!

Having heard this album back in the days of vinyl, I had longed to have in my CD collection. When I started listening to it upon arrival I was immediatly transported back in time to my days in the Army at Ft. Bliss,TX. While the songs may be old the live versions are amoung the best. His novelty songs "Porqupine Pie, and Soggy Pretzels are amoung my favorites. This CD is just as I remembered it from years ago. Hot August Nights Rocks!

I ownrd the album before on vinyl so I wasn't dissapointed when it arrived and I have seen Neil Diamond in concert several times in concert and enjoy him.

The DVD's of Neil Diamond are Great! I would buy it right away if they would put out Hot August Night!!!!!!!

This cd is great!! It contains all of the best Neil Diamond songs in great quality! Best Neil Diamond cd out there!

Upon arrival I had all the songs already, so I sent this album on to my sister in Australia who just recently discovered the work of Neil Diamond.

Just love the CD! All of the tracks are great. The selection of music is perfect,everyone of my favorites. If you are a Neil Diamond fan you have to have this CD!!!!

My husband I recently bought tickets for his concert at Madison Square Garden, and I was eager to get in the "Neil Diamond mood," so I decided on this 2 cd set (we have Hot August Night on cd, and the rest on old cassette tapes, but I really wanted original recordings). I have loved his music for a long time, and this 2 cd set was an absolutely perfect collection for me. All of his well-known popular songs are the original recordings, and my 7 year old daughter is now singing along in the car. Couldn't have asked for a better Neil Diamond collection!!

I've been in the hunt for a solid all-around Neil Diamond set that had stuff from way back to recent to fast to slow and this hits all. Disc 1 is worth the price itself. Disc 2 gives you more of his latest and several Live tracks. Two of my favorites "America" and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (with Barbara Streisand) highlite Disc 2 and to have both on the same collection is well worth it.

I had forgotten how much I love Neil Diamond. It's as good as I remembered.

I bought this collection because I enjoy Neil Diamond's songs and his voice. I have a few of his cd's but did not have the song "Forever in blue jeans". My husband and I like the bonus DVD in this collection. It was great. I read the reviews on this site before I bought this and was a little leery when in one of the reviews mentioned an unplayable cd in the collection. Well, try to play it in the DVD player instead. You will enjoy it.

Take another look at the picture of this CD. It says "Tour Edition", which means many of the songs are recorded live during the tour. If you are looking for songs as played on the radio, you may be dissapointed with this CD set.

The best of Neil Diamond....put it on my car player and go about my day listening and singing along to the very smoothest. His best hits plus some less known. A real gift. A nice compilation.

Okay, I'll just come out and say it, I love Neil Diamond! My husband and I are taking my Mom to go see him in concert and I'm just as stoked about it as she is! I got this CD as a refreasher course thinking when I got done with it I would give it to Mom. Well sorry Mom, but this CD is a keeper! I love it and every time I listen to it I find myself singing along more and more. The thing that most amazes me about Neil is the fact that only one song on this CD is not written, or co-written by him. I had no idea he wrote several of the songs because I have only heard other artist's cover the song. I'm guessing that's a big pat on the back when other artists do that sort of thing.

early 70's is still my favorite era, but this CD rocks- excellent stripped down arrangements that let the well crafted songs sail. i feel bad for those that don't get you, neil- you let it fly from the beginning, and you still got it. for the critics- check out anything up thru the late 70's- it's all on youtube- the guy seriously rocks- and this coming from a HUGE dylanhead. he was just as much a rebellious rocker as any (and still is)- he told us from the start "GIRL WE DO WHATEVER WE WANT TO"- and he meant it. rock on neil, we need ya

Just when you think Neil Diamond has accomplished his best, his genuine God-given talent , and genius for music , encompasses your soul!!!

This is Neil Diamond's first chart topping album in the USA (Billboard Hot 200 listed the album at number one - May 15 2008). I am amazed! This is one of those albums I have regretted buying. I bought it on the basis that it was a Neil Diamond album thinking it must be better than 'Hot August Night' and 'JL Seagull' to name just two of his albums that I thought were fantastic. What a let down! To me this is just bad singing with bad guitar playing. If you are an old fan of Neils listen to this album twice in the shop before buying it.

I don't know why I took so long to write this review. Perhaps I thought that as such a die-hard fan I wasn't sure if I could write objectively. But in the months since "Home Before Dark" came out, I feel so strongly about this disc that I had to include my assessment.

The collaboration with Rick Rubin on his last disc, "12 Songs", was remarkable. "Home Before Dark" takes the craft of Mr. Diamond's singer-songwriter abilities to an even higher level. In past reviews, I have sought to draw comparisons to earlier works in his vast discography. I simply can't do that here. This is the man in full; while his acoustic-driven music is a nod to his earliest work, the lyrics reveal a powerful introspection that is even more mature and refined with life's experiences. Also, the stark instrumentation (note the lack of drums on all the tracks) heightens the tone and impact of the music.

As with his other discs, I initially liked some tracks much more than others. In fact, my first impression was that the title track was perhaps the weakest track on the disc. However, it's lyrical power has grown on me, and after seeing it performed live last week, that power is enhanced. Similarly, I initially thought "Don't Go There", "Forgotten", and "Slow It Down" were a bit too silly in comparison with the other tracks. But the hooks on both songs were too irresistable, and I found other layers in those lyrics that made the songs fit. If there is a lingering annoyance - and it is a small one - it is that parts of "Act Like A Man" sound like he's leading into his hit "Song Sung Blue". Perhaps that was intentional; but again, when you peel back the song, the lyrics are solid.

"Pretty Amazing Grace" was the one track from this disc released to promote this disc. It is a very good song, but the songs that surround it are much deeper, darker, and more powerful. Also, the deluxe edition of this disc features two extra tracks (in addition to a DVD) that are covers. While one might think that it detracts from the remainder of the material that is original and written by Mr. Diamond, the covers do work. Actually, his cover of Nilsson's "Without Her" is simply, hauntingly beautiful.

"Home Before Dark" earned Mr. Diamond his first number one chart ranking in his nearly 40-year career. I found that amazing when I first heard it, but it is certainly well-deserved. While his concert performances in the last decade or so have still remained very strong, this disc clearly shows that his songwriting is also very strong, and is back on an upswing that will match his live performances. If "Home Before Dark" is any indication, Neil Diamond still has vital music and stories to tell.

If he only hadn't recorded that song with Natalie Maines, I would have bought the album. Just can't bring myself to do it...

I am sure this product would be great as I love Neil Diamond...However I did not receive it. I ordered it on November 19, 2008, expectd delivery date was November 28, 2008. It is now December 20, 2008 and I have not received it. I have asked for a refund and apparently that is in the works but the way things work around here I will probably have to wait until next year some time. I will not order from Amazon again as their customer service is horrible. When I emailed them to find out where my parcel was they then told me to wait until December 19. How pathetic. Hope you have better luck with Amazon. As for Neil Diamond I will find him elsewhere!

o' come all ye faithfull. when i think of christmas my thoughts are of christmas trees, a warm fire, a tall glass of a fine coniac, and an old jewish man singing carolls. this is the only christmas cd that will really bring the hollidays home. if you want your family home for the hollidays, just let them know that neil diamond will be there wanting, singing and steeling the good china.

Awesome! Neil does it again. I love his voice, his choice of songs. Volume 2 is almost as good as Volume 1!

I may be giving this a rating that's slightly too high, but because he is much better this time around, this will get a four star rating. These songs are still "Neil Diamafied"(A description of the stately way that he kind of talk-sings), but at least I could sit and listen to this volume without wanting to leave the room or vomit. I don't know if these songs suit his singing style, or that he worked harder at singing them correctly or what, but I think I might not sell Volume II like I did my Volume I a couple of days ago on the Amazon website. I am kind of dumbfounded how a Jew who doesn't believe that Jesus is the messiah, can sing songs about Jesus being the savior, but whatever floats his boat. Who knows he might be in the organization JEWS FOR JESUS, which are Jews who believe Jesus is the messiah. He doesn't ham up this set of songs like he did on the first volume, so that makes it a much more enjoyable listen. If you're a big Neil Diamond fan, you need not hesitate.

Neil Diamond's second Christmas album is a rare treat. It's debatable as to whether it's better than volume 1. Some may say it is; I personally say #1 is the superior. But most are agreed that they're both enjoyable and memorable Christmas albums. My favorites are "Joy to the World" (it begins with sharp piano notes and is eventually joined by a young gospel choir); "Mary's Boy Child" (a little-known and little-heard Christmas hymn and Neil does a wonderful job with it); "Away in a Manger" (nothing unique here, it's just that this classic song, for whatever reason, is missing on most Christmas albums); and the "Hallelujah Chorus" (an admirable effort that pays off very well).

Most of the others are sung in the good old fashioned traditional style--the way they were meant to be sung, if I may be so bold. The only song I don't really care for that much is "Deck the Halls/We Wish You a Merry Christmas". It seems to have a little of that musical style somewhat similar to his rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" on volume 1. Except this one does not have as much of the "barbershop quartet" style to it. Whatever it is, it's an approach that Neil Diamond does not have the right voice for. But even that one is tolerable.

Overall, this is an excellent Christmas album which will not disappoint the average Christmas music enthusiast.

Listening to Andrea Bocelli gracefully singing "September Morn" sent my heart on a nostalgic trip to my childhood years when I listened to Neil Diamond's wonderful melodic songs.
Getting this priceless album from Amazon made my Christmas. I enjoyed a peaceful afternoon listening to "Love on the Rocks", "I am ... I said"," Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" and other timeless songs written by Diamond over the period of twenty six years.

A major disappointment. Too many lame "live" versions of many classics. If you purchased this in a store, you will not know this until you get it home and open it as this is not noted anywhere on the outside of the package. Sorry I bought it, but I bought it long before Amazon.

I was very dissappointed in this CD. The big hits were all recorded live in a 1992 concert and were no where close to the quality of the original recordings of these big hits. I really missed the quality of his 1970 voice. The only reason I gave it a "2" rating was that it was Neil Diamond.

Until I bought this album, I forgot how much I love Neil Diamond. Listening brings back memories of seeing him in person at Madison Square Garden and being blown away by his voice. There's lot to like in the selections and there are so many, you don't feel like you're cheating when you skip a couple of the less well-known ones. I heartily recommend it.

I owned this CD for years and when my son was home for Christmas he wanted to borrow it. I said yes , knowing my son lives in the state of Washington and I am in NY... I knew he had a new CD and I would need to replace it... I love Neil Diamond and this is some of his best music.

My husband and I are big Neil Diamond fans and this album is perfect for fans like us who love Neil's classics. We're such big fans that we even liked the movie Jazz Singer! Anyway I highly recommend this CD, it's great.

The item arrived at the time specified to me when I placed the order, was well packaged and had no defects in the CD tape.

Holy cow! I had no idea of the depths of Neil Diamond's songwriting genius! I was too young in the 70's to have appreciated his music and by the 80's most of his songs seemed a bit schlocky. Well, just recently I discovered my brother's Neil Diamond CD's and was shocked to find that he wrote so many great songs I've heard like "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon", "Red, Red Wine", "I'm a Believer"... Having only recently had the first taste of Mr. Diamond's early work, I was so curious that I went on YouTube to find more stuff on him. I have to say, I now love, love, love Neil Diamond --- most especially his early work -- "I Am, I Said", "Solitary Man", "I Got the Feelin' (Oh No, No...), "Longfellow Serenade". I've lost so much sleep recently staying up late at night to listen to his music.

Interestingly, if you watch his early TV appearances from the 60's and 70's that are posted on YouTube (I highly recommend his pared down, raw version of "I Am, I Said" performed for the BBC in a 1974 special), he's much, much less of the flashy Vegas-style showman he was in the 80's and more of an introspective singer/songwriter who seems haunted almost. That was Neil Diamond at his best.

Vote him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame already!

If you are a fan of Neil Diamond when he first started, this is the album for you! All the great 60s hits, like "Cherry Cherry", "Crunchy Granola Suite" and "Cracklin' Rosie" are here. Love it!

Neil Diamond represents one of these rare examples of a singer in constant innovation and reinvention.

Because although these singles span 1968 to 1973, show with absolute firmness, the enormous talent and notable free spirited lyricism that not only transcended the musical circuits in that decade so plethoric of memorable and highly inspired composers, but besides created his own place in the time and the collective memory. His well appointed voice, his innovative proposals and above all his evincible lyrics literally covered a wide spectrum; as a matter of fact he was one of the few singers that knew to please and envisage all the possible targets. Even he made a smart approach to the God spell through Brother Love' s traveling salvation Show and Holy Holy, his fabulous arrangement on the piece Soolaimon, his emblematic Song song blue or I am I said, but if you never danced Cherry Cherry, must have been because you never turned on the radio. .

I think to myself that due to that double feature as composer and singer was his winning ace to endure along several musical generations until his duos with Barbara Streisand (September Song) .

But this album keeps for you a wider set of possibilities and choices, because of the fact his versatility was his passport to the immortality.