Diamond is Forever: The Illustrated Story of Neil Diamond and His Music [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

There s a very spirited argument running through my head as to whether Neil Diamond is Forever should be published as a book critique or a music review. This beautiful hardbound monster of a book came in the customary brown mailing envelope and the moment it emerged from hiding, music began flowing through my head. Music more clear than any CD could possibly produce and more vivid than any photograph or painting. From the moment you open this volume until hours after its last page is viewed, Neil Diamond s music will flow flawlessly through your mind.As each page turns you find a new image of a career that has spanned decades - and deservedly so. It s a book that has to be read twice because you don t want words to distract from the beautifully reproduced images and the music that can t leave your mind. 'I ll read it after I check out more of the pictures,' you ll tell yourself. Fat chance...And the story of a young delivery boy who made it good in the big city, and then the country, and then the world goes on from there, but it s the pictures that make this book a worthy addition to any Neil Diamond fan s collection. Jon Bream has done a great job of building this 8.5 x 11 inch hardbound collection and it is a testament to just how well the author knows his subject. Within its 160 pages you ll find 225 huge color and 81 black & white photos leaving you with the impression that there can t possibly be a single photo of Neil that isn t contained in this volume. The story of Neil s life and career is inspiring and noteworthy because of its many triumphs and its longevity...I highly recommend this book and it holds an honored place on my shelf.--Blog Critics, Sept, 2009-- This book is a must-have for all serious Neil Diamond fans. Not only is it collector's item quality, it is loaded with never-before-seen photos of Neil and other memorabilia. The author provides a fair, accurate and meaningful tribute to the artist who has earned the adoration of life-long fans worldwide, much of which comes from the author's own interviews with Neil. It was a delightful and entertaining read, and a charming view of a career that has enjoyed exceeding success.The parts I loved the most were the quotes from Neil, the posters from Japan and Thailand, and the layout of the the memorabilia and quotes from Neil's peers. I caught myself laughing out loud at some of Neil's quotes. He DOES, after all, have a magnificent way with words, does he not? Rating for this book: . . . A+ . . . definitely a must-have for serious fans. --Neil Diamond message board, Sept, 2009;MINNEAPOLIS ? Voyageur Press has joined forces with renowned music journalist Jon Bream (Minneapolis Star Tribune) for NEIL DIAMOND IS FOREVER: The Illustrated Story of the Man and His Music. This beautifully packaged book, a perfect balance of photos and text, arrives Oct. 15, 2009, and retraces the history of this massively popular and influential singer/songwriter and performer, who has been putting on spell-binding shows for more than five decades. NEIL DIAMOND IS FOREVER is brimming with more than 300 photographs and pieces of memorabilia including concert programs, posters from around the world, domestic and foreign 45 singles, backstage passes, ticket stubs and more. The book includes a complete album discography, commentary from dozens of admiring stars (from Paul McCartney and Barry Manilow to Kid Rock and Taylor Swift), interviews with super-producers Rick Rubin and David Foster, and previously unpublished quotes from Diamond himself. Author Jon Bream has interviewed Diamond seven times since 1976 at least once in each of the past four decades and has covered every Neil Diamond tour of the last 33 years, including the opening of the 2008 tour and the Grammy gala salute to Neil in 2009. The result is that NEIL DIAMOND IS FOREVER is the most complete ad captivating book - --Vintage Rock, November 2009

'The interesting thing is the one topic we have always covered over the years: the relationship he has with his audience,' Bream says. 'It's interesting to see how he relates to them, how he treats them. It becomes interesting to see how those answers would evolve.' Neil Diamond is Forever also contains photos of 45 singles, ticket stubs and other merchandise Bream salvaged from Diamond's merchandise manager of the mid-'70s to mid-'90s. Much of what illustrates the 160-page book is a depiction of his career, though mementos like a handwritten thank-you note from Diamond demonstrate the personality that very few saw on a regular basis. Bream's coverage spans Diamond's entire career, 'Neil certainly had a distinguished career, whether you like it or not.' --vintage rock dot com, October, 2009--It is a visual celebration of a career spanning 50 years, form his humble beginnings as a failed pop act, finding success as a songwriter for the Monkeeys, and Lulu, which drew awareness to his own recordings. Once 'Solitary man' went into the charts, he became one of the biggest names in pop music history. This lavish coffee table publication has 160 pages covering every aspect in text and amazing collection of photographs, and memorabillia, rare 45's, tickets, posters, music press ads, t-shirts, album covers, everything you associate with a career at the highest level. Personal photographs from High School, and his home, show the denim-cald singer, to the excesses of the 70 jumpsuit performer, everything's here, movie and concert stills, with snippets of interviews Bream has had with Diamond over the years, plus a full discography, with covers and track lists, all combinging to make this a must-have for his legions of 'Diamondheads'. This is a tribute in such detail, of a quality rarely seen, it will be enjoyed by everyone who ventures within the covers. highly recommended. --The Beat, November, 2009...Since 1966, Neil Diamond has sold 49 million albums in the U.S. and over 120 million albums worldwide. His most recent album, released in May 2008, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.This photo-filled book captures the glamour and grit of this most enduringly popular solo artist from his early success in the 1960s to his latest chart- topping albums and performance at Glastonbury in 2008. Brimming with more than 300 photographs and pieces of memorabilia, including concert programmes, posters, domestic and foreign 45 singles, LP's, backstage passes and ticket stubs, the book also features a full discography, commentary from producers and musicians, and a narrative of Diamond's life drawn from exclusive interviews conducted by the author beginning in 1976.The result is the most complete and captivating portrait of this incomparable artist ever to emerge, one that reveals and celebrates as never before Neil Diamond the solitary man and the superstar...my gold music dot com, November, 2009...An extraordinary life told in interviews, ticket stubs, photos and the words of admirers both apst and present. --Boston Globe, November, 2009

'The interesting thing is the one topic we have always covered over the years: the relationship he has with his audience,' Bream says. 'It's interesting to see how he relates to them, how he treats them. It becomes interesting to see how those answers would evolve.' Neil Diamond is Forever also contains photos of 45 singles, ticket stubs and other merchandise Bream salvaged from Diamond's merchandise manager of the mid-'70s to mid-'90s. Much of what illustrates the 160-page book is a depiction of his career, though mementos like a handwritten thank-you note from Diamond demonstrate the personality that very few saw on a regular basis. Bream's coverage spans Diamond's entire career, 'Neil certainly had a distinguished career, whether you like it or not.' --vintage rock dot com, October, 2009--It is a visual celebration of a career spanning 50 years, form his humble beginnings as a failed pop act, finding success as a songwriter for the Monkeeys, and Lulu, which drew awareness to his own recordings. Once 'Solitary man' went into the charts, he became one of the biggest names in pop music history. This lavish coffee table publication has 160 pages covering every aspect in text and amazing collection of photographs, and memorabillia, rare 45's, tickets, posters, music press ads, t-shirts, album covers, everything you associate with a career at the highest level. Personal photographs from High School, and his home, show the denim-cald singer, to the excesses of the 70 jumpsuit performer, everything's here, movie and concert stills, with snippets of interviews Bream has had with Diamond over the years, plus a full discography, with covers and track lists, all combinging to make this a must-have for his legions of 'Diamondheads'. This is a tribute in such detail, of a quality rarely seen, it will be enjoyed by everyone who ventures within the covers. highly recommended. --The Beat, November, 2009

Neil Diamond is one of the world's most successful singer-songwriters and solo performers. His songs are marked out by a combination of a deep sense of isolation, and a desire for commitment and love at the same time. This unique poignant mixture has propelled him to the top of the charts world-wide, and kept him there for generations of fans. This book covers his early career from being an NYU student writing songs for $50.00 each, his first contract with Columbia Records, first success with "Sunday and Me", and then "I'm A Believer" and "A Little Bit me, a Little Bit You" sung by the Monkees, then followed his own version of "Sweet Caroline", and "Song Song Blue". He has also dueted success fully with other artist, including Barbara Streisand with "You Don't Bring Me Flowers Any More", and recently toured to great critical and public acclaim. Illustrated with all manner of mementos, collectibles, posters, memorabilia, this book features reviews, a full discography, producers and musicians, and a narrative of Diamond's life drawn from exclusive interviews conducted by the author since 1976. The result is the most complete and captivating portrait of this incomparable artist ever to emerge, one that both celebrates and reveals Neil Diamond as both a private man and superstar.