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The Essential Neil Diamond
 
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The Essential Neil Diamond [Import]

~ Neil Diamond
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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The Essential Neil Diamond + Home Before Dark + THE BEST OF NEIL DIAMOND
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Product details

  • Audio CD (14 Jan 2008)
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Format: Import
  • Label: SonyBMG
  • ASIN: B000063BHL
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,349 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in these categories:

    #29 in  Music > Adult Contemporary > Male Vocalists
    #41 in  Music > Easy Listening > All Easy Listening
    #71 in  Music > Rock > Greatest Hits

Track Listings

Disc: 1
1. Solitary Man
2. Cherry, Cherry
3. I Got The Feeling (Oh No, No)
4. Kentucky Woman
5. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon
6. You Got To Me
7. Red, Red Wine
8. Thank The Lord For The Night Time
9. I'm A Believer
10. Sweet Caroline
See all 19 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. America
2. Hello Again
3. Love On The Rocks
4. Captain Sunshine (Live)
5. He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother (Live)
6. Medley: Yes I Will/Lady Magdalene (Live)
7. Shilo (Live)
8. Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show (Live)
9. If You Know What I Mean
10. Beautiful Noise
See all 19 tracks on this disc

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Neil Diamond is one of a rare breed. As a songwriter, his music has been covered successfully by artists as diverse as the Monkees, Deep Purple, UB40, and Smash Mouth. But Diamond used that three-chord alchemy to build an unparalleled career as a performer as well. The 38 tracks on these two discs address those interlocking legacies in the most comprehensive manner yet, gathering his material from Bang! Records (including such pop staples as "Solitary Man," "Cherry, Cherry," "Kentucky Woman," "Red, Red Wine," and "I'm a Believer"), Universal (highlighted by "Sweet Caroline," Song Sung Blue," "Holly Holy," and "I Am ... I Said"), and Columbia for the first time. And if Diamond has veered toward the middle of the road on those latter recordings (such as "September Morn," "Heartlight," and the Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers"), there remains a remarkable consistency throughout his work. As if to underscore the point, a number of mid-period hits (including "Shiloh," "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," and "Soolaimon") are featured as live recordings from fall 2001. These performances show that the sweet roughness of his voice has only grown in power and drama; it's small wonder that Diamond remains one of the top live draws in the business. Even if it overlooks Diamond's unlikely late-'90s hit country album (Tennessee Moon), this set manages to be both concise and thorough, the best introduction yet to an American music legend. --Jerry McCulley

CD Description
This is a two disc retrospective of the most popular tracksby the Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter, Neil Diamond. It includes his version of 'I'm A Believer', the track that he wrote for the Monkees, which subsequently became their first UK no.1 single. Diamond's four UK top ten hits as a performerare also featured.

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Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive collection, 7 Jul 2005
By A Customer
This really is a good collection for Neil Diamond novices. It is a tall order to find a 'definative' Neil Diamond collection as there will always be so much left out of this prolific songwriters catalogue. Offering a mixture of recent 'live' recordings and the more familiar studio work, the former appealing more to those who have experienced Neil Diamond's live shows. This collection is unique in that it benefits from the additon of the sublime 'lady Magdelene' and 'Yes I will', which in my opinion, are probably two of his most outstanding musical contributions. ( For those wishing to hear these songs in their original format, then 'Serenade' is the album for you!)
It has, sadly become'uncool' to like Neil Diamond's music and he has never really received the critical acclaim that he is truly deserving of. This man's contribution to music and poetry is awesome and this collection stands as testament to that. Sheer genius.!
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51 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Hit compilation with recent live concert gems added, 7 Mar 2002
A 2 CD set with a good selection of Neil's hits from over the years. For the fans who thought they had everything, there is a section thrown in to tempt them as well - from his present tour set (2001/2002) Neil does great live versions of Captain Sunshine, He Aint Heavy and a medley of Yes I Will/Lady Magdalene (with Neil on piano). Definitely something for everybody here.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An essential compilation, 27 Mar 2006
By Greg Farefield-Rose (Hertfordshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
Following his success in reinventing and reviving the career of Johnny Cash, Rick Rubin has turned his attention to another bygone US icon, Neil Diamond. Their stripped down 2006 collaboration, 12 Songs has been a critical and commercial success. For any new (or old) fans wanting a compilation of the best of the bigger Diamond sound of yore, The Essential Neil Diamond is an excellent purchase.

TEND is a double CD containing all Neil's hits and most famous compositions from his days as a songwriter in the legendary Brill Building in the early 60s right through to recordings made in the early noughties. Originally a writer for others, many may be surprised that he penned The Monkees' I'm A Believer and Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon, a song rediscovered in 1994 by the Urge Overkill recording for the classic Tarantino film Pulp Fiction. Both of Diamond's "originals" are excellent, perhaps surprisingly containing the full arrangements of the more famous later versions minus a few backing vocals and cheese.

Other highlights of The Essential Neil Diamond from Neil's heyday in the 60s and early 70s include his most famous song Sweet Caroline, the call-and-response beat sound of Cherry Cherry and more introspective orchestrated pop of Solitary Man. Like Burt Bacharach, his songs often incorporate full brass and string arrangements to similarly, produce quality easy-listening music which it is OK to like. Occasionally his semi religious zeal gets the better of him with the resulting product being over bombastic though there are many excellent songs to like on TEND.

Beyond his original purple period, Diamond had his first major comeback in the early 1980s following his appearance and songs in the updated film version of the Jazz Singer with Laurence Olivier and Lucie Arnaz. Standout tracks from this period include the downbeat ballad Love On the Rocks and blue-collar country pride of Forever In Blue Jeans.

All in all, the Essential Neil Diamond is an excellent introduction to one of the few easy-listening artists who it's OK to like. With his critical radar on the rise following the Rubin collaboration a deserved re-evaluation of Neil's body of work is now taking place. Lets hope this time that Diamond is forever...

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Top Gift
A great gift that has been much appreciated by the receiver. The comment "I could listen to this all day" tells me that I made the right choice.
Published 5 months ago by Mr. James Finch

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just Music Your Mum Listens To
You've probably dismissed Diamond as music your mum listens to. You're wrong to think this because you'll be missing some great pompous rock songs. Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2006 by Pete

4.0 out of 5 stars Slightly flawed diamond
Anybody who’s been on an office night out in Scotland ( I don’t know if this happens elsewhere as well) will have experienced the strange cultural phenomenon that is... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2004 by Oscillator

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for Neil Diamond fans
A trip down nostalgia lane! I grew up with Neil Diamond's music, and all the favourites are here--Cracklin' Rosie, Song Sung Blue, Kentucky Woman... and some of his later songs.
Published on 15 April 2003 by Suroor Alikhan

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