Neil Diamond's newest album "Dreams" comes out today so I thought I'd do a write up on my Neil Diamond collection.
CD Review: Neil Diamond - Dreams
Written by Dan Savoie on Sunday, 31 October 2010 00:36In his entire career, I don't think Neil Diamond ever sat down and recorded an album of someone else’s music. (Actually he did 2 albums "Up on the Roof" and "The Movies album" which were songs by other writers) The legendary songwriter tackles 14 songs of some of his favorite songwriters on his new CD Dreams. The results show Diamond letting loose and having some fun, without the stresses that come with writing your own album.
It’s nice to hear the Diamond touch added to classics like Midnight Train To Georgia, Hallelujah, and Desperado, but one of the coolest songs on the album is his own rendition of I’m A Believer, the Diamond song originally made famous by The Monkees. I’m A Believer adds a new vulnerability to the song through its mellow and soft approach. I never thought the upbeat and catchy song could have been a sweet ballad, but one listen to the Diamond version and the lyrics jump out as an honest and beautiful ballad – “I’m in love and I couldn’t leave her if I tried.”
The album includes music that deeply influenced Diamond as a young man growing up in Brooklyn, starting with “Let It Be Me,” popularized by the Everly Bros. in 1960. He also beautifully renders The Beatles’ stunning and spare “Blackbird” and the mournful “Yesterday,” Leon Russell’s underrated classic “A Song for You,” Gilbert O’Sullivan’s heart-stopping “Alone Again (Naturally),” Bill Withers soulful “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and includes a host of other well-known classics from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Diamond also tackles hidden gems from his musical contemporaries such as “Don’t Forget Me,” from the late Harry Nilsson, and the Randy Newman compositions, “Feels Like Home,” and the poignant “Losing You.”
Another standout is his version of The Eagles Desperado, which showcases Diamond alone and indefensible with only a single accompanying guitar.
Neil Diamond sounds better than ever on Dreams and hearing his take on I’m A Believer sheds a new light on one of rock’s greatest songwriters.
Below is my collection of Neil Diamond albums, all 66 of them.
1966
1967
1968
1968
1969
1969
1970
1970
1970
1971
1971
1972
"Hot August Night" is my top favorite album. This album is a double album and the original jacket has pages. They released different jackets through the years and then finally a CD with extra songs from the concert. And of course I have them all.
1972
1973
1973
1973
Above and below are the same album with different front covers.
Above and below are the same album with different front covers.
1973
1974
Serenade was my first Neil Diamond album.
Serenade was my first Neil Diamond album.
1976
1976
Robbie Robertson of "The Band" produced the album above and below.
Robbie Robertson of "The Band" produced the album above and below.
1977
1977
This album was from his first T.V. show.
This album was from his first T.V. show.
1978
1978
1978
Actually I don't have this one but it's listed as being put out in 1978. I'm not sure that's accurate. The picture of Neil Diamond is from "The Jazz Singer" movie which didn't come out until 1980.
1979
1980
"The Jazz Singer" is one of my top favorites too and I released my first album in 1980.
"The Jazz Singer" is one of my top favorites too and I released my first album in 1980.
1981
1981
1982
1982
1983
1984
1986
1987
1988
His last vinyl album
1991
Neil Diamond hadn't come out with an album in a few years and I recall hearing that Lovescape was released so I headed down to the store to find that all the vinyl albums had been replaced with CD's. I was at Silver platers in Tacoma and they had a listening section where you could listen to CD's so I asked for the Lovescape demo CD, plugged it in, put the head phones on and was blown away by the quality of the CD. I didn't own a CD player yet but I bought the CD anyway. I think it took another 6 months before I could afford to get a CD player.
1992
1992
1992
1992
1993
k
k
k 1994
1994
1996
"In My Lifetime" is a wonderful collection containing most of his hits but also demos and songs out of print.
"In My Lifetime" is a wonderful collection containing most of his hits but also demos and songs out of print.
1996
1996
1996
1998
1999
2001
2001
2002
2002
2002
2003
2005
2005
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2009
2010
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