Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead
Subject: Re: Diamondbacks: How are Neil's new CD's?
From: <MAH76X@rohvm1.rohmhaas.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 14:06:24 EDT
Organization: Rohm and Haas Company

In article <BvnpAA.DGJ@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, jjmckay@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Jim McKay)
says:
>
>Having said that, I recommend that you buy "Classics-- The early Years"
>and "Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits Vol II" unless you want his Columbia Hits
>from 1982 on. Then buy the new Columbia set which is not as good an overview
>of the 1973-1980 period but does have the 1982-1992 stuff.   The Columbia set

Oh, I would disagree with you Jim.  When you purchase one of these 'greatest
hits' packages, you don't really get the artistic feel of where Neil was at
that point in time.  For instance you'll get Cracklin' Rosie, You don't bring
me flowers Anymore, Forever in Blue Jeans, and They're coming to America.  Now
ALL of these songs are some of Neil's prime material, but.  You don't really
get a feel as to where Neil is at that point in his life.  I'm sure we all
know these songs, so if you buy one of the greatest hits collections, you're
not really getting anything new.  You're not really expanding your artistic
horizion :-).  What I would suggest would be, if say, you really like the song
"Cracklin' Rosie", would be for you to purchase Neil's disc 'Texan Love Songs'.
  As Cracklin Rosie IS considered a 'Cowboy Tune' (occasionaly in concert this
goes into Big River (the Johnny Cash tune for those of you not farmiliar with
the song)).  'Texan Love Songs' was recorded at a point in time right after
Neil was busted in Dallas for smuggling Rhinestones across state lines.  The
disc was made as a benifit (for wives of deceased texan rangers :-( ) so he
would not have to spend time in jail.  The fact that Neil was indeed arrested,
frisked (wow!) and strip-searched (double-whammy!!) had really done a bit of
damage to Neil's ego :-(.  You can tell from the 'mood' which is present on
this disc, that this was a man of shame.  He knew he shouldn't smuggle those
stones across state lines, but he though he was better than Joe Average, and
he did it.  Well, when he got caught, he realized he was no better than you
or I!!!  I feel as though, when a man hits ROCK BOTTOM in their lives, like
Neil was at this point in time, artistically they have much to say.  Why, I
don't know, but they do.  I feel as though lyrically, this is the most sincere
 and touching disc that he has ever put out.  I can remember a time, when I    -
was a child, I got shoplifting a box of goobers from the local five & dime.
I feel as though this Texan love songs disc relates exactly to how I felt at
that time in my life.

If you buy the greatest hits collection, you do get Forever in Blue Jeans, but.
  You don't get to hear all the other great protest songs from the album "Hey
Nixon, You're a dick" (and yes on his album it is spelled with a small d :-).
At the time I too was listening to "HNYAd" I too wore bell bottom blue jeans,
a button down shirt (with top buttons open) (unfortunately I don't have a hairy
 chest, so nobody ever went ga-ga over me like they did for Neil :-).  Every
tune on that disc I associated with my generation of people.  When Neil sang
"I've tucked a box of puffs in my trousers for you", I could relate.  I knew
of folks who did stuff a tissues into their trousers to as they put it (impress
 the chicks) (poor choice of words, but these guys were putting tissues in
their trousers to impress women, so what do you expect?).  Well anyway, Neil
pointed out to us all just how stupid that little act was, didn't he?  You
don't see people doing that shit anymore, do you?  When Neil sang "Bannana
Seat Romance" I would dream of crusin down the road on my bannana seat with
sissy bars with the wind blowing through my hair.  Neil *MUST* have had a
bannana seat bike with sissy bars.  He knew what it was like, HE WAS ONE OF
US :-)

I guess what I'm really trying to say is, DON'T BUY THE GREATEST HITS
COLLECTIONS!!!  They are a nice feel for what he did throughout time.  But it
does not show what a *REAL ARTIST* he really was :-).  As for recommendations
on what to buy, here are my top 10 favorite Neal discs (in no particular
order).

1. Hey Nixon, You're A dick (again, the Political side of Neil :-)
2. Soap on a Rope for Two
3. Songs to brush your hair by
4. Love in a Volkswagon
5. I'm not using Old Spice anymore
6. Corporate Station
7. Barbara, the Ultimate Groupie
8. What's your sign?
9. Rugburns of Love
10. Dairy Queen and King

Stay away from those Greatest Hits packages!  They don't show what a TRUE
ARTIST Neil is :-).

Joe Doheny
Newsgroups: rec.music.gdead