From: dap@portal.vpharm.com (David A. Pearlman)
Subject: Re: Neil Diamond (MTV BALL 10,000 Maniacs)
Organization: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 03:35:04 GMT

In article <1993Jan23.190232.4276@news.columbia.edu> gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Gary L Dare) writes:
>sepstei1@cc.swarthmore.edu (stephen epstein) writes:
>>ezad133@chpc.utexas.edu (Jim A. Andrews) writes:
>>> 

>>> My girlfriend has a softspot for old Neil, so I get to hear his
>>> "early greatest hits" CD quite often.  It's really pretty OK, with
>>> a lot more substance and less flash than he has shown over the past
>>> 15 years.  Also by Neil is "Solitary Man", which is covered
>>> exceptionally well by The Sidewinders.
>>>
>>Just wanted to confirm the above.  Both the Pussywillows and Lulu's
>>versions of "The Boat That I Row" are by Neil and are *great*.  I'd
>>actually thought of submitting the song for the great B-sides thread.
>>
>>Neil Diamond actually is/was a great songwriter, IMHO.  He just should
>>never have been allowed to record his own material.
>
>Neil Diamond is a good warning for those people who wondered what Jim
>Morrisson would have been like had he lived ... the old Elvis track.
>Neil's output in the late 60's/early 70's was phenomenal stuff, and
>his "Live at the Greek" goes down well with anyone who liked the MTV
>Inaugaral Ball performance by 10,000 Maniacs -- almost identical in
>their arrangements.  Neil used to hang with the gang in Haight-Ashbury
>like Janis, Grace, Jimi and James (when they were in town), Papa John,
>Scott Mackenzie, etc.


Diamond did a considerable amount of good pop-rock stuff in his early
years. Unfortunately, he apparently has a fairly significant ego, and
that ultimately led to the dismissal and/or departure of many very
talented individuals (producers, arrangers) that helped mold his finest
recorded material. I believe this fully explains the decline in the overall
qualify of Diamond's output once he left MCA (UNI) records after "Live at
the Greek."

I don't believe you are correct about Neil "hanging with the gang in
Haight Ashbury", however. I've never read any evidence of this, and it
does not seem in keeping with the Diamond history as I have heard it. Those with
a greater interest in Diamond should read "Neil Diamond: Solitary Star"
by Rich Wiseman.

Those with only an interest in high quality pop-rock should start with
Diamond's "The Early Years" collection, which compiles some of his
Bang Records sides (shoot...When is Neil going to release ALL of them?!)

"Glory Road: The Best of Neil Diamond 1968-1972" covers the MCA/UNI period
very well. It's more MOR than the Bang material, but still of high quality
throughout and recommended. "Hot August Night", a live recording of a
concert in 1972, offers great compassioned versions of both the Bang and
MCA material and is also highly recommended. 

After that, things get sketchier. The recent "Greatest Hits: 1966-1992" covers
this period reasonably well. Be aware that the versions of the earlier MCA/UNI
material are either re-recordings or live, however. In any case, the
later hits tend to be a bit soft in the middle (and some, like "Heartlight"
are just utterly banal). 

dap

-- 
=============================================================================
    David A. Pearlman

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.                     email: dap@vpharm.com
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc