In My Lifetime (3CD)
The three-CD box setIn My Lifetimemarks the first time songs from all phases (and all labels) of Neil Diamond's career have been gathered in one place. The 71 tracks include 5 unreleased songwriting demos from 1958-64, 3 flop singles from 1960-63 on Duel and Columbia, 11 of the Bang sides, 14 Uni cuts, 25 samples from the Columbia years, his contribution to "The Last Waltz," 11 unreleased outtakes, 1 new song, and a live version of the first song he ever wrote. It's all arranged chronologically to tell the story of his career from aspiring Brill Building songwriter to less interesting adult-contemporary superstar.--Geoffrey Himes