Neil Diamond

[comet]

Hi Peter.
Well you got me thinking
I have played six of Neil's albums since you mentioned Moods on your turntable,
and your feedback or rumble problems

I am going to mention two albums I have and I suspect that you may also have them.

Gold Diamond. Label London ZGM 132. 1973

Gold Diamond Vol. 2. London Label ZGM 134. 1974


These look as if they are just compilations of hits, but many of the recordings are original and are not repeated on the MCA and CBS releases.
IF YOU HAVE THESE ALBUMS, TAKE CARE OF THEM..

I am beginning to suspect these albums are never going to be released on CD as there were the usual legal disputes and "music industry" wrangling over the recordings.

IF ANYONE KNOWS OF CD VERSIONS OF THESE PLEASE POST INFO ON THIS THREAD.

By the way I intend to play my way through all his material over the next few days.

You just have to turn it up and sing along "Song sung blue"
It really lifts the spirits when you do..
comet

[postscript]

My problem, Comet, is that I get side-tracked too easily, so I am still halfway through this particular batch of LPs I pulled out by chance and started revisiting memories over a week ago.

'Song Sung Blue' is indeed a favourite of mine and could well be the reason I bought the LP but 'no', I do not have others. My whole life's thesis is eclecticism, rather than collectivisim by genre. Diversity, flexibility, adaptability, malleability are the more postive adjectives that could describe me. Erratic, inconsistent, obscure (rather than illogical), unpredictable are the possible negative ways. These last come to mind as i key and I am not sure I am comforatable with them as I have not thought them through in context. I was merely providing a balance. The more positive adjectives I live with comfortably!

Regarding your comment about CD releases. Certainly there was a period when people were not sure what precisely of what they were letting go nor what the potential then was and now might be. Hopefully, the comments you make were a passing phase and the richness of the resource will be released in due time.

Peterr S.

[comet]

For those of you who are Neil diamond fans.

THE BANG YEARS 1966-1968

Has been released on CD. In glorious MONO 45 years after being recorded

But don't go throwing out those LPs just yet....

The tracks Crooked Streets and Shot Down are not on the Cd.
Some of the tracks on the new CD sound just slightly different.

I had given up on ever getting the Bang / London / Decca recordings long ago,
so I had transferred the the Original albums (ZGM 132 and ZGM 134) from LP to CD for my own use at home and in the car about a year ago.

It didn't stop me buying a copy the minute I saw it in HMV yesterday,
Seems sort of strange now after so many years of searching for these recordings on CD to actually have them in my hand. (Another Holy Grail acquired)

They sound good, But not a whole lot better than the original LP versions, the master tapes were obviously good quality and stored safely somewhere.

Neil Diamond The Bang Years at Amazon

[comet]

Neil Diamond in Concert at The BBC 1971

[Libby]

You'll be amazed to know that I have definitely heard of Neil Diamond. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Fortunately, his music was one of those "oldies" songs on the radio my mom used to listen to all the time (and still does sometimes). I even danced to a song by Neil Diamond when I was in tap & jazz a million years ago (that's how long it seems, lol). It was something about "headed to the future", or something. Yes, that's what it was. Headed for the Future?

[comet]

I can't alter my post about the BBC live concert link above to a 38+ minute live recording on YouTube.
There is a wonderful recording of I am I said on it not to mention 8 other hits
and the sound quality and the backing vocalists (Whoever they were) are just fantastic

I Am I Said.
Written by Neil Diamond
L.A.'s fine, the sun shines most the time
And the feeling is 'lay back'
Palm trees grow, and rents are low
But you know I keep thinkin' about
Making my way back
Well I'm New York City born and raised
But nowadays, I'm lost between two shores
L.A.'s fine, but it ain't home
New York's home, but it ain't mine no more

I am, I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair
I am, I cried
I am, said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still

Did you ever read about a frog who dreamed of bein' a king
And then became one
Well except for the names and a few other changes
I you talk about me, the story's the same one

But I got an emptiness deep inside
And I've tried, but it won't let me go
And I'm not a man who likes to swear
But I never cared for the sound of being alone

I am, I said
To no one there
An no one heard at all
Not even the chair
I am, I cried
I am, said I
And I am lost, and I can't even say why
Leavin' me lonely still


Just brilliant, what a showman and performer, what a voice.

I can't believe my luck in coming across this recording by accident.