Customer Reviews

HOT AUGUST NIG-SAM'S

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Superb concert! Neil Diamond looks and sounds great! His voice has not changed! This DVD was recorded in 2008. The quality of the DVD is absolutely perfect in audio and video! He sang ALL his oldies, EXCEPT Hello Again, Shilo, Desiree, Longfellow Serenade, Heartlight, and September Morn. The audience at Madison Square Garden was clearly delighted!. I've been waiting for this since the Neil Diamond, Greatest Hits Live DVD of 1988 and I certainly was NOT disappointed!

DVD Track listing:

Holly Holy
Street Life
Beautiful Noise
Love on the Rocks
Play Me
Cherry, Cherry
Thank the Lord for the Night Time
Home before Dark
Don't Go There
Pretty Amazing Grace
Done Too Soon
Brooklyn Roads
I Am . . . I Said
Solitary Man
Kentucky Woman
Forever in Blue Jeans
Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline (Reprise)
You Don't Bring Me Flowers (Dancing with Linda Press)
Song Sung Blue
I'm a Believer
Man of God
Hell Yeah
Cracklin' Rosie
America
Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show

The included CD, titled "Neil Diamond 10 Favorites, includes:
Cherry, Cherry
Shilo
Sweet Caroline
Hello Again
September Morn
Forever in Blue Jeans
Play Me
Pretty Amazing Grace
Love on the Rocks
America

In the "Welcome Home Neil" segment on the DVD, Neil Diamond revisits his childhood neighborhood and home in Brooklyn. It was cute that when he chatted with four African-American guys in their late teens, they "didn't have a clue" who he was. Later he chatted with his team and planned the concert.

This DVD meets all expectations and then some. Back in August 1972, the original "Hot August night" was recorded in LA. Now in August 2008, IN New York City's Madison Square Garden cones "Hot August Night/NYC" DVD. Neil Diamond is now 35 years older-but he and his band are better than ever. Filmed over a four night run at MSG, the picture and sound quality is top notch-it's not like earlier releases where Video quality is reduced over time. This time, they film the concert and they spared no expense in making this by far the best ND DVD to date.

Neil does a lot of the classics and some new songs from his recent Two albums. This is the Neil Diamond DVD to own and Cherish for years to come.

Having seen Neil Diamond in concert on previous tours, this DVD delivers exactly what we have seen and expect from this performer - a highly polished show that hits all the right buttons by playing the main hits and a scattering of new material and album tracks.

To the DVD content: If you are going to do your first "proper" DVD concert for the market, why not film your performance for a home town crowd. That is exactly what Neil Diamond does, so you do get the extra crowd responses when songs with local references are played (Beautiful Noise, Brooklyn Roads, I Am...I Said, etc) and allows a natural lead-in to the documentary that follows Neil back to his old home and neighbourhood. The concert is a good balance of material and well paced - Neil is still in great voice and his long serving band can't be faulted. It also helps when everyone on stage appears to be enjoying the show as much as the capacity crowd. With such a large back catalogue of material there is probably someone's favourite song that has been omitted ("Soolaimon" for me) but it would have be a pretty pedantic person to complain about the track listing - of the 26 tracks at least 17 would make it on to a greatest hits package. (The tracks have already been listed elsewhere, so I won't duplicate this here.)

It has been a long wait for a Neil Diamond concert DVD to hit the market but nothing is left out - you get the full 2-hour show (none of this advertised "full concert", then as a DVD extra you get bonus tracks that are obviously taken from the same show). In short, if you are a Neil Diamond fan you need this DVD in your collection - you will not be disappointed.

Having attended many Neil Diamond concerts since 1976, I was prepared to be entertained by a master showman showcasing his incredible music. This is what music legends are made of. I have always loved the quality of the ND band. Their sound is awesome. All of the songs except a couple of the newer ones were very familiar to the audience. Brother Love responds graciously to the audience for their love of his music and performance. This is a top quality concert that you should not miss. The Madison Square Garden audience certainly enjoyed it, as you will also. The concert lasts 2 hours, and should be viewed in its entirety in one sitting for the truely emotional impact it will have on you. Highly recommended.

I have never been a Neil Diamond fan....until I bought this DVD for my wife and sat down with her and watched and listened. I was blown away by the Neil's charisma, song presentation, the superb band arrangements, tightness of the band, and the magical interaction with the audience. The songs I had more or less disparaged over the years suddenly came alive, and I became a believer overnight.
This DVD is the best "feel good" concert DVD I've ever experienced.
Enjoy!

There are a few Neil Diamond DVDs available to buy, but in my opinion I need not try another one. I am thoroughly satisfied with this one. It contains all of his hit songs with none of them being abbreviated. In addition is a section devoted to Neil's visit back to his childhood home in Brooklyn, New York. Included are visits with people on the street and a visit inside the apartment he lived in fifty years ago. The crowd at Madison Square Garden is very enthusiastic throughout the concert. If you enjoy Neil Diamond's singing I can't imagine you not enjoying this concert.

This is a GREAT concert. Neil is even better than when he was younger. He appeared to truly enjoy himself as did the entire band. I almost got the feeling that he was capturing every moment himself just in case he was to quit touring....which I sincerely hope he does not do because I will definately go to his next concert. Watching the people enjoying themselves made me wish I was there with them. It was a great concert no doubt about it. Any ND fan will not be disappointed. I may buy another dvd to have on hand in case I wear out my original.

I truly enjoyed this concert. I do wish:

1. He would have picked his best songs from Home Before Dark (another bite of the apple and Another day that time forgot) instead of what he choose; it really ground the concert to a halt.
2. Playing the Prologue from Hot August Night was a dream come true but obviously not filmed by a true Diamond head; the part where the orchestra ends and the guitar kicks in has been played on air guitar by every Neil Diamond fan sometime in their life. Showing the guitar and drummer would have made it so much better, but it was still great.

My favorite part of the concert was Hell Yeah. Anyone who tells you that he phones it in needs to listen to that; he really kicked it home.

If you are a Neil Diamond fan, you will have a blast with this. If you aren't, what is wrong with you?

Neil Diamond is a true showman, and his latest DVD release "Hot August Night/NYC", is in my opinion the ultimate audi/video experience for any Neil Diamond fan. The picture and sound quality is pristine, and what you get is a two and a half hour 27 song complete concert which far exceeds any other Diamond offering on DVD. He performed most of the big hits that fans expected to hear, as well as a few songs from his latest cd. The band is well rehearsed, and features long time Elvis Presley drummer Ron Tutt, as well as Maxine and Julia Waters, who are two veteran back-up singers who have worked with so many top tier artists over the years. The packaging is well thought out, and includes an 18 page booklet, complete with stunning photo's, and is housed in a sharp gatefold case that is much nicer than the standard DVD case. This DVD is being marketed exclusively through Walmart, which is why only the used Amazon dealer network is selling them here. I will tell you that the set sells for a bargain price of $12.00 at Walmart, so if you have one near by, that is the place to get it.

All I can say is "WOW". I watched this with 5.1 surround sound and it makes you feel like your right there. Neil is getting better with age. Voice sounds better than ever. I would definitely recommend this concert. I hope it comes out in blu-ray as well. I will buy that as well. He does most of his hits and some new ones. Only songs missing are Desiree, September Morn, Longfellow Serenade, Heartlight and Hello Again. Most of his oldies are here. I have over 100 concert dvds and this is by far the best.