Hot August Night [Live]

Neil Diamond | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002O7H
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,565 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prologue

2. Crunchy Granola Suite

3. Done Too Soon

4. Dialogue

5. Solitary Man

6. Cherry, Cherry

7. Sweet Caroline

8. Porcupine Pie

9. You're So Sweet

10. Red, Red Wine

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Play Me

2. Canta Libre

3. Morningside

4. Song Sung Blue

5. Cracklin' Rosie

6. Holly Holy

7. I Am...I Said

8. Soolaimon/Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is this the best live album in history or what?, November 8, 1999

By 

Karlis Streips (Riga, Latvia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hot August Night (Audio CD)

Oh my God I had forgotten what a great album this is! I had it on vinyl years ago, moved to Europe and now have no record player. I finally bought the disc -- about 10 years too late. Neil Diamond had such a perfect baritone when Hot August Night was recorded, the songs are so beautiful, "Solemon" and "Cracklin Granola Sweet" rock so hard -- man, I can't believe it's been 27 years since this album was recorded, but it holds up like no other. If Amazon allowed us to give 10 stars, I'd give it 9.9 -- one-tenth off for failing to realize that the box set deserves way better liner notes than the three paragraphs on how nice the Greek Theatre was that are in there now. Other than that, this is probably the most timeless album (OK -- other than "Yellow Brick Road" and the Simon & Garfunkel concert in Central Park) that I have.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely one of the best live albums of all time, July 21, 2000

By 

New World Smurf "new_world_smurf" (Richmond, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hot August Night (Audio CD)

"Hot August Night" did for Neil Diamond what "Frampton Comes Alive" did for Peter Frampton--ensured his reputation as a live performer, which of course stimulated his record sales. Unlike "Frampton Comes Alive," however, "Hot August Night" sounds as fantastic today as it did when it was recorded twenty-nine years ago. For the sound quality alone, the engineer should be canonized! And no, you don't have to sit through "Heartlight" either.

Anyone familiar with Diamond's early stuff will see the usual suspects here--"Sweet Caroline," "Cracklin' Rosie" and the like. However, what really sets this live set apart are the arrangements, which is some cases have been changed dramatically from the original recorded versions. Diamond goes all over the style board here--the sweet strings of "Prologue", the achingly beautiful Spanish guitar on "Canta Libre", the African tribal rhythms of "Soolaimon," the gospel screams of "Brother Love", the pounding rock of "Holly Holy" and "Crunchy Granola Suite." Diamond is in his best voice here as well. You definitely do not have to be a Diamond fan to love this record, as several of my friends who have asked for taped copies will tell you. This is for any and all fans of all pop music. It's that good. Period.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best CD in the History of Rock, January 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Hot August Night (Audio CD)

If I could pick one CD in the world to take with me, I would pick this one. Neil Diamond is so talented, and his orchestra is incredible! If only the rock stars of today had the raw talent that he does. I listened to this album as a child, and now have the CD. After almost 29 years of pure enjoyment,(I am almost 29 years old) I haven't gotten tired of his songs yet, in fact, I like them more with each listen. The prologue is absolutely beautiful, and the rest of his songs are perfection. If you buy this CD it will make you remember what REALLY GOOD MUSIC sounds like!