Customer Reviews

Hot August Night

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

"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.

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!

This is my favorite Neil Diamond album, one of those rare live albums that you would rather listen to than the same songs thrown together on any one of a half-dozen greatest hits collection. Just listen to "Cherry Cherry" and that should prove the point right there. I also like to listen to the Prologue, where the strings slowly build unto the point where the guitar finally starts to play and Diamond launches into "Crunch Granola Suite." Not exactly a Neil Diamond "hit," but it makes for a great opening. Likewise, I never get tired of hearing the sweeping string arrangement on "Play Me."

More than you usually find on an album, the construction of this live performance is quite impressive. You have the big opening that comes down in the second half of "Done Too Soon" to set up a trio of his early hits: "Solitary Man," "Cherry Cherry" and "Sweet Caroline." Then you have a series of cute songs (e.g., "Soggy Pretzels") before an extended set of simpler numbers such as "Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon" and "Canta Libre." Then we have to endure "Song Sung Blue" (never liked it, never will) and then things perk up with "Cracklin' Rosie" setting up a powerhouse final trio. First "Holly Holy," my absolute favorite, and then a majestic version of "I Am...I Said." Following the Walk Off a rhythmic progression introduces the encore medley of "Soolaimon" and "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show."

No wonder this was a legendary concert, richly deserving to be recorded for posterity. Nothing I have heard from Diamond, not even his later live stuff, has matched what I hear on this album. This is my recommendation for the "if you only own one Neil Diamond album" spot in your music collection. If you already have one album and it is not this one, then you need to go forth and procure it as well.

First of all, I'm not a big Neil Diamond fan. Although I enjoy some of his early work he's usually just too mellow for me. However, this live CD is as good as any live set I've heard. Being that it was recorded in 1972, before he got too mainstream, it shows a Neil Diamond willing to take risks with his music. From the opening notes of Prologue the music just soars! If you're looking for a musical experience that is just a pleasure to listen to, buy this CD. You'll be happy you did.

The very first time I played "Hot August Night" was in the dark ages of 1973. I had heard that it was perhaps the best live album of all time. I have never been a live album fan, and still am not. However, "Hot August Night" could not have been done as anything other than a live album. The ambiance of the Greek Theater in Los Angeles was the perfect setting for a singer/songwriter that performs better as a travelling troubadour than a studio musician. As a more recent example of this assertion, watch the ending of "Born in East L.A." when Neil Diamond sings "Coming to America". The song coupled with the movie and the action is a perfect fit, but I find it difficult to enjoy the song as much as a cycled FM song without the movie.

Having said that this album is good, the next question is: just how good is it? Other reviewers have compared this album to the all time live-album king, Peter Frampton's "Frampton Comes Alive", which everyone seemed to own in the 1970s. This album is not as hard a rocker, but as noted elsewhere, "Frampton Comes Alive" feels dated when you listen to it today; "Hot August Night" sounds as good, if not better, than when it was first released.

The sound quality is beyond excellent, it is outstanding. When listening to live albums it's often tempting to adjust the equalizer to reduce annoying hisses or crowd noise or some error in the recording process. No need with this album. Leave the adjustments where they normally are for any pop-rock album.

The songs on this album are a best of the best of early Neil Diamond music. You could see every one of these songs as a potential hit in the 60s and 70s. In fact, many of them were. Those that weren't perhaps should have been.

Some highlights of this CD:

"Prologue" is one of the best intros to any album, ever. That is all the comment you need about the prologue.

The first CD is one excellent Neil diamond song after another. They are all good, many mellow. There are a few rockers too. "Crunchy Granola Suite", "Cherry Cherry", and "Porcupine Pie", which is silly, all have a fast pace. The other songs are bluesy and some have a country flavor.

The second CD is a combination of blues/soft rock and an excellent rock song, "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show", where Neil puts himself totally into his music. There is a lot of emotion on this second CD, and it is best listened to when you want to immerse yourself into a musical experience.

"Canta Libre", the second song on this CD, is reminiscent of Neil's song on the "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" soundtrack. Very mellow, very beautiful.

The remaining songs are music as art. "Morningside", "Holly Holy", and "I Am...I said" are just a few of the emotional songs that make you long for the days when this music was young. Listening now to "Morningside", the emotions it generates are just awesome. Neil is in this song, living it...

Enough said. This CD is perhaps the best live album of all time. At the very least it is in the top 3. If you've ever found yourself singing along with any of Neil's early songs, buy this. You'll want to play it over and over.

The orchestral "Prelude," based on themes from "Morningside" and "The African Trilogy" of earlier albums, doesn't prepare you for the intensity and unabashed power of this CD. Fans of Diamond's more recent ballads and power pop tunes will be amazed at these 24 songs, performed at the height of his acoustic rock aspirations. There are some songs here which could be discarded, and which most listeners will skip after the first hearing ... "Soggy Pretzels" and "Canta Libre," expecially. But "Hot August Night" features the best arrangements/performances of "Holly Holy," "Cherry, Cherry," "Solitary Man" and "Sweet Caroline." The newly-added "Walk on Water" is a definite gem. But even these opera/rock tunes don't prepare the first-time listener for "Soolaimon/Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show," which no Diamond recording before or since has matched for sheer excitment and abandon. If you're a fan of Diamond and have never heard "Hot August Night," be prepared for the ultimate treat. If you've never heard a Diamond album, this is probably the highlight introductory experience.

I happened to have see Neil, in Spokane,WA In June before that famous August night at the Greek in LA. It has been over 40 years, yet I can still close my eyes as I listen to this album and literally, in my minds eye; watch him as he performs his magic... Great Album, GREATER Performer... well worth the money as I consider this to be one of the best live albums ever produced...

Those who were so lucky to have attended this concert at the Greek Theater really got their money's worth!!! I am not really a fan of Neil's but neither am I immune to many of his catchy tunes. This is actually the only recording of him that I own... but it is definitely one of my favorite cd's. Most of the songs are at least good... a few ones even great... but it is the intensity of the Neil Diamond that showed up that night at The Greek that makes this recording so special. There is a raw energy which Neil displayed that night that I have not heard elsewhere in any of his other recordings... even live ones.

While Neil Diamond has always been a notable singer/songwriter... on that particular "Hot August Night" he was a star... an incredibly bright one!!!

A Great Perfomer and an Exceptional Album. These songs clearly stand the test of time!! Neil Diamond is the consummate entertainer...5 stars!!