In My Lifetime (3CD) [Box set, Original recording remastered]

Neil Diamond | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 29, 1996)
• Original Release Date: October 29, 1996
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AF7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,007 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The three-CD box set In My Lifetime marks 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

Product Description

Get the most comprehensive Neil Diamond collection! For decades, his songs have been written on the walls of our hearts. Enjoy 71 of his most dazzling hits!

Songs include:? Solitary Man ? America ? Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon ? I Am, I Said ? Heartlight ? Jonathan Livingston Seagull Suite: Prologue ? Love on the Rocks ? You Don't Bring Me Flowers, with Barbra Streisand ? Song Sung Blue ? Sweet Caroline ? I'm a Believer ? Cracklin' Rosie ? He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother ? Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show ? Kentucky Woman ? Cherry, Cherry ? Holly Holy ? Red, Red Wine? Soolaimon ? More!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diamond in the rough and then some, March 2, 2002

By 

Mary Lou Brown (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In My Lifetime (Repackaged) (Audio CD)

This a a wonderful gift to Diamondheads everywhere. IN MY LIFETIME is a musical biography with little tidbits of information which the artist shares with his fans. It's fun listening to the original cuts to my old favorites as well as the early demos and reading in Neil's own words how the songs came about, etc. Until I bought this set I didn't realize that the demo of "Cherry, Cherry" was released instead of the "official" recording which used drums & horns. Both versions are included in this set as well as demos of other songs from 1958 when Neil was just 17 years old. There are 70 songs in all, a real treasure. There is so much here including the notes, pictures & discography that it took me two evenings to listen to and read everything - and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. If you're a Neil Diamond fan this is a must for your collection.

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you don't like Neil Diamond, you're wrong!, November 9, 2001

By 

L. Alper (Englewood CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In My Lifetime (Repackaged) (Audio CD)

Even in the late 70's/early 80's when my hair was fuschia & I wore safety pins in my ears, I still loved Neil Diamond. He's never been "cool" or "hip", he's the kind of artist your parents like too (my father is who introduced me to Diamond back when I was 7 or 8) but his songwriting talent is inargueable.

This is a songwriter who's career dates back to the late, great Brill Building. Over 40 years later, he's still going strong & selling more concert tickets than ever. There's not many pop artists who can make that claim! Even people who don't like Neil Diamond can sing along to any number of his songs.

"In My Lifetime" is the definitive Diamond collection. For my money, the 2nd disc is the best, containing my favorite period of Diamond's career (the 70's). The 1st disc is also good from "Cherry Cherry" (song 11) thru it's end. Personally I could live without the 3rd disc which cover Diamond's collaborative efforts including "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" & "Heartlight". You may disagree however; it all depends on when you first discovered his music. What isn't in dispute is the richness of his voice, that wonderfully comforting sound you've heard most of your life. The arrangements of his songs can't be faulted either, & the musicians he has used most of his career have always been the best.

To my mind, the main problem with this set is the amount of material. Although collectors might be interested in Diamond's early demos, most of us aren't. Personally I have no need to hear the original cassette demo of "Beautiful Noise" with his young daughter singing along. These are minor quibbles however, & anyone with a moderately priced CD changer can bypass the archival material.

The packaging of "In My Lifetime" truly shines. A good introductory essay by a writer for Rolling Stone lets you know Neil's a "mensch" while Diamond himself takes you song by song thru the collection to reminisce about his thoughts when the song in question was originally written or recorded, relating anecdotes, & generally filling in background that will make old favorites sound new again. His writing is filled with gentle humor & self-deprecation. It's nice that an artist of his stature doesn't take himself too seriously.

So go ahead: satisfy your inner geek & get "In My Lifetime". You'll never need to buy another Neil Diamond collection if you do!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good collection, only a few complaints., December 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: In My Lifetime (Repackaged) (Audio CD)

This is a great collection of songs from the legendary Neil Diamond. Of course, there are some tunes that should be here, but every artist compilation that's put out today has loop holes here and there. My two biggest complaints are the following. First, although I thought it was great that a good portion of the Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack was included, I can't believe that they didn't include the regular 6 minute album version of "Be." Instead, you have the 3 minute tune that is sung differently and is simply not nearly as good. Second, the orchestrational strings that open the beginning of "Hello Again" have been edited out! It's like they cut the song short or something. Wierd. Oh, and the 12 Greatest Hits version of "Shilo" is much better than the one on this compilation. I think it's great though to hear the unreleased tracks, as well as Neil's original recordings of "I'm A Believer" and "Red Red Wine." If you're a Neil fan, this is certainly something you need to add to your collection.