Customer Reviews

Primitive

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The consensus on Neil Diamond's 80's & 90's output is that it offers many schmaltzy ballads. However, of the 11 tracks on this album, 7 are upbeat. The slow songs sound no different than songs from his other CDs around that time, but the fast songs offer a change. Personally, I enjoy "Fire on the Tracks", "Primitive" and "One by One". Most of these songs are only available here, so if you were disappointed by "Heartlight" or "Best Years" because they were way too slow, this one's a little different.

This is not the work of Neil's career, but true Diamond fans can appreciate this CD. Most of the songs are upbeat and very listenable. If you are just a casual fan, you should probably stick to the GREATEST HITS. I don't demean you for that. Some of these songs are the best non-hits Neil has produced and most original. "You Make It Feel Like Christmas" I have to say makes me cringe. This album is refreshing because it's everything ND represents....upbeat songs you can sing along with and strong vocals...but I have not heard these 10 million times on the redio.

This is one of those albums that sits on a fine line between great and terrible. Sadly, it falls on the terrible side. Almost every song on the album is an almost great song that comes up shallow on lyrics. The best examples are "One By One" this simple tune almost makes you feel good when you sing along. "Fire on the Tracks" lets you down due to a steady fall into Vegas. "Loves Own Song" takes on "Cherry Cherry" and is thrown for a loss. The albums one saving grace is the title tract "Primitive." This could have been a nice single in the late 70's. Too bad the song was released in 1984. "Turn Around" is just another failed ballad that Diamond released as a single in that decade. It sounds just like the later "The Man You Need" (not a radio single) and "Turn Around" from Best Years of Our Lives. The Christmas song? Don't even go there.

Neil gets an A for effort with Primitive but, it simply doesn't work.

Primitive is one of those albums ruined by record company interference.When Neil gave in the original Primitive,Sony didnt hear the middle of the road pop ballads that they think sells Neil Diamond albums.But those added ballads(Turn Around,Sleep With Me Tonight and You Make Me Feel Like Chritmas)completely feel out of place here.

Skip the ballads,and you will hear a good (if dated) collection of funky songs about primitive love,space love,Brooklyn street gangs and fire on the tracks.

This album contains the great song "You Make it Feel Like Christmas"
which is the most underated recording by ND. Other tracks are fair to very good, but the aforementioned tune ranks up in the Top 10 of all of Neil's hit singles.

This was a transition album for Diamond. Because of the lawsuits regarding it, it was easy to miss. But `One by One' and `Fire on the Track' are classic Diamond. If this had come out in the 70's, both would have been hits.

No,it's not "Beautiful Noise" or "The Jazz Singer",but it's better than you expect,containing such strong uptempo offerings like "Fire On The Tracks","Brooklyn On A Saturday Night","Love's Own Song","It's A Trip(Go For The Moon)"and "Crazy" with decent ballads like "Turn Around" and "My Time With You".Only the treacly "Christmas" song is the weak link here.And considering its dirt-cheap price,its well worth your money.

I had the orignal tape of Primative by Neil diamond and the tape streched. The CD sounds great and I can listen to it in my car or at home and it completes my collection. These songs are not included in any compilation that Neil Diamond has release and I missed listening to them.

I'm so happy Amazon had it available (New) and at such a great price.

Using a variety of producers and studio musicians, this 1984 effort probably represents the low point in the downward spiral Neil Diamond's artistic acreer took after the late 1970's.

The problems begin right there with the cover! Again using a ten-year old picture (as on its even weaker predecessor "Heartlight") Neil Diamond at the time seemed to have no idea where to go with this album. Some tunes that are quite OK musically (like "One by One") suffer from incredibly poor lyrics and vise-versa. The use of different producers doesn't help in giving this effort any profile whatsoever. "Turn Around" could've been a great later-day Diamond power ballad but never catches on, "Fire on the Tracks" loses steam after the first chorus, and "Go for the Moon" or the awkward title track should've been erased from the tapes completely.

I saw Neil Diamond on stage a few days after "Primitive" was originally released and was incredibly relieved to find that the man had not lost it completely.

Starting with September Morn, all of his CDs have been very uneven and this is one of the worst. This has a couple of good songs on it like Turn Around, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, Sleep With Me Tonight but the rest is REALLY BAD!!! I wish they would put out Greatest Hits Vol. 3 with all of his great songs since September Morn that aren't on Vol. 2 including That Kind, The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore, On The Way To The Sky, Right By You, The Drifter, First You Have to Say You Love Me, Front Page Story, Heartlight, In Ensanada, Turn Around, You Make It Feel Like Christmas, Sleep With Me Tonight, The Man You Need, Story of My Life, It Should Have Been Me, (I'll See You On The Radio) Laura, Me Beside You, Best Years of Our Lives, This Time, If I Couldn't See You Again, If There Were No Dreams, Don't Turn Around, Hooked On The Memory of You and a couple from Tennesse Moon and Three Chord Opera. Now that would be an AWESOME CD and you wouldn't have to waste your hard-earned money on awful CDs like this with only 3 or 4 good songs!!!!