Ultimate Collection

Neil Diamond | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Msi Music Corp
• ASIN: B0000DEPAE
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,869,155 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

40 of his best from the '60s through the '90s, all digitally remastered & including hits Diamond cut for Bang, Uni, MCA, Capitol and Columbia! From 'Sweet Caroline' to 'Cracklin' Rosie' to 'Forever In Blue Jeans' to 'America' to 'Solitary Man' to 'You Don --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As the title says "the ultimate collection", May 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

After growing up listening to ones parents play Neil Diamond continuously and then seeing him in concert recently in Australia, I was on the look out for a greatest hits album of original recordings. And did I find it in this album. If you want a great summary of his recordings with all the favorites, new and old, buy it. The music listing is not in cronological order but it really shows you Neil Diamonds versatility with all styles of music. A disappointment though is the fact a few classics are missing like "Crunchy Granola" and "Shilo" but don't let that stop you from buying it. It makes up for it with the other songs present. Other collection series have had rather disappointing live versions on the CD but this only has original versions with no live cuts. Not too many of his recent recordings, like "Tennesse Moon" are on the album but most people are more familiar with his older stuff which is covered very well and I myself prefer his older material. A few songs could be left out like the duet with Dolly Parton on "You've lost that loving feeling". Not one of his better covers. A die hard fan would have all the albums that are covered by this compliation album, but if you want all his hits in one, this is the album to get.

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As Can Be, November 24, 2000

By 

Gianmarco Manzione (Tampa, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

The only mishap on this otherwise immaculate collection is the uneven song sequence. Following the sixties pop of "I'm A Believer," comes the slickly produced, early 80's ballad, "Heartlight." Both are superb songs, but they sound confused when placed back to back in a greatest hits compilation. This double disc set would have been flawless with just a little more attention to detail. Why not start from the beginning and end with "Heartlight," 1994's "America" and other late career pinnacles?

Nonetheless, this collection is as good as it gets. All, and I mean ALL the familiar hits are here. Besides those mentioned above this is the ONLY neil Diamond compilation including hits from his entire career: Sweet Caroline, Solitary Man, Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon, Cherry, Cherry I Am...I Said, Song Sung Blue, Forever In Blue Jeans, Kentucky Woman, Holy, Holy...believe me, this is Apple Pie Ala Mode for the Neil Diamond Completist.

Now, that is not to say that this collection indulges in every facet of this genius songwriter's career. Yes, the Jonathan Livingston Seagull tracks are virtually ignored, and his biggest fans with very specific favorites will likely be disappointed. But, come on, we are talking about one of the few songwriters in history to endure the evolutions of his industry from the 60's to the 90's. Two CDs are not going to do proper justice to a career of Diamond's magnitude.

And please, critics, let us stop using this word "pop" as if it were absolutely derogatory. Neil Diamond WRITES these songs, Neil Diamond PERFORMS these songs, and Neil Diamond continues to interest an increasingly aging audience in his work. Just about all of his albums went platinum, from the early 70's through the 90's. Of course, I always welcome surprises, but I don't think that Britney Spears will be remembered for her songwriting prowess in 2030. That's not "pop," that's commercialism.

This is clearly the only collection to chronicle Neil Diamond's brilliance so thoroughly. For the real Diamond freaks among us, I don't think it will take much more time for a box set to come out. So there is still hope for the ultimate Neil Diamond project. But any "fan" claiming to be wholly disappointed in this compilation just isn't a fan.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST NEIL DIAMOND CD, December 15, 1999

By 

Amy Cebull (MT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

This is a great collection! The songs are not live like many of his other CDs; and it combines a variety of labels (Sony, Columbia, etc.) onto one CD. Also, the recordings are clear and sound really good unlike some of his other CDs.