Neil Diamond - The Greatest Hits (1966-1992)

Neil Diamond

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 19, 1992)
• Original Release Date: May 19, 1992
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000028OJ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,579 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though now known mainly for his middle-of-the-road balladry, Neil Diamond started his career in the '60s as a Tin Pan Alley pro who turned out a string of ballsy, folk-rock-styled classic Top 40 singles that may come as a surprise to anyone who's grown up with the image of Diamond as a sensitive crooner and Vegas showman. This 2 CD set contains all of his hits, but it isn't quite the definitive package that its title suggests. His early Bang singles ("Cherry, Cherry," "Kentucky Woman," "Solitary Man") and his later Columbia material ("You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "America," "Heartlight") appear in their original versions. But his mid-period MCA/UNI hits ("Sweet Caroline," "Song Sung Blue," "I Am ... I Said") are represented by live re-recordings from 1989 and 1992. --Scott Schinder

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

151 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Needs the disclaimer: "LIVE versions of classic hits", November 26, 2002

By	Eric V. Moye (New York, by way of Dallas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Don't get me wrong: I dig Diamond. I love his earlier work. Seeing him perform live was a great treat, and like some others, I don't think he can be overdone.

Much of the great A.M. radio songs of the 1960's and early 1970's were from his pen and voice. "I Got the Feelin", "Girl You'll be a Woman Soon", "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" (more on that later) established his bona fides for a place in the Hall of Fame. Be forewarned though. In this album, I thought I had found the treasure I was looking for: Most of the stuff I grew up with in one place. However, I was abjectly disappointed to find too many of the songs I wanted were not the original versions I had come to love, but instead were live versions.

I wanted the versions of the songs "Brooklyn Roads", "I Am I Said", "B.L.T.S.S." and "Sweet Caroline" like I remember them. Unfortunately, the versions here were all live. According to one of the critics, a full third of the album is. Some of these are just fine, but if you want originals, this is going to leave you searching elsewhere.

140 of 146 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this CD unless you LIKE LIVE recordings!, October 26, 2003

By	Tracy G. (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this CD because I wanted one CD with all Neil Diamonds best hits.
When I got it - It had a sticker on the jewel case saying that it contains 13 (I think?) LIVE RECORDING.
That was my 'red flag'. I immediately returned it to Amazon.
Unfortunatelly Amazon do not include that info in the CD title.

If you like NOISY LIVE RECORDINGS - this CD is for you.

If not: I then purchased: 1) Neil Diamond 12 Greatest Hit Vol. II and 2) The Neil Diamond Collection (Original recording remastered) - The one where he looks like 25 on the cover.
Which is good CLEAN music, and both CD's cost the same price as this one.

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Diamond shines, but doesn't dazzle!, August 10, 2000

By	JC (Great Britain) - See all my reviews

When I was a 12 year old boy, somebody bought me a double vinyl album by Neil Diamond called 'Diamonds'. I loved it and played it to death.

20 years later I suddenly got the urge to hear those great songs again and scoured the amazon sites. Alas 'Diamonds' isn't mentioned anywhere so I settled for this CD instead.

Imagine my horror when I played it and half the tracks were live versions (and weak ones at that!) I believe a live concert of your favourite artist is a great experience - when you are actually there - but rarely translates well to record.

The beautifully arranged orchestrations are replaced by a band and the soulful voice is replaced by the weaker, less tuneful live version, with applause and Neils comments to the audience thrown in for good measure!

The non-live songs are all excellent and he is a terrific singer - I just wish I could have had my 'Diamonds' back!