As Time Goes By: The Movie Album

Elmer Bernstein, Neil Diamond

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 27, 1998)
• Original Release Date: October 27, 1998
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000DFU0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,755 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Don't look for "Kentucky Woman"- or "America"-level energy in As Time Goes By, Neil Diamond's double-disc collection of movie themes. These tracks are much more orchestrated (conducted by soundtrack legend Elmer Bernstein, even), and although they're just as emotive, they're ultimately too smooth for most of us. It's an interesting mix of old and new--songs range from "Moon River" to a surprisingly effective "My Heart Will Go On"; there's even a Sinatra medley. Diamond is certainly in top form (just not the form some of us wish he was still in), and Bernstein's music is effective. The real flaw is the pacing--seemingly upbeat numbers just never seem to take off. "And I Love Her," "Puttin' On the Ritz," and "True Love" beg for the jazz singer we once knew. Does every diamond in the rough eventually get polished? Suppose so... --Jason Verlinde

People

Hardcore Diamond fans will love this album. The same can't be said of hardcore fans of great film music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good in parts., December 29, 2003

By	ch0pper "ch0pper" (SOUTHAMPTON, Hampshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

I am a Neil Diamond freak. I've bought his records and gone to his concerts ever since 1972.

This CD compilation promised much. Great songs, Great conductor, Great singer.

Regrettably the sum of the parts is less than it should be.

The orchestra and arrangements are utterly sumptuous. Rich doesn't describe the sensual nature of the music that Bernstein coaxes from this ad-hoc orchestra.

It took me some time to work out what was wrong (at least for me). What should be a tour-de-force simply failed to excite me. And the principal reason was the extremely ponderous, leaden and slow pace of Diamond's interpretations. His performance on this CD does not display the vocal skills and excitement that have kept him at the top for 35 years.

The pace of the delivery is simply too slow. It gives time for all the flaws in Diamond's voice to come to the fore. I felt that I wanted to wind him up a bit. It is as though the batteries that power him have run flat. In fact the very best part of this album, for me, is the orchestral link between Unchained Melody and Can You Feel The Love Tonight. For some reason it brings me out in goosebumps!

Ironically, the slow delivery gives the orchestra all the time in the world to display its skills.

So, I was disappointed, but like any Diamond freak, I just had to add this CD set to my collection.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Diamond takes a great risk, November 7, 2000

By	Enrique Muñoz Ortega (Mexico CIty Mexico) - See all my reviews

Thirty four years ago Neil brings us "Solitarie man","Shilo" and an interminable list of great tunes.Now he takes a great risk recording an album with a collection of movie's favourites that perhaps makes some people shake their heads in disaproval.But he's still a powerfull singer and his voice preserves all its bright and tenderness,specially in themes like "Ebb tide","The windmills...","Moon river" and "Can't help fallin' in love".Diamond is a great showman and he takes his audience (specialy the femenine ones)to a very particular "nirvana".The Bernstein arranges are,in most of the cases,very pleasent ones.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Falling in Love Again......., October 31, 2002

By	L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

As you can tell by my reviewer name, I am of the baby boomer generation. The Who, The Stones, The Beatles, and the Zep. I'll always have a place in my heart for them. And then there's Neil Diamond. His music was always familiar and comforting. His voice always happily recognizable, and his style unique.
On "The Movie Album", he gives us six decades of films most memorable songs. His still same comforting familiar voice combined with an 80 piece Orchestra, led by Elmer Bernstein, who knows a thing or two about movie music(Remeber "The Magnificent Seven")puts Diamond in a new class.In a switch from his regular upbeat soft rock, he dares to do new renditions of songs done magnifcently by The Beatles,Elton John,Doris Day,Elvis Presley, and even Sinatra.Just to mention a few,theres "As Time Goes By","My Heart Will Go On",and"The Way You Look Tonight".(For a Complete list of songs, see the buying info).He and the orchestra are wonderful together. He pays homage to all these greats.

I am a big film fan(most of my reviews are DVDs), and these songs bring back some great memories.If you need something to put you, (or someone you know), "in the mood", or just want to hear Neil's great voice to some familiar tunes,to help get you through the humdrum of the day...This is it!
It is a two disc album, 20 songs in all, and comes with a booklet,with all the credits, pictures of the recording sessions,and a short letter from Neil Diamond.Sounds Great!
Years ago I had a crush on this legend, now that I'm older and wiser I KNOW it's Love!....Enjoy....Laurie