Neil Diamond Homepage.com Blog

Neil Diamond March 2009 Update

Now that the awards shows are over (see Neil Diamond Grammy Award Show photos and interviews here), expect a slow period for Neil Diamond news, as Neil takes some time in the studio to write & record songs for a new CD.

Barry Manilow recently talked about Neil in a interview with Seattle Weekly--

SW: Compare and contrast your career with that of ? Do you consider him to be your closest stylistic contemporary?

BM: Neil is a guitar-driven guy. I think I've heard him say one of his idols was Elvis. Elvis was not one of my idols. He was only doing four chords at best, which isn't really my thing. But I think Neil is brilliant. I mean, he's a fantastic songwriter. But I don't think we do the same thing at all.

Also on the net, read a review Gandhi India's Cuisine Restaurant in Las Vegas, which, as you can see below, features Neil's own King Errisson 

It was the perfect place to invite my friends, King Errisson, Neil Diamond's percussionist and a former Grammy nominee, along with Beryl Warren, a former television associate producer and production coordinator...Read the rest of the review here.

Lastly here, we will just comment that the recent Wall Street Journal article on concert tickets sales seems to unfairly focus on and mention Neil Diamond.  Since a read of the article states most artists operate in the same way, the emphasis on Neil seems misplaced at best. Just my 2 cents.

 

Neil Diamond on ITV + Weekend News & Events

Neil Diamond on life as a solitary man - states the headline of an interesting and different piece appearing this weekend in UK Sunday Mail. Link here for this suggested reading.

Rick Rubin talks about his philosophy as a producer in a long piece on Rubin and Neil Diamond in the Toronto Star (link). "I feel like the job is like being a coach, building good work habits and building trust," Rubin told the publication. "You want to get to a point where you can say anything and talk about anything. There needs to be a real connection. My goal is just to get out of the way and let the people I'm working with be their best."

Meanwhile, "On his second album with producer Rick Rubin, songwriter Neil Diamond seems to have found himself to a degree not evident on his other "comeback" records of the past 10 or 15 years." Reports the San Francisco Chronicle (link).

In the mood for some new video? Here is Neil Diamond performing the title track from his #1 hit CD, Home Before Dark, at a recent show recorded for the BBC. Video from You Tube.

Neil also taped a show for ITV's An Audience With Neil Diamond (for broadcast in the UK on Saturday May 31st). Review Ian Graham explains the show...

"Neil was asked a variety of questions by celebrities, some of which may never make the final programme as this recording took exactly 2 hours and the show when aired will be 1 hour long including commercial breaks.

But some questions were:

Claire Balding (TV Sports presenter);  “Why do fans send you frogs?”

Neil told everyone about I Am.. I said..  and the frogs, and also that he had a section in his studio called “The Frogatarium” He also mentioned Jonathan Livingston Seagull and said he had a number of Seagull related gifts there also. He said as a result of these gifts he was trying to work on a song about a Rolls Royce!

Read Ian's full report from the taping here.

Home Before Dark album chart positions worldwide: #1 in the UK, read about it from BBC News, and Ian Graham's message thread. #3 in Canada, #10 in Ireland, #11 in Australia (2nd week on Aust chart).

Further reading/misc Neil mentions:  Neil Diamond’s Late Bloom on Billboard Chart, Neil Diamond gets first Number One Album,

Neil Diamond Scores #1 Album & More Exciting News!

Here's a chance to listen to the title track from Home Before Dark live in concert from Neil's BBC concert performance. Click here to hear it on the net, you will have to fast forward to the approx 40 minute mark to hear Diamond's performance. Speaking of the BBC show, here is a nice article from BBC news, which includes a photo from the concert.

Time to have a celebration! Neil Diamond has his first ever #1 Album, as his new Rick Rubin produced disc debuts at number one this week on the Billboard Album charts. Though he has scored 45 previous albums in the Billboard top 200 chart, this is the first to rocket to #1. Congratulations Neil! Check out the full Columbia Records press release here.

A great Billboard Q&A with Neil Diamond (link) confirms the #1 Spot, in which Neil drops this exciting tidbit for us hardcore fans - "In this show, there are quite a number of songs that haven't been done for 20 or 25 years."

 

Rolling Stone attributes Neil's sales success in part to "a guest mentorship on American Idol, soundtracking Boston Red Sox victories, that Urge Overkill cover in Pulp Fiction or a last minute surge for Mother’s Day gifts.." Link here.

MTV reminds us that Neil Diamond has never before had a number one album, and "That’s why this week is so sweet for the Solitary Man, because according to the latest SoundScan figures, Diamond’s Rick Rubin-produced Home Before Dark has broken that bad-luck streak, selling close to 146,000 copies to top next week’s chart. This was no doubt made possible by the tremendous boost of having some of his classic tunes featured (and, you know, mostly murdered) on that popular singing contest “American Idol.” Link to MTV article here.

Other #1 album press mentions include The New York Times, E! Online, and Variety, to name just a few.

More commentary on the Home Before Dark CD: The National Post (link) praises Pretty Amazing Grace, "which the 67-year-old premiered last month on American Idol, is an elegant love song that sounds like it was recorded after last call in a Memphis whiskey bar..."

Check out this great Neil Diamond Photo Gallery featuring tons of images from his latest Today Show appearance.

From Sirius Radio: Due to fans' requests, SIRIUS Satellite Radio will extend Neil Diamond Radio, its exclusive commercial-free music channel dedicated to Neil Diamond, for an additional two weeks through the end of May. To celebrate the channel's extended two-week run, Neil Diamond will guest host his own show on Neil Diamond Radio, personally selecting music by recording artists playing unique renditions of songs he wrote, such as UB40's reggae version of "Red, Red Wine" and Frank Sinatra singing "Sweet Caroline." Diamond will also share stories behind his new album, Home Before Dark.

Neil Diamond Performs Concert for BBC Radio 2

by IAN GRAHAM

(note: if you are in the UK, click here for details on when you can watch or hear this concert)

The legendary Neil Diamond returned to the UK stage with a superb concert in an intimate setting at the BBC Radio Theatre in London tonight.

I was one of a lucky group of just under 200 fans who obtained a ticket for this free performance. The tickets were instant collectors items because the date on them said 14th May 2007!

After lining up patiently outside the BBC building for about 45mnts we were ushered in and through the airport style search facility before being kept in a holding room with bar and refreshment facilities for about another 35mnts. While waiting for the search process we had the chance to speak with Hadley, King, Bernie Becker and Greg Lopez all of whom seemed to be really looking forward to the tour beginning. After which we were taken to the small intimate Radio studio theatre. The seating was unreserved and we found ourselves in the 2nd row just left of centre stage, less than 6 feet from where Neil would perform. (there were only 13 rows downstairs, and a small balcony)

The BBC Radio DJ Johnny Walker, a known Neil Diamond fan warmed up the audience, though in truth that was unnecessary with a number of familiar long time fans in the audience, and then Neil's full band took the stage ahead of the entrance of the great man himself.

When Neil came out the crowd welcomed him with a standing ovation and the sound was deafening, and he was so close it was like having a concert in your family room at home! Neil was dressed in a charcoal grey jacket with a maroon/grey kind of striped shirt, and ordinary street trousers and shoes.

After smiling and waving to the audience he told us "you can stay standing" and then he launched into Beautiful Noise. This perrenial favourite was greeted with wild enthusiasm before Neil did a Jazz Singer 1-2 with Hello Again followed by Love on the Rocks. Then we had a real rocking version of Thank the Lord for the nighttime in the middle part of which Neil talked about coming home every night to someone he loved and telling them how much he loved them.

We were then treated to 2 songs from the new album, Pretty Amazing Grace which came over really well in this unique setting and was extremely well received. Home Before Dark had the audience spellbound and again received rapturous applause.

Neil then had the entire small theatre on its feet as he gave an energetic and all embracing (literally!) singalong version of Forever in Blue Jeans. As he sang Neil came down off the stage and danced up one side aisle, along the back and down the other side aisle, shaking hands, embracing and singing directly to fans chosen at random as he went. There was a huge feelgood factor and Neil as always was the catalyst for everyone's happy smiles. At the end Neil went through his shall I do it again routine and with considerable encouragement proceeded to reprise Blue Jeans again and this literally brought the house down.

Then Neil went into a quite lenghty explanation of how he never left Brooklyn till he was 16, going into Manhattan to see a show, and paying student rates to do so. He then told us how ironically he spent the next 7 or 8 years going daily into Manhattan to peddle his songs. He talked about meeting Ellie Greenwich and her husband Jeff Barry, signing for BANG and eventually having a hit record. He then said "this is a long introduction" (actually Neil no one minded, I actually love these little tales we hear every now and again between songs) before delivering a truly superb version of Man of God.

After that it was foot stomping time all the way to the finish, first with the huge favourite Cracklin' Rosie swiftly followed by Cherry Cherry, and the singalong favourite Sweet Caroline complete with the Wo Wo Wos and So Good So Good So Goods.

Showing no signs of slowing down Neil then rocked into I'm a Believer. Don't Go There was on the playlist, but after I'm a Believer Neil went straight into I Am.. I Said.. which brought yet another standing ovation from the audience. Then after taking his bow Neil left. There was no encore, but a wonderfully unique 13-song set (14 if you include the twice done Blue Jeans) had simply thrilled us all.

Bearing in mind that Neil and the band have only been in the UK for a few days and were probably still adjusting the energy levels were high. Linda Press and the Waters ladies looked as always like they were having great fun as did the Horn section, indeed all the band were superb as we have come to expect of them over so many years. But the remarkable Neil Diamond both entranced and engaged us in the way that only he can.

I have seen many many Neil Diamond concerts since 1971 but this was unique, the grand old BBC building the wonderful small theatre made it an almost conspiratorial gathering, with the Consprators in chief, Neil and his band, giving us all an evening that we are unlikely ever to forget!

We have tickets to see Neil this coming Saturday night perform live in "An Audience With (Neil Diamond on this occasion!)" in the commercial TV channel studios.

Then on Friday week we are off to Rotterdam for the first of 18 shows throughout Holland, germany, Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, Wales & multiple English venues, topping off with the Glastonbury Festival. So long as there are no Gremlins in our system I hope to post reviews of each and every show.

One thing is for certain, with the living legend getting better and better, like a vintage wine, we are in for one fantastic summer of Beautiful Noises!

Neil Diamond Interesting Stuff Roundup for May 13th

The Sydney Morning Herald confirms in a recent article that no matter what, the media will never get over picking on Neil Diamond for his glittery shirts!

More Neil Diamond Home Before Dark CD Reviews - "The symbiotic partnership with Rick Rubin has now yielded its second great album. With many more great things will come, Diamond has set himself up to have a fruitful second life in the same vein as Johnny Cash." Claims Richmond Music (link).

"Rick Rubin does some pretty amazing things as well with pop vocalist Neil Diamond on their second collaboration, Home Before Dark." From the Akron Beacon Journal (link).

Home Before Dark rates a B+ in Time Magazine's "5 things you should know" feature, while Tony Martin from the Northern Star Online puts an interesting spin on the mood of the CD.

Here's a review in English for the Neil Diamond audience in Beijing, China. See also MSNBC, The UK Telegraph, and the Roanoke Times.

Billboard profiles Matt Sweeney, guitarist who played on Neil Diamond's new CD and appeared with Neil live on stage at the Bitter End last week. Sweeney has also played with bands such as Zwan featuring Billy Corgan and also Chavez, as well as being a favored session musician for various Rick Rubin projects.

Other Bitter End mentions include Bilbo Bloggings, and Almacks Dance Hall.

Neil Diamond's historic Thank You Australia concert will be released on video in the USA this July, check out Eagle Rock Entertainment, for further details of this upcoming release.

Neil Diamond On CBS News Sunday Morning re: Bitter End Show

Neil Diamond will be featured on CBS News Sunday Morning, this Sunday 5/11/2008. This piece will be about Neil's recent club gig at the historic Bitter End in New York. Click here if you need to find show times in your city.

Also, look for Neil to perform a few songs on Jimmy Kimmel Live, on May 23rd. Check local listings for showtimes.

Look for our next post soon / Monday, with a listing of European Televsion appearances, and more.

Bitter End setlist

From our man who is no longer on the streets but is now sitting inside the Bitter End.....

The written setlist for tonight is as follows:

Don't Go There

Home Before Dark

Pretty Amazing Grace

Solitary Man

Kentucky Woman

Cherry, Cherry

Sweet Caroline

More to come later so stay tuned.

Bitter End sound check

Songs heard during sound check at Bitter End:

Home Before Dark, Pretty Amazing Grace, Solitary Man, Kentucky Woman, Cherry, Cherry and Sweet Caroline

Also, all fans attending the show will receive a free poster at the end of the show.  (the poster shown for the show on the myspace secret show website).  How cool is that!!

Neil arrives at Bitter End

Neil has arrived at the Bitter End.

According to the club owner fans will be sitting up front for the show, there will be no press and only two reps from Columbia will be there.  All this is per Neil's request as Neil wants this show to be for the fans.

First two songs that were sound checked - Home Before Dark and Pretty Amazing Grace.

More updates as we get them.

More news from the Bitter End

Just seen entering the club were Reine, Alan and Doug.   Could it be that these will be the only band members to perform with Neil tonight?  Check back later for updates.  Neil is expected to arrive at the club shortly.

Show will begin at approximately 9pm and is expected to last approximately 35-40 minutes.

The Bitter Ends holds 171 patrons.

Check back later for more reports from our man on the streets at the Bitter End.