six years pass...
four weeks pass...
one year passes...
two months pass...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists
I know the name Neil Diamond but I don't know what his music sounds like.
― wasdnuos (abanana), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 8:59 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Where do you live? "Sweet Caroline" has definitely not been forgotten in the US. xp
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:09 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Not sure re his place in history books. He comes up a couple of times in Covach's What's That Sound?, although not in great depth.
FYC were mentioned upthread and are probably a good answer, though idk if bands that were big for a year should be expected to get much coverage in history books.
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:10 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweet_Caroline#Use_at_sporting_events
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:15 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
These artists could be quantified up until the iPod era by tallying what is left behind in thrift shops. A lot of Alabama, a lot of Neil Diamond for sure.
― file of unknown origin (bendy), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:19 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Neil Diamond is still huge as fuck
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:20 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I know the name Neil Diamond but I don't know what his music sounds like.
Aside from the baseball-ubiquitous Sweet Caroline, Diamond wrote I'm a Believer (The Monkees), Red Red Wine (UB40), Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon (Urge Overkill)... even Elvis covered And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:26 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Neil Diamond Musical Headed to Broadway
Biographical show will be written by Bohemian Rhapsody scribe Anthony McCarten, directed by Tony-winner Michael Mayer
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:27 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
his career is something of an outlier but yeah he is hardly forgotten or ignored - as noted he's connected to too ubiquitous hits to just be ignored by history books.
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:27 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
too many ubiquitous
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:27 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I'm in Canada. I just listened to Sweet Caroline. No, I don't remember hearing this.
― wasdnuos (abanana), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:28 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
His biggest hits in Canada were Cracklin' Rosie (a much better song than Sweet Caroline), Song Sung Blue, and... (ugh) Heartlight, the ET song.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:30 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I thought Canadians would know him--Robbie Robertson produced one of his albums after all
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:31 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuTQwN8QhqY
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:31 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Diamond is a truly strange dude
I mean, he starred in a 70s remake of the Jazz Singer for chrissakes
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:32 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
classic for the scene where some LA punk band does a thrashy cover of Love on the Rocks and Diamond is visibly appalled
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:33 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
haha yeah! one among many wtf moments
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:35 AM (ten hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I'm in Canada. I just listened to Sweet Caroline. No, I don't remember hearing this.
Ha, there's a reason I said "in the US". I don't hear this song much in Canada but ime it inspired mass singalongs any time it came on in Buffalo.
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, October 29, 2019
I'm in Canada. I just listened to Sweet Caroline. No, I don't remember hearing this.
Ha, there's a reason I said "in the US". I don't hear this song much in Canada but ime it inspired mass singalongs any time it came on in Buffalo.
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 9:52 AM (twenty-four minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
I've sang forever in blue jeans at karaoke in esquimalt bc from a karaoke book that had about 10 neil diamond songs in it so I'm not sure he's obscure in the great white north
― ت (jim in vancouver), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:18 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Yeah, no, he's not obscure at all; it's just that "Sweet Caroline" is everywhere in the US.
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:25 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I'm from Finland and I couldn't name or hum any Neil Diamond songs either, though I do know he's apparently big in the States, and obviously I'm familiar with the songs written for other artists F. Hazel mentioned... Though I didn't know they were all written by the same guy until now.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:36 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Just listened to ‘Sweet Caroline’, didn’t ring a bell.
― pomenitul, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:39 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
"Solitary Man" has been covered a bunch of times too.
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:44 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Neil Diamond was my first concert, I was eight
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:45 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
xpost--in fact Johnny Cash used it for an album title American Recordings III: Solitary Man
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:46 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Sweet Caroline is a massive cliche as far as covers/karaoke/bar songs, almost approaches Don't Stop Believin' levels.
That said I don't remember hearing him a ton growing up -- I knew America and I think maybe Cherry Cherry. Maybe because he wasn't really a classic rock radio format guy but also wasn't old enough yet for "oldies" at the time. I heard the UO cover of Girl You'll Be a Woman Soon (Pulp Fiction soundtrack) before I heard the original.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:48 AM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
oh I also weirdly watched his jazz singer remake in a hebrew school class, I guess bc it addresses themes of assimilation and identity?
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:50 AM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Tap Root Manuscript is the sixth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in 1970. It was one of the most experimental albums he ever recorded, featuring prominent African sounds and instruments. The album ended up being a commercial success, with a string of top 40 hits. This album predates many Western artists' interest in world music by more than a decade, from Peter Gabriel's 1980's solo albums, to My Life in the Bush of Ghosts (David Byrne with Brian Eno) in 1981, to the Graceland album recorded by Paul Simon in 1986. It was one of the most novel experimental recording projects of its time, and the Uni label initially was not sure whether it would be commercially viable.
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:52 AM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
oh how much i envy being totally ignorant of neil diamond.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 11:53 AM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Diamond's sad boner aura is corny, but not quite corny enough to transcend generations like a Tom Jones or Tony Bennett or Leonard Cohen. He's big, but he's a you-had-to-be-there artist. "You had to be there" is another way of thinking about the thread premise, I suppose. You certainly had to be there for Urge Overkill's ersatz-Diamond thing.
― file of unknown origin (bendy), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 12:01 PM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41A43BVWYAL.jpg
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 12:02 PM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
And Diamond the Brill Building songwriter is a different thing from Diamond the chest-hair avatar.
― file of unknown origin (bendy), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 12:04 PM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Neil Diamond still huge in the lowlands tbf. Buffet seems a much better "he's only big in USA" pick to me.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 12:07 PM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I think Neil Diamond was best known in the UK for the Jazz Singer soundtrack album, a charity shop staple to the present day.
― Cornelius Fondue (Matt #2), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 12:20 PM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
well, he's a weird guy
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 12:34 PM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
sad boner aura
lmao this is so otm
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 12:54 PM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
obviously I'm familiar with the songs written for other artists F. Hazel mentioned...
I’m A Believer was written for the Monkees, the others are covers of songs Diamond recorded himself
― now let's play big lunch take little lunch (sic), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:04 PM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Ah, okay. Well, "I'm a Believer" obviously is awesome, but I dunno if being responsible for a creepy grooming anthem like "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" is a big merit...
― Tuomas, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:16 PM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Deep Purple also covered "Kentucky Woman".
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:36 PM (six hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I do feel like most people in the US bellowing along to "Sweet Caroline" probably couldn't name/don't care about the other hits?
Although, here in the Twin Cities, Martin Zellar of The Geardaddies used to do (maybe still does) a Neil Diamond tribute show that used to pack 'em in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoYfgFfh1c0
― A breezy pop-rock feel fairly typical of the mid-'80s (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:48 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Neil Diamond was all over "adult contemporary"/"soft rock" radio in the 70s/80s (along with aforementioned Dan Fogelburp, Juice Newton, Streisand, Mandrell, Barry Manilow etc.) My mom had that shit on all the time.
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:50 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
and then he had his big soundtrack moments - "Coming to America", that ET song
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:51 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Sweet Caroline is by far his most popular song on Spotify (214 million) but Forever in Blue Jeans (26,193,639) and Cracklin' Rosie (26,554,366) are pretty big too.
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:51 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Diamonds "America" was Michael Dukakis' theme song lol
xps
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:52 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
the saddest of boners
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Hot_august_night.jpg
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:53 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
one time i saw ween and a neil diamond show was going on in the adjacent arena. that's all i have to say other than that the post-show exodus was interesting
― global tetrahedron, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:04 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
xpost--in fact Johnny Cash used it for an album title American Recordings III: Solitary Man
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 5:46 PM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Oh this has reminded me that Diamond did a couple of Rick Rubin-produced albums of his own in the 2000s and from what I can remember they were pretty heavily promoted as a big, serious comeback. Radio 2 played the single ('Pretty Amazing Grace') from the second one a lot, it wasn't a hit but the album made #1.
― Gavin, Leeds, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:05 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Jeez, such hate.
Y'all need to turn on your heart light.
― and she could see an earmuff factory (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:10 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
this Rolling Stone review of Tap Root Manuscript is uh worth reading:
Side Two is the Artistry, open to question. This is The African Trilogy (a folk ballet). It's a varied and ambitious work. Here is the written introduction:
"When rhythm and blues lost its sensuality for me I fell in love with a woman named gospel. We met secretly in the churches of Harlem and made love at revival meetings in Mississippi.
"And loving her as I did. I found a great yearning to know her roots. And I found them. And they were in Africa. And they left me breathless.
"The African triology is an attempt to convey my passion for the folk music of that black continent."
I know you're laughing. The strange thing is, it's not that bad a piece of music. It's certainly far less pretentious than its introduction. The worst of it has been identified as: "wimoweh" off-key, the "Missa Luba" by Doc Severinsen, or the sound track to Elephant Walk. In its better parts, though, it's quite charming children's chorus, interpretations of African music and the like. The only trouble is, I haven't any idea who would want to listen to it. Certainly not the audience he has. No one interested in African ballet. Freaks leave the room when it's on. But then again the Moody Blues got rich off stuff that's sillier than this. If somebody gives you a copy, listen to it, but I wouldn't recommend your blowing your dope money on it.
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:11 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
(with extra Moody Blues reference!)
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:11 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Hate for?
Neil Diamond is well loved still, I don't see much hate here either.
xp
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:12 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I wish to made it known for the record that I hate Neil Diamond
― When I am afraid, I put my toast in you (Neanderthal), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:12 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I don't hate him, he has a great voice and a handful of great songs. I don't really love him either though, I mean he isn't really worth taking seriously. He is seriously weird/fascinating though.
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:13 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
'Seriously weird/fascinating' is worth taking him seriously imo. He's got a lot of deep cuts, too. This might be a geographical diff as well, where Sweet Caroline still blasts in baseball stadium USA-wide, but you'd be surprised how many people o'er here own a copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, to name but one.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:15 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I found more than enough oddities in his seventies catalog to assemble a playlist, and the 2005 Rubin-produced album, it pains me to say, is rather good.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:17 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
guys, remember this album?
i was working at tower records at the time and had to hear it in the store at least twice daily.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:18 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
xpost to alfred!
i though it was horrible, but i'm biased because neil diamond is thoroughly terrible.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:19 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
I don't like Neil Diamond, but I recognize that he's good at what he does.
My nominee for this thread is Tom Jones. Big hits once upon a time, had a kitsch moment in the 90s, now forgotten, and/but the three albums he did in the 2010s are fucking great. Rubin-esque (one is all gospel songs) without Rubin.
― shared unit of analysis (unperson), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:24 PM (five hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
In the 60s/70s Neil Diamond had classic pop songs just falling out of his pockets as he walked down the street.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 2:52 PM (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
Yeah, come on, Jewish Elvis does not belong in this thread.
― fetter, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 3:10 PM (four hours ago)
Neil Diamond Is Undeniably The Greatest Showman Of All Time. “Soolaimón” is one of Neil’s most unforgettable tracks. It has stood the test of time and still continues to be among his greatest hits. It was a staple in most of his concerts or any live performance. In fact, he would often sing it for the opening.
https://societyofrock.com/neil-diamond-soolaimon-live-2/
Well, thanks thread for getting me to listen to "Soolaimon" for the first time since probably junior high school.
― A breezy pop-rock feel fairly typical of the mid-'80s (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 3:23 PM (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
one time i saw ween and a neil diamond show was going on in the adjacent arena. that's all i have to say other than that the post-show exodus was interesting
Neil Diamond would be a good opener for Ween tbh
― now let's play big lunch take little lunch (sic), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 3:26 PM (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
and Freeman for Diamond!
― now let's play big lunch take little lunch (sic), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 3:27 PM (four hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
King Diamond > Neil Diamond
― When I am afraid, I put my toast in you (Neanderthal), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 4:06 PM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
you'd be surprised how many people o'er here own a copy of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, to name but one.
― Le Bateau Ivre, dinsdag 29 oktober 2019 21:15
+1 for growing up in Dutch households with the Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack. Also, Beautiful Noise.
I have professed my love of “Longfellow Serenade” on this board more than once, but it’s taken me until now to realize he should have named the song “Sad Boner Symphony”. Kudos, bendy!
― breastcrawl, Tuesday, October 29, 2019 4:27 PM (three hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 30 October 2019 02:26 (four years ago) link
four years pass...