I'm sure Alabama and Oak Ridge Boys can still pack a county fair
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 16:00 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 16:52 (four years ago) link
Moody Blues get mentioned in any history of prog rock, surely?
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 16:53 (four years ago) link
Yeah but outside of the prog niche they're pretty much thought of as a one hit wonder, I'd guess? Even prog fans don't exactly talk about Seventh Sojourn the way they talk about Foxtrot or Aqualung.
― Cornelius Fondue (Matt #2), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:12 (four years ago) link
That doesn’t seem rightI can think of a number of Moody Blues classic rock standards aside from Satin.
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:18 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 17:18 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 17:25 (four years ago) link
yeah, re Moody Blues: Tuesday Afternoon and Ride My See-Saw turn up on satellite radio
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:26 (four years ago) link
With "classic rock" radio focusing more on Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, and Stone Temple Pilots, the Moody Blues were one of the first casualties of playlist turnover. Not enough guitars, too many spoken-word bits, and their songs are too long and proggy for "oldies" stations.
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:27 (four years ago) link
I have no idea what are canonical history books about pop music, but it seems like no one talks about the Rascals anymore. When I was a kid their songs were canon on oldies radio, but that was a long time ago.
― L'assie (Euler), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:30 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 17:36 (four years ago) link
Just listened to ‘Sweet Caroline’, didn’t ring a bell.
― pomenitul, Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:39 (four years ago) link
"Solitary Man" has been covered a bunch of times too.
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:44 (four years ago) link
Neil Diamond was my first concert, I was eight
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:45 (four years ago) link
xpost--in fact Johnny Cash used it for an album title American Recordings III: Solitary Man
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:46 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 17:48 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 17:50 (four years ago) link
I actually had no idea Crystal Gayle and Loretta Lynn were sisters
― Paul Ponzi, Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:51 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 17:52 (four years ago) link
oh how much i envy being totally ignorant of neil diamond.
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 17:53 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 18:01 (four years ago) link
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41A43BVWYAL.jpg
― Totally different head. Totally. (Austin), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:02 (four years ago) link
And Diamond the Brill Building songwriter is a different thing from Diamond the chest-hair avatar.
― file of unknown origin (bendy), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:04 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 18:07 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 18:20 (four years ago) link
Buffet is someone I had no idea even existed until I got to college. He has a weird and devoted subculture around him.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:30 (four years ago) link
well, he's a weird guy
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:34 (four years ago) link
In addition to Crystal Gayle (who I agree was ubiquitous at a certain point, the Solid Gold era?)I am here to nominate JUICE NEWTON, also of that era.
In spite of her fun and occasionally bombastic hits Angel of the Morning, Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me, Queen of Hearts, Heart of the Night -- where is Juice Newton?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:44 (four years ago) link
Also, like Crystal Gayle, she had suuuuuper long abundant hair
I cannot say why Juice is overlooked but "Love's Been a Little Bit Hard on Me" is a great song, and def edges "Angel of the Morning."
― and she could see an earmuff factory (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:49 (four years ago) link
soft rockers and country poppers having a hard time of it: Dan Fogelberg, Barbara Mandrell, Harry Chapin
― Muswell Hillbilly Elegy (President Keyes), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:52 (four years ago) link
all of her singles that i've heard are great!! if you don't know Heart of the NIght (I didn't, heard it on the radio recently) it's really great! I love her voice too. I loved her as a wee little tot and still do!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1VAMl9dA64
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:53 (four years ago) link
sad boner aura
lmao this is so otm
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:54 (four years ago) link
the chorus is particularly good imo
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 18:54 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 19:04 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 19:16 (four years ago) link
Deep Purple also covered "Kentucky Woman".
― No language just sound (Sund4r), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 19:36 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 19:48 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 19:50 (four years ago) link
and then he had his big soundtrack moments - "Coming to America", that ET song
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 29 October 2019 19:51 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 19:51 (four years ago) link
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:44 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink
OMG, when I was like 4 or 5 years old I was obsessed with both Solid Gold and Crystal Gale. I think I had a slight crush on her because she looks a little like my mom.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 19:52 (four years ago) link
Diamonds "America" was Michael Dukakis' theme song lol
xps
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 29 October 2019 19:52 (four years ago) link
the saddest of bonershttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6e/Hot_august_night.jpg
― Οὖτις, Tuesday, 29 October 2019 19:53 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 20:04 (four years ago) link
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
― 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, 29 October 2019 20:05 (four years ago) link
Jeez, such hate.
Y'all need to turn on your heart light.
― and she could see an earmuff factory (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 29 October 2019 20:10 (four years ago) link
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, 29 October 2019 20:11 (four years ago) link
(with extra Moody Blues reference!)
Hate for?
Neil Diamond is well loved still, I don't see much hate here either.
xp
― Le Bateau Ivre, Tuesday, 29 October 2019 20:12 (four years ago) link