The Very Best of Neil Diamond: The original studio recordings (Columbia/Legacy)
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- Published on Sunday, 08 January 2012 21:07
- Written by Super User
Few singer/songwriters have had more sustained success that Neil Diamond and few deserve to be repackaged and reintroduced to od fans and new as much as he does. That may be why the vault-dwelling denizens at Columbia/Legacy have seen fit to honor Neil one more time.
Not to be confused with the Pickwick Records release from the 80’s, this new collection of one of America’s most timeless songwriters is truly a greatest hits collection in the best sense of the word. From the original renditions of such coverable classics as “I’m a Believer,” “Red, Red Wine” and “Girl, You’ll Be woman Soon” (which is far stronger and affecting than the Urge Overkill version) to a delicate duet with Barbara Steisand of “You Don't Bring Me Flowers” to truly original offerings like the proud “America”, the astounded “Pretty Amazing Grace” and the ballpark favorite “Sweet Caroline”, there is nary a “fluff” track on the disc. Just shy of two dozen tracks make this a collection to get lost in for a bit and to come back to again and again, just as so many people come back to Neil year after year. It’s a “Beautiful Noise” indeed!
