Product Description

Neil Diamond first achieved international success in the 1970s and '80s with his splashy, big-budget productions. But in the mid-'60s, Diamond was just another respected journeyman songwriter who, like Paul Simon, Lou Reed, and many others, had cut his teeth cranking out tunes at New York's celebrated Brill Building, a centre for post-World War Two Americansongwriting. During this time, Diamond wrote a flurry of excellent songs that have taken on a life of their own. CLASSICS: THE EARLY YEARS captures the singer at what some consider his creative apex.
The mid-1960s' "Red, Red Wine", known by many listeners from the chirpy UB40 reggae version, is sung with stunning dolor, while the moody "Girl, You'll Be aWoman Soon", featured in Quentin Tarrantino's film PULP FICTION in a version by Chicago's Urge Overkill, still sounds fresh after more than a few decades. In addition to the otherAmerican pop classics "Kentucky Woman", "Cherry, Cherry", and "I'm a Believer", the latter successfully covered by the Monkees, CLASSICS: THE EARLY YEARS features some lesser-known Diamond gems, including "Shilo" and the positively terrific "Solitary Man". It's a must for any fan of Neil Diamond orfirst-rate Brill Building songwriting.

Track Listing

1. Kentucky Woman
2. Cherry Cherry
3. Solitary Man
4. You Got To Me
5. I Got The Feelin' (Oh No No)
6. Thank The Lord For The Night Time
7. I'm A Believer
8. Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon
9. Shilo
10. Do It
11. Red Red Wine
12. Boat That I Row

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16880 in Music
• Released on: 2008-10-06
• Number of discs: 1

From Amazon.com
Originally recorded for legendary producer Bert Berns' Bang label, this collection documents the mid-'60s period when Neil Diamond was an emerging New York songwriter and apprentice pop star. Many of these hits have generated subsequent cover smashes--"I'm a Believer" (Monkees), "Kentucky Woman" (Deep Purple), "Red Red Wine" (UB40), "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (Urge Overkill)--but the originals remain the greatest. Produced by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, sublime singles like "Solitary Man," "Cherry Cherry," and "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" kept Brill Building rock on the charts during the British Invasion. Diamond would go on to become a '70s megastar, but many believe he has never equaled these recordings. --Ben Edmonds

Customer Reviews

Who could fault this man?
After his first single Clown Town on the Columbia label in 1962-where Diamond tried to rewrite Heartbreak Hotel-there was a gap before the contract with Bert Berns' Bang label and the hit songs came thick and fast.
Diamond was one of the Brill Building writers who was never far away from Hang on Sloopy and the odd Goffin King song
In the U K it would not be till the 70s till the singer had a hit but he was already known via songs by the Monkees and Lulu.
Elvis recorded a few ,Diamond played Al Jolson in a movie and made a lotta dough out of the UB40 version of Red Red Wine.
He made nothing out of the song He ain't heavy he's my brother as it was one of his covers in this case Bobby Russell.
On these his earliesr recordings note the number of times the Cherry Cherry motif comes up.That's what I like-soundalikes,cover versions.
Yes Diamond was an alright guy who made a great Christmas video.
He's gotta be better than Tom Waits as a singer and he's not big headed enough to just do his own songs

Classics: The Early Years Were His Best Years
Before someone took a grinding wheel and smoothed Neil Diamond to the point where it was obvious that "all that glitters does not shine", there was once a rough gem that had a sparkle you couldn't put a price on.

It is well documented that he struggled at the beginning and after many rejections he finally found an outlet for his songs by getting other people to record them via The Brill Building.

During the 60s he had a respectable catalogue of quality "pop" material that both he and other famous artists recorded and had hits with, albeit primarily in the States.

However, it is his own version of the songs that have the real "killer" delivery. He had a perfect voice for the songs he was writing then. A little bit more melodic and airy than later in the 70s when it gained a depth and maturity that suited his later material of the time.

It is interesting to hear the crisp, distinctive sound of his acoustic guitar which is prominent on nearly all the tracks. He had a genuine knack of getting great hooks out of a small series of simple chord structures. The songs were short, punchy and catchy.

Red, Red Wine and The Boat That I Row have long since been favourites of mine, but all of the tracks hit the right note. His version of "I'm a Believer" is far superior to that of the Monkees. Hearing the album you could easily imagine yourself being in some small club with only a handful of musicians accompanying him on stage. How exciting it must have been to be writing songs during such a significant decade, and finally getting acceptance for your work.

There's no point in picking up a book and reading the last page to see "Who Done It"? Start at the beginning and see the story unfold. If you are a Neil Diamond fan, this is as good a first page as you're likely to get!

a gem of an album
I fell in love with Diamonds Solitary Man and have never stopped loving his work. These are his first hits before he was NEIL DIAMOND. He was just a singer/songwriter who performed from the heart. His life performances are great, but I love the purity of the songs, and prefer them in the studio recording. I don't want updated, redone or life. I just wanted the songs as they were originally done.

That is what it. If you're a purist, don't like life or just want them songs as they originally were, this is a great CD to add to your Diamond Collection.

12 of the best early years as they were meant to be.