Dave Grohl leads all-star tribute to Neil Diamond

Riaan-Combrink

It's fashionable to knock Neil Diamond (as it was to knock ABBA, but the context of pop history is starting to turn on that one).

I know there are a couple of Diamond fans on the forum (far less than the nay-sayers,of course! ?), so here's some news. Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), Chris Cornel and Kid Rock have conceded Neil is cool. So how dare the rest disagree???

Seriously, look past the sequence jackets and Vegas-style late period shows. Those are pretty disastrous. But strip down and listen to the songs and the craft that hides in them, and you'll find one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. His songs have been covered by, amongst others, Chet Atkins, Shirley Bassey, Johnny Cash, Deep Purple ( ?), Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Smash Mouth, Third World, UB40, Urge Overkill, etc.

Listen to the two recent Rick Rubin produced albums (where Rubin stripped away the schmaltz and arrangements that dominated some late era Diamond) and let voice and guitar showcase the fact that his songwriting is still on the money.
His 30th and most recent album (Home after Dark) entered (that's right, debuted)) the US Billboard cart at # 1 in 2008. Not bad for a 68 year old!! ? So at 68, Diamond has a number 1 album of NEW material instead of milking a long career as a tribute band to himself (as many of his peers are doing).

So I'm glad to see some recognition coming around. For those who were put off by the pastiche Diamond became of himself in the 90s and early noughties, aside from listening to the two new Rubin albums, get hold of a copy of the original Hot August Night - still one of the great live albums IMHO of an artist at the height of his game. Break down the walls of prejudice!!! :bopping:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/diamondneil-hot

OK. Full article here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/07/dave-grohl-coldplay-jennifer-hudson-lead-all-star-tribute-to-neil-diamond-at-musicares-gala/

FatBoy

I am a huge Neil Diamon fan, you may not like his music, but I think the man demands some respect.

I would really like to see this show. Always interesting to see other people's interpretations of teh classic tunes.

sepheritoh

I always liked the man. I learned to play the acoustic guitar with Diamond tunes. Hot August Night (the first) was one of the greatest live show albums ever. His Jonathan Livingston Seagul is one of my all time classic favourite soundtracks and Beautifull Noise (with Robbie Robertson) is a great example of greatness.

I can go on, but strangle I did not really like the latest album.

Nice to see others paying tribute to tis man too.

Riaan-Combrink

Fritz Brand wrote: I would really like to see this show. Always interesting to see other people's interpretations of teh classic tunes.

Will probably be released on DVD. The Caregivers charity concerts usually are. I bought the tribute to Brian Wilson the other day - Red Hot Chilli Peppers doing Beach Boys!! Incredibly, the perfect high harmonies were Frusciante.

sepheritoh wrote: I learned to play the acoustic guitar with Diamond tunes. Hot August Night (the first) was one of the greatest live show albums ever. His Jonathan Livingston Seagul is one of my all time classic favourite soundtracks and Beautifull Noise (with Robbie Robertson) is a great example of greatness.

+1. Those are probably my favourites too. Single-wise, Canta Libre, Shilo and I am, I said still rock me every time I hear (and play) them.

Riaan

I'm a self confessed Diamond fan...which song did Deep Purple cover? Gotta hear that!

Ray

Riaan C wrote: It's fashionable to knock Neil Diamond (as it was to knock ABBA, but the context of pop history is starting to turn on that one).

I am not and have never been a fan of either of the above. Or Mozart or Johan Strauss or Eddy van Halen and a whole bunch of others. But you've goto have poofies for brains to knock someone who gives millions what they want and nogal enjoy doing it at the same time.

Riaan-Combrink

Ray wrote: I am not and have never been a fan of either of the above. Or Mozart or Johan Strauss or Eddy van Halen and a whole bunch of others. But you've goto have poofies for brains to knock someone who gives millions what they want and nogal enjoy doing it at the same time.

Yeah. Good point.

Riaan-Combrink

Riaan wrote: I'm a self confessed Diamond fan...which song did Deep Purple cover? Gotta hear that!

Kentucky Woman.

Even better, have a listen ...

Riaan-Combrink

Here's Done To Soon, live on BBC back in the day. I once told my dad I had no homework. He made me look up every person ND namechecks in this song in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. This was before the era of internet (and I first had to write down every name by pausing the tape every few seconds)!

So I blame my old man for turning me on to ND. ?

Werner-Carstens

I got Home After dark as a christmas present from my folks. Allthough not in the same league as Hot August Night IMO it still proves that ND is a good and honest song writer still trying to better his song writing skills. I actually found his writing in the cd booklet very inspiring.
I never knew that Deep Purple did Kentucky Woman and probable wouldn't have believed you. I stand amazed.

Heath

strangely enough , most people are closet lovers of diamond and of abba . but never really admit openly .

Hi i'm tailon and i like neil diamond *waits for the flood war*

Squonk

Now that it's out, I can come out the closet as well ?

My dad also is to blame, he got the albums "Tap Root Manuscript" and "Stones". Early seventies pop was quite boring so I got into these albums quite seriously.
Soolaimon was my first favourite song, but actually enjoyed all the songs on both albums.
I even suggested that he buy "Hot August Night" and boy did we enjoy that album together. He had a good live band, especially the drummer, I think it was Dennis St John. The live version of Soolaimon used to be played at very loud volumes in my house.

What a brilliant Songwriter, Musician etc. I would love to the see Dave Grohl and the boys

Rudolf

Hmm I have a pretty big collection of Diamond as well. But I'm still only allowed to listen to it when the girlfriend's not there. :-[

Riaan-Combrink

To those who came out of the closet ... welcome in the light. There is no shame ... 8)

You'll all get complimentary tickets to my Diamond tribute show - coming soon!

Ray

I've never seen so much cowboy boots and stetsons in my life before! I'm waiting for the Jim Reeves special thanks.

FatBoy

Awesome Riaan. Just make sure you put a sock in my mouth on arrival as I'll quite probably sing along... loudly!

Bob-Dubery

Ray wrote:
Riaan C wrote: It's fashionable to knock Neil Diamond (as it was to knock ABBA, but the context of pop history is starting to turn on that one).
I am not and have never been a fan of either of the above. Or Mozart or Johan Strauss or Eddy van Halen and a whole bunch of others. But you've goto have poofies for brains to knock someone who gives millions what they want and nogal enjoy doing it at the same time.

Abba's magic, their craft, was in making great records - not necessarily writing great songs. They had loads of hooks, fantastic production and two superb vocalists.

I think the problem with Diamond and Abba is the same - quality control. separating the wheat from the chaff. Diamond wrote some great songs (my favourite is "Solitary Man") but he wrote some real dross as well. Both acts had great singles in a time where the singles got the hits and the singles sold the album.

In both cases a greatest hits collection that was confined to a single CD would be a knock-out. A multi-disc set would be a real curate's egg.

That they sold to millions is neither here nor there to me. Celine Dion sells by the truckload and I think she's best used as a weapon of mass destruction. The likes of Dianne Warren and Carol Bayer Sager have written loads of hits, but that doesn't make their songs anything but big-selling.

I don't believe that mass appeal and great craft are mutually exclusive (I give you Buddy Holly and Hank Williams) but one doesn't guarantee the other either.

Bob-Dubery

Ray wrote: I've never seen so much cowboy boots and stetsons in my life before!

What? Not even at a Bernoldus Niemand gig? ?