Tag: Neil Diamond albums

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Neil Diamond Albums: A Neil Diamond Christmas

I know, it’s July and we have a Christmas album to review! But it’s time to check out the latest release from Neil Diamond. A compilation Christmas album, A Neil Diamond Christmas.

A Neil Diamond Christmas was a compilation album for Diamond and was released in 2022 on Capitol Records.

The album is a compilation of Diamond’s best Christmas songs collected from his previous four Christmas albums, The Christmas Album (1992), The Christmas Album Volume II (1994), A Cherry Cherry Christmas (2009) and Acoustic Christmas (2016). Unique to this compilation is a new mix of “O Holy Night” that Diamond and long time engineer Bernie Becker created for this release.

No singles were officially released from the album, and although it did not chart in the UK, it did reach US #13 on the US Top Holiday Albums Billboard charts.

The album was released in various formats: two LP 180-gram black vinyl, an exclusive, limited edition gold opaque two LP 180-gram vinyl, double CD, and single CD. The track listings below are based on the single CD and double CD formats.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

Single CD Release

  1. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon, Yoko Ono)
  2. The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells)
  3. Jingle Bell Rock (Joe Beal, Jim Boothe)
  4. White Christmas (Irving Berlin)
  5. You Make It Feel Like Christmas (Neil Diamond)
  6. Morning Has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon, Cat Stevens)
  7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie)
  8. Silver Bells (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston)
  9. Cherry Cherry Christmas (Neil Diamond)
  10. Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson)
  11. Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith)
  12. Christmas Medley
    • It’s Almost Day (Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Huddle Ledbetter)
    • Make A Happy Song (Neil Diamond)
    • We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Traditional)
  13. O Holy Night (2022 mix) (Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight)
  14. Little Drummer Boy (Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone)
  15. O Come O Come Emmanuel/We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Traditional)
  16. Silent Night (Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr)
  17. The First Noel (Traditional)
  18. Christmas Prayers (Neil Diamond)
  19. Joy To The World (Traditional)

Double CD Release

Disc One

  1. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon, Yoko Ono)
  2. The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells)
  3. Jingle Bell Rock (Joe Beal, Jim Boothe)
  4. White Christmas (Irving Berlin)
  5. You Make It Feel Like Christmas (Neil Diamond)
  6. Morning Has Broken (Eleanor Farjeon, Cat Stevens)
  7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie)
  8. Silver Bells (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston)
  9. Cherry Cherry Christmas (Neil Diamond)
  10. Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson)
  11. Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith)
  12. Christmas Medley
    • It’s Almost Day (Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Huddle Ledbetter)
    • Make A Happy Song (Neil Diamond)
    • We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Traditional)

Disc Two

  1. O Holy Night (2022 mix) (Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight)
  2. Little Drummer Boy (Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone)
  3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel/We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Traditional)
  4. Silent Night (Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr)
  5. O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional)
  6. Mary’s Boy Child (Jester Hairston)
  7. Children Go Where I Send Thee (Traditional)
  8. The First Noel (Traditional)
  9. Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Felix Mandelssohn, Charles Wesley)
  10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Traditional)
  11. Angels We Have Heard On High (Traditional)
  12. Christmas Prayers (Neil Diamond)
  13. Joy To The World (Traditional)

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

And that is it for Neil Diamond Albums 😃! I hope you have enjoyed the journey. This blog series will be updated whenever a future album is released by Neil Diamond. But if you haven’t seen all of the blog series, why not start from the beginning. Check out the Neil Diamond Albums blog series page by clicking here.

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Neil Diamond Albums: Classic Diamonds

It seems like I have come full circle with the Neil Diamond Albums blog series. We now look at Neil Diamond’s latest studio album to date, Classic Diamonds.

Classic Diamonds was the thirty-second studio album for Diamond and was released in 2021 on Capitol Records. The album was done with the London Symphony Orchestra.

The album was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London with the London Symphony Orchestra and Diamond recording his vocals in his home studio in Los Angeles. The album contains newly recorded versions of some of Diamond’s classic songs. Stevie Wonder plays the harmonica on “September Morn”.

No singles were officially released from the album, but the album was a hit in the UK reaching #2 on the UK Albums Chart and certified Gold.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

  1. Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond)
  2. Hello Again (Neil Diamond, Alan Lindgren)
  3. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond)
  4. I’m A Believer (Neil Diamond)
  5. Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
  6. September Morn (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  7. America (Neil Diamond)
  8. Holly Holy (Neil Diamond)
  9. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
  10. Play Me (Neil Diamond)
  11. Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  12. Heartlight (Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager)
  13. I’ve Been This Way Before (Neil Diamond)
  14. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, we will look at Diamond’s latest Christmas compilation, A Neil Diamond Christmas 😃!

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Neil Diamond Albums: 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition

This has got to be the definite Neil Diamond collection, 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition.

50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition is a compilation album that was released in 2018 by Capitol Records. This is the updated edition of the compilation album, Neil Diamond 50: 50th Anniversary Collection (click here to read more about it). It is also an updated version of the previous box set, In My Lifetime which was released in 1996 (click here to read more about it). It celebrates 50 years of Diamond’s music.

This special edition was presented in a book format containing six CDs with 115 tracks. There is a special CD which contains 12 previously unreleased tracks including a few taken from the previously unreleased album, The Story Of My Life. The book includes previously unreleased photos and a brand new interview with Neil Diamond.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

Disc One

  1. Solitary Man (Neil Diamond)
  2. Cherry, Cherry (Neil Diamond)
  3. I Got The Feelin’ (Oh No, No) (Neil Diamond)
  4. Do It (Neil Diamond)
  5. The Boat That I Row (Neil Diamond)
  6. You Got To Me (Neil Diamond)
  7. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
  8. I’m A Believer (Neil Diamond)
  9. Thank The Lord For The Night Time (Neil Diamond)
  10. Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
  11. Red Red Wine (Neil Diamond)
  12. Brooklyn Roads (Neil Diamond)
  13. Glory Road (Neil Diamond)
  14. Holly Holy (Neil Diamond)
  15. And The Grass Will Pay No Mind (Neil Diamond)
  16. Shilo (Neil Diamond)
  17. Sunday Sun (Neil Diamond)
  18. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (Neil Diamond)
  19. Dig In (Neil Diamond)
  20. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
  21. Cracklin’ Rosie (Neil Diamond)
  22. Soolaimon (Neil Diamond)
  23. Crunchy Granola Suite (Neil Diamond)
  24. Lordy (live) (Neil Diamond)

Disc Two

  1. I Am…I Said (demo)* (Neil Diamond)
  2. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond)
  3. Done Too Soon (Neil Diamond)
  4. Stones (Neil Diamond)
  5. Morningside (Neil Diamond)
  6. Play Me (Neil Diamond)
  7. Walk On Water (Neil Diamond)
  8. Lonely Looking Sky (Neil Diamond)
  9. Skybird (Neil Diamond)
  10. Be (Neil Diamond)
  11. I’ve Been This Way Before (Neil Diamond)
  12. The Last Picasso (Neil Diamond)
  13. Rosemary’s Wine (Neil Diamond)
  14. Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
  15. Longfellow Serenade (Neil Diamond)
  16. The Gift Of Song (Neil Diamond)
  17. Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond)
  18. Jungletime (Neil Diamond)
  19. Lady-Oh (Neil Diamond)
  20. Street Life (Neil Diamond)
  21. Signs (Neil Diamond)
  22. Surviving The Life (Neil Diamond)
  23. Stargazer (Neil Diamond)
  24. If You Know What I Mean (Neil Diamond)

Disc Three

  1. Dry Your Eyes (Neil Diamond, Robbie Robertson)
  2. Desirée (Neil Diamond)
  3. Once In A While (Neil Diamond)
  4. I’m Glad You’re Here With Me Tonight (Bob Gaudio, Judy Parker)
  5. America (demo)* (Neil Diamond)
  6. America (Neil Diamond)
  7. Hello Again (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman)
  8. Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  9. Amazed And Confused (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  10. Songs Of Life (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  11. Yesterday’s Songs (Neil Diamond)
  12. I’m Alive (Neil Diamond, David Foster)
  13. Heartlight (Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager)
  14. On The Way To The Sky (Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager)
  15. Headed For The Future (Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren)
  16. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (duet with Barbra Streisand) (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
  17. Forever In Blue Jeans (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  18. September Morn (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)

Disc Four

  1. The Story Of My Life (Neil Diamond)
  2. It’s A Trip (Go For The Moon) (Neil Diamond)
  3. Hooked On The Memory Of You (Neil Diamond)
  4. Baby Can I Hold You (live)* (Tracy Chapman)
  5. Hard Times For Lovers (Neil Diamond)
  6. All I Really Need Is You (Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren)
  7. If There Were No Dreams (Neil Diamond, Michel Legrand)
  8. Someone Who Believes In You (Neil Diamond)
  9. The Way (Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren)
  10. One Good Love (duet with Waylon Jennings) (Neil Diamond, Gary Nicholson)
  11. Blue Highway (feat. Chet Atkins) (Neil Diamond, Harlan Howard)
  12. Open Wide These Prison Doors (Neil Diamond, Stewart Harris)
  13. Everybody (Neil Diamond, Jesse Diamond)
  14. No Limit (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  15. I Haven’t Played This Song In Years (Neil Diamond)
  16. You Are The Best Part Of Me (Neil Diamond)
  17. Delirious Love (Neil Diamond)
  18. I Believe In Happy Endings (Neil Diamond)
  19. Man Of God (Neil Diamond)
  20. We (Neil Diamond)

Disc Five

  1. I’m On To You (Neil Diamond)
  2. What’s It Gonna Be (Neil Diamond)
  3. Save Me A Saturday Night (Neil Diamond)
  4. Captain Of A Shipwreck (Neil Diamond)
  5. Another Day (That Time Forgot) (duet with Natalie Maines) (Neil Diamond)
  6. Don’t Go There (Neil Diamond)
  7. Home Before Dark (Neil Diamond)
  8. Forgotten (Neil Diamond)
  9. Pretty Amazing Grace (Neil Diamond)
  10. Melody Road (Neil Diamond)
  11. Nothing But A Heartache (Neil Diamond)
  12. Something Blue (Neil Diamond)
  13. In Better Days (Neil Diamond)
  14. Seongah And Jimmy (Neil Diamond)
  15. Sunny Disposition (Neil Diamond)
  16. The Art Of Love (Neil Diamond)
  17. Hell Yeah (Neil Diamond)

Disc Six

  1. Sunflower* (Neil Diamond)
  2. C’est La Vie* (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  3. Girls Go Fishin’* (Neil Diamond, Kostas Lazarides)
  4. Maybe* (Neil Diamond)
  5. Caribbean Cruise* (Neil Diamond)
  6. You Are* (Neil Diamond, Michael Berry Reid)
  7. Easy (To Be In Love)* (Neil Diamond, Doug Rhone)
  8. Before I Had A Dime* (Neil Diamond, Layng Martine Jr.)
  9. The Ballad Of Saving Silverman* (Neil Diamond)
  10. It Don’t Seem Likely* (Neil Diamond)
  11. Long Nights, Hold On* (Neil Diamond)
  12. Moonlight Rider* (Neil Diamond)

*Previously unreleased

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, we look at some reimagined classic songs, Classic Diamonds 😃!

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Neil Diamond Albums: Hot August Night III

It’s now time to check out another live album! Here is Hot August Night III!

Hot August Night III was a live album for Diamond and was released in 2018 on Capitol Records. This is the fourth live album in the Hot August Night series following on from Hot August Night (1972), Hot August Night II (1987) and Hot August Night/NYC (2010).

Hot August Night III was recorded live at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in 2012. This was to mark the 40th anniversary of when Diamond performed his first Hot August Night in 1972 at the Greek Theatre. The double CD contains the full live concert.

The live album was outside to Billboard 100 in the US only reaching US #144. In the UK Albums Chart, it only peaked at #54.

The live album was released in three formats: the regular double CD, a double CD and DVD set featuring the video of the full concert and a double CD and Blu-Ray set featuring the video of the full concert.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

Disc One

  1. Overture (Neil Diamond)
  2. Soolaimon (Neil Diamond)
  3. Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond)
  4. Forever In Blue Jeans (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  5. Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  6. Hello Again (Neil Diamond, Alan Lindgren)
  7. September Morn (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  8. Play Me (Neil Diamond)
  9. Shilo (Neil Diamond)
  10. Red, Red Wine (Neil Diamond)
  11. You Got To Me (Neil Diamond)
  12. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
  13. Thank The Lord For The Night Time (Neil Diamond)
  14. Cherry, Cherry (Neil Diamond)
  15. Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
  16. Solitary Man (Neil Diamond)
  17. Glory Road (Neil Diamond)
  18. Chelsea Morning (Joni Mitchell)
  19. I’m A Believer (Neil Diamond)
  20. Happy Birthday Rose
  21. Cracklin’ Rosie (Neil Diamond)

Disc Two

  1. And The Grass Will Pay No Mind (Neil Diamond)
  2. Pretty Amazing Grace (Neil Diamond)
  3. We (Neil Diamond)
  4. Stones (Neil Diamond)
  5. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
  6. Holly Holy (Neil Diamond)
  7. Morningside (Neil Diamond)
  8. Crunchy Granola Suite (Neil Diamond)
  9. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
  10. Sweet Caroline (reprise) (Neil Diamond)
  11. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond)
  12. Walk Off
  13. America (Neil Diamond)
  14. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (Neil Diamond)
  15. I’ve Been This Way Before (Neil Diamond)
  16. Walk Off
  17. Band Bows
  18. Audience Exit

Hot August Night III DVD and Blu-Ray

The live album also contained the video of the concert on DVD and Blu-Ray formats. The video also featured a behind the scenes featurette.

Songs performed: Overture, Soolaimon, Beautiful Noise, Forever In Blue Jeans, Love On The Rocks, Hello Again, September Morn, Play Me, Shilo, Red, Red Wine, You Got To Me, Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon, Thank The Lord For The Night Time, Cherry, Cherry, Kentucky Woman, Solitary Man, Glory Road, Chelsea Morning, I’m A Believer, Cracklin’ Rosie, And The Grass Will Pay No Mind, Pretty Amazing Grace, We, Stones, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, Holly Holy, Morningside, Crunchy Granola Suite, Sweet Caroline, Sweet Caroline (reprise), I Am…I Said, America, Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show, I’ve Been This Way Before

My Favourite Songs from this album

  • Forever In Blue Jeans
  • Cracklin’ Rosie
  • Sweet Caroline
  • Crunchy Granola Suite
  • I’ve Been This Way Before

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, we look the sequel to In My Lifetime, 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition 😃!

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Neil Diamond Albums: Neil Diamond 50: 50th Anniversary Collection

Today is Neil Diamond’s birthday! Happy Birthday Neil! And with this, it’s time to check out another compilation, Neil Diamond 50: 50th Anniversary Collection.

Neil Diamond 50: 50th Anniversary Collection is a compilation album that was released in 2017 by Capitol Records. This three CD compilation celebrates fifty years of Neil Diamond’s music when he started his career back in 1966. Diamond curated the compilation choosing 50 songs for this collection including a whole load of greatest hits and a few album titles. There are also liner notes by American journalist, David Fricke.

The compilation album didn’t chart too well. In the US, it only reached US #78 on the Billboard Charts. It did not chart in the UK.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

Disc One

  1. Solitary Man (Neil Diamond)
  2. Cherry, Cherry (Neil Diamond)
  3. I Got The Feelin’ (Oh No, No) (Neil Diamond)
  4. You Got To Me (Neil Diamond)
  5. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
  6. I’m A Believer (Neil Diamond)
  7. Thank The Lord For The Night Time (Neil Diamond)
  8. Red Red Wine (Neil Diamond)
  9. Sunday Sun (Neil Diamond)
  10. Shilo (Neil Diamond)
  11. Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
  12. Brooklyn Roads (Neil Diamond)
  13. Glory Road (Neil Diamond)
  14. Holly Holy (Neil Diamond)
  15. And The Grass Will Pay No Mind (Neil Diamond)
  16. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
  17. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (Neil Diamond)

Disc Two

  1. Done Too Soon (Neil Diamond)
  2. Soolaimon (Neil Diamond)
  3. Cracklin’ Rosie (Neil Diamond)
  4. Crunchy Granola Suite (Neil Diamond)
  5. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond)
  6. Stones (Neil Diamond)
  7. Morningside (Neil Diamond)
  8. Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
  9. Play Me (Neil Diamond)
  10. Be (Neil Diamond)
  11. Skybird (Neil Diamond)
  12. Lonely Looking Sky (Neil Diamond)
  13. I’ve Been This Way Before (Neil Diamond)
  14. Longfellow Serenade (Neil Diamond)
  15. Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond)
  16. Street Life (Neil Diamond)
  17. If You Know What I Mean (Neil Diamond)

Disc Three

  1. Desirée (Neil Diamond)
  2. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (solo version) (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
  3. Forever In Blue Jeans (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  4. September Morn (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  5. The Story Of My Life (Neil Diamond)
  6. Yesterday’s Songs (Neil Diamond)
  7. I Believe In Happy Endings (Neil Diamond)
  8. Hello Again (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman)
  9. Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  10. Heartlight (Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager)
  11. Lady-Oh (Neil Diamond)
  12. Pretty Amazing Grace (Neil Diamond)
  13. Hell Yeah (Neil Diamond)
  14. We (Neil Diamond)
  15. The Art Of Love (Neil Diamond)
  16. America (Neil Diamond)

50th Anniversary Collectors Edition

In 2018, the collection was expanded to a Collectors Edition featuring 6 CDs including a CD of previously unreleased songs. We will check this out in a future blog post.

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, we look at a live album, Hot August Night III 😃!

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The blog in review – what did I cover in 2022?

Already another year gone? It’s that time of year again where I check out what I covered in 2022!

As with last year, there are links to various blog posts throughout this blog post itself so you can read more (and you may have missed)! So let’s begin our month by month review of what I covered in 2022!

January

To start off 2022, I explored Limehouse Basin, try to find out what is going on at East Acton Tube station and find out what Upside Down House is all about. I remember the area of the Royal Docks, check when Green Park met Green Planet and when the Northern line closed between Kennington and Moorgate for works to take place at Bank. I look back at the street party at Battersea Power Station, launch a short blog series on the Out Of Station Interchanges on the Tube Map starting with Archway to Upper Holloway and get a sneak peek at Canary Wharf Elizabeth line. Finally, I look at the UK top 10 car colours and recall West Ham station as part of the ongoing On This Day blog series.

February

In February I celebrated Chinese New Year – The Year of the Tiger, check out the tiling at Green Park Jubilee line station and launched a new blog series called Overground Trivia and look at Which Side of the Platform at Richmond/Clapham Junction to Stratford. I enjoy the sunny weather at Westminster Pier, I checked out Neil Diamond’s In My Lifetime compilation album and checked out the top 10 fast food chains in the UK. I walked the Limehouse Cut, find out what Tube stations contain an ampersand (&), checked the artwork at Leicester Square station and find out the top 10 English landmarks.

March

For this month, I get excited about Bath & Body Works coming to the UK, check out my favourite Donna Summer album, Another Place And Time and recall when a Tube Station closed for good. Apple launch new products including iPhone SE, iPad Air and Mac Studio, I walk along Wardour Street and the progress that was being made on the Northern line at Bank station. I explored the first part of the River Lee Navigation at Bow Locks to Bow Interchange, checked out the top 10 London landmarks, started a short blog series that looks at the Tube stations named after a park and look back at City Thameslink station.

April

In the month of April, I walked more of the River Lee Navigation between Bow Interchange and Old Ford, checked out the Tube stations that are most linked and checked out the tiling at Paddington Bakerloo line station. I checked out the top 10 London parks, checked out the artwork at Waterloo Jubilee line station and look back at my visit to Paddington Basin. I looked at the top 10 food and snack brands and Neil Diamond’s live compilation, Stages.

May

This was the highlight of the year for me as the month was mainly due to the launch of the Elizabeth line – from the announcement, the preparation works for the launch to the opening day itself! Very exciting look at the line with several highlights at each of the stations: Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Canary Wharf and Custom House. Elsewhere in the month, I checked the Tube stations with the least emergency stairs, tasted Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Intergalatic and checked out the Hertford Union Canal. The Northern line between Moorgate and Kennington reopened and I explored the new Northern line southbound platform at Bank. I checked out the artwork at Westminster station, paid tribute to the end of the iPod and explored the secret entrance to Barbican Tube station.

June

We come to the summer and I check out Apple’s launch of iOS 16, MacOS Ventura and new MacBooks, walked along Marylebone Road, check out Neil Diamond’s number 1 album, Home Before Dark and when Heathrow Terminal 4 London Underground station reopened. I explored the artwork at South Kensington station, walked along Tottenham Court Road, checked out the top 10 supermarket chains and look back at my time in Southampton. I also looked at the top 10 UK cities and explore the artwork at Whitechapel Elizabeth line station. I also looked at the remaining Elizabeth line station highlights at Woolwich and Abbey Wood.

July

This month, I explored the Coca-Cola Store in London, started a short blog series at the London Overground stations that have been renamed, find out what Tube station names were invented and check out the artwork at Farringdon Elizabeth line – Avalanche and Spectre. I check out the tiling work at Goodge Street station, explored the all new Barking Riverside station on the London Overground and the Night Tube relaunches on the Piccadilly line. I checked out the artwork at Paddington Elizabeth line station, I walk on the north bank of the River Thames and recall the boat party in Windsor.

August

For August, I looked at the top 10 consumer brands in the UK, checked out Donna Summer’s previously unreleased album, I’m A Rainbow and look at the first of two artworks at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth line station. I explored more of the River Thames walk on the north bank, find out what the top 10 London Underground lines are and remember the food at At Thai Canteen. I looked at an interesting line diagram installed at Charing Cross Northern line station, started a short blog series looking at the Tube stations named after a green and I checked out Britain’s top 10 bread!

September

We began this month looking at early material by Neil Diamond, checked out the new Apple products of Apple Watch Series 8, SE and Ultra as well as AirPods Pro and iPhone 14 and explore the previous iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. The eastbound platform East Acton finally reopens, I celebrate my blog’s 1,000th post and celebrate the Northern line extension first anniversary. And finally I launch a short blog series on least used Tube entrances starting at Edgware Road station.

October

In this month, I checked out more artwork at Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth line station, get ready for Bond Street opening on the Elizabeth line and explore the station on its opening day! I walked the canals from Uxbridge to Harefield and from Harefield to Rickmansworth, recall the time I went to a conference and checked out the new escalators at Bank station. I reviewed the new Apple TV, iPad and iPad Pro products announced by Apple, looked at the junctions on the London Overground, and discovered the artwork at Canary Wharf Elizabeth line station. I launched a new blog series, Pet Shop Boys Albums looking at the albums of the pop group, Pet Shop Boys and we check the debut album, Please. I also checked out the artwork at Finsbury Park station and ride on the new moving walkways to the Central line at Bank.

November

For November, I looked at Britain’s top 10 cheeses, checked out new Tube station entrance at Knightsbridge and checked out the full running services on the Elizabeth line. We found out the shared sections of the London Underground, Britain’s top 10 flowers and checked out the least used London Underground station entrance at King’s Cross St. Pancras. I checked out the tiling work at Old Street, spotted an exotic bird in a tree and checked out Donna Summer’s last studio album, Crayons.

December

And to end this year, I checked out Neil Diamond’s latest release, A Neil Diamond Christmas. We discovered what is the busiest London Underground station, find more London Underground stations that were renamed, checked out Donna Summer’s last released material before her untimely death and see how festive New York was on my latest On This Day blog post. I also navigated more of the River Lee Navigation (here and here), tasted Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Dreamland, walked along the Strand and checked the first of three artworks at the Elizabeth line station at Bond Street.

And that is the summary of the blog in 2022! There is more exciting things coming to the blog in 2023, so keep reading and visiting as we get ready for the new year in 2023 😃!

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Neil Diamond Albums: Acoustic Christmas

It’s time to check out the next studio album from Neil Diamond and it seems the appropriate time of year to check this out, Acoustic Christmas.

Acoustic Christmas was the thirty-first studio album for Diamond and was released in 2016 on Capitol Records. This is Diamond’s fourth Christmas album and features traditional as well as original Christmas songs done acoustically.

The album wasn’t a huge hit only reaching US #48 on the Billboard Charts. The album did not chart in the UK Albums Chart.

One single was released from the album, “Christmas Medley” which is a medley of three songs: “Almost Day”, “Make A Happy Song” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. The medley reached US #10 in the US Adult Contemporary Charts.

The album was released as a regular release and a deluxe version that included two bonus tracks, “We Three Kings Of Orient Are” and an original song written by Diamond, “#1 Record For Christmas”.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

  1. O Holy Night (Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight)
  2. Do You Hear What I Hear (Noel Regney, Gloria Shayne)
  3. Christmas Prayers (Neil Diamond)
  4. Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Felix Mandelssohn, Charles Wesley)
  5. Mary’s Boy Child (Jester Hairston)
  6. We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Traditional) (deluxe edition bonus track)
  7. Silent Night (Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr)
  8. Go Tell It On The Mountain (Traditional)
  9. Children Go Where I Send Thee (Traditional)
  10. Christmas In Killarney (John Redmond, James Cavanaugh, Frank Weldon)
  11. #1 Record For Christmas (Neil Diamond) (deluxe edition bonus track)
  12. Christmas Medley
    • Almost Day (Ronnie Gilbert, Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, Huddle Ledbetter)
    • Make A Happy Song (Neil Diamond)
    • We Wish You A Merry Christmas (Traditional)

My Favourite Songs from this album

  • Christmas Prayers
  • Children Go Where I Send Thee
  • #1 Record For Christmas
  • Christmas Medley

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, it is a celebration, 50 years of it in fact for Diamond, Neil Diamond 50: 50th Anniversary Collection 😃!

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Neil Diamond Albums: All Time Greatest Hits

We are back to check out another compilation from Neil Diamond – All Time Greatest Hits.

All Time Greatest Hits is a compilation album that was released in 2014 by Capitol Records. This compilation contains 23 studio recordings of Diamond’s greatest hits. Also, unique for this compilation album, features Diamond’s solo version of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” which originally featured on the album, I’m Glad You’re Here With Me Tonight which was released in 1977.

The compilation album did well on the charts. In the US, it reached US #15 on the Billboard Charts. In the UK, it reached #18 on the UK Albums Chart but sold enough to be certified Platinum.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

  1. Cracklin’ Rosie (Neil Diamond)
  2. Forever In Blue Jeans (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  3. Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
  4. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
  5. Holly Holy (Neil Diamond)
  6. Red Red Wine (Neil Diamond)
  7. Hello Again (Neil Diamond, Alan Lindgren)
  8. Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond)
  9. America (Neil Diamond)
  10. September Morn (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  11. Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  12. Shilo (Neil Diamond)
  13. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (original solo version) (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
  14. Morningside (Neil Diamond)
  15. Soolaimon (Neil Diamond)
  16. Play Me (Neil Diamond)
  17. Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
  18. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
  19. Solitary Man (Neil Diamond)
  20. I’m A Believer (Neil Diamond)
  21. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (Neil Diamond)
  22. Cherry, Cherry (Neil Diamond)
  23. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond)

All Time Greatest Hits Deluxe Edition

The compilation album was also released in a limited edition 2 CD set which was released in 2014. The deluxe edition expands the compilation to a huge 42 songs and also feature some songs from his last studio album at the time, Melody Road.

Disc One

  1. Brooklyn Roads (Neil Diamond)
  2. Shilo (Neil Diamond)
  3. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (Neil Diamond)
  4. Glory Road (Neil Diamond)
  5. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
  6. Holly Holy (Neil Diamond)
  7. Solitary Man (Neil Diamond)
  8. Forever In Blue Jeans (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  9. And The Grass Will Pay No Mind (Neil Diamond)
  10. Soolaimon (Neil Diamond)
  11. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond)
  12. Crunchy Granola Suite (Neil Diamond)
  13. Stones (Neil Diamond)
  14. Play Me (Neil Diamond)
  15. Done Too Soon (Neil Diamond)
  16. Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
  17. Morningside (Neil Diamond)
  18. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (original solo version) (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
  19. Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
  20. Something Blue (Neil Diamond)
  21. Cracklin’ Rosie (Neil Diamond)

Disc Two

  1. Cherry, Cherry (Neil Diamond)
  2. I’m A Believer (Neil Diamond)
  3. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
  4. You Got To Me (Neil Diamond)
  5. Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  6. Longfellow Serenade (Neil Diamond)
  7. I’ve Been This Way Before (Neil Diamond)
  8. Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond)
  9. Red Red Wine (Neil Diamond)
  10. September Morn (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  11. Hello Again (Neil Diamond, Alan Lindgren)
  12. America (Neil Diamond)
  13. Desirée (Neil Diamond)
  14. We (Neil Diamond)
  15. Yesterday’s Songs (Neil Diamond)
  16. Heartlight (Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager)
  17. Pretty Amazing Grace (Neil Diamond)
  18. The Boat That I Row (Neil Diamond)
  19. Thank The Lord For The Night Time (Neil Diamond)
  20. Hell Yeah (Neil Diamond)
  21. If You Know What I Mean (Neil Diamond)

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now. For the deluxe edition, especially the 2CD version you may have to hunt hard for it!

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, we look at Diamond’s next studio album and it is a festive one, Acoustic Christmas 😃!

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Neil Diamond Albums: Melody Road

It’s been a while since we checked out a studio album by Neil Diamond. But here is the next one, Melody Road!

Melody Road was the thirtieth studio album for Diamond and was released in 2014 on Capitol Records. It was around this time that Diamond left Columbia Records, after 40 years, to sign up to Capitol Records which he released The Jazz Singer back in 1980. It was the first newly written material by Diamond since the 2008 studio album release of Home Before Dark.

The album did very well and reached US #3 on the Billboard 200 Charts. The album also did well in the UK reaching #4 in the UK Albums Chart and certified Gold.

Two singles were released from Melody Road, the first was “Something Blue” and the second was “Sunny Disposition” which both did not chart. “Something Blue” however did reach #78 in the UK Downloads Chart.

The album was released as a regular release and a deluxe version that included two bonus tracks, “Remember”, a cover song by Harry Nilsson and “Something”, a cover song by The Beatles and written by George Harrison. The deluxe edition also was presented in a book format containing lyrics and guitar chords to play the songs from the album.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

  1. Melody Road (Neil Diamond)
  2. First Time (Neil Diamond)
  3. Seongah And Jimmy (Neil Diamond)
  4. Something Blue (Neil Diamond)
  5. Nothing But A Heartache (Neil Diamond)
  6. In Better Days (Neil Diamond)
  7. (Ooo) Do I Wanna Be Yours (Neil Diamond)
  8. Alone At The Ball (Neil Diamond)
  9. Sunny Disposition (Neil Diamond)
  10. Marry Me Now (Neil Diamond)
  11. The Art Of Love (Neil Diamond)
  12. Melody Road (reprise) (Neil Diamond)
  13. Remember (Harry Nilsson) (deluxe edition bonus track)
  14. Something (George Harrison) (deluxe edition bonus track)

My Favourite Songs from this album

  • Melody Road
  • First Time
  • Something Blue
  • The Art Of Love

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, we look at yet another official compilation but under Diamond’s new label, All Time Greatest Hits 😃!

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Neil Diamond Albums: The Very Best of Neil Diamond: The Original Studio Recordings

Back for another Neil Diamond compilation album. This time, we look at The Very Best of Neil Diamond.

The Very Best of Neil Diamond: The Original Studio Recordings is a compilation album that was released in 2011 by Columbia Records. As the name suggests it contains 23 studio recordings of Diamond’s greatest hits. The promotional video states that all Diamond’s “all time greatest hits for the first time on 1 CD” – although there have been other compilation CDs with studio recordings, this is all his hits up to this point.

Although the compilation album only reached US #45 on the Billboard Charts, it did well in the UK, reaching #5 in the UK Albums chart and reaching Platinum status.

The compilation album was also released in a limited box set edition which contained five photo postcards of Diamond as well as the album itself.

Tracklisting

Writer credits shown in brackets.

  1. Forever In Blue Jeans (Neil Diamond, Richard Bennett)
  2. Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond)
  3. Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond, Gilbert Bécaud)
  4. Cherry, Cherry (Neil Diamond)
  5. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond)
  6. Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
  7. Cracklin’ Rosie (Neil Diamond)
  8. Play Me (Neil Diamond)
  9. I’m A Believer (Neil Diamond)
  10. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond)
  11. Holly Holy (Neil Diamond)
  12. Solitary Man (Neil Diamond)
  13. Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
  14. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (duet with Barbra Streisand) (Neil Diamond, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman)
  15. Hello Again (Neil Diamond, Alan Lindgren)
  16. Red, Red Wine (Neil Diamond)
  17. If You Know What I Mean (Neil Diamond)
  18. Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show (Neil Diamond)
  19. Pretty Amazing Grace (Neil Diamond)
  20. Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond)
  21. Shilo (Neil Diamond)
  22. America (Neil Diamond)
  23. Hell Yeah (Neil Diamond)

Album Availability

The album is available on CD, digitally and streaming services which you can get now.

Next time on Neil Diamond Albums, we look at Diamond’s next studio album, Melody Road 😃!