RSS
Help
CartNeil Diamond's "Hot August Night" Gets 40th Anniversary Reissue
Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:54:07
Swoon alert! Neil Diamond, beloved by divorcees, who throw their panties at him, due to his luscious and luxurious coif.
The night of August 24, 1972, a young singer/songwriter by the name of Neil Diamond took over Los Angeles' beautiful Greek Theater for 10 sold out nights. Forty years ago! Four decades! Wow. Time to relive it.
But back to the point…The legend of Neil Diamond the performer was unquestionably born on that night. Diamond and his band were at the peak of their game that summer, a night that would be captured forever on the two-record set Hot August Night changed his life and his legacy. One of Diamond's most successful albums worldwide, the multiple platinum album in the US spent a mind-blowing 29 weeks on the top of the charts in Australia. Hot August Night is one of his more celebrated and acknowledged albums of his career and arguably one of the greatest live albums ever recorded.
It will be released July 31, 2012 through Universal Music Enterprises and covers an even greater array on this re-mastered edition, featuring signature hits and fan favorites as well as three previously unreleased recordings and all his stage banter and band introductions unearthed from the archives of 40 years ago making this a complete aural experience capturing that magical night.
The unreleased material includes "A Modern Day Version Of Love" where Diamond shows off all of his skills as a masterful vocalist with this gorgeous rendition of his 1968 chestnut. The Randy Newman-penned "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" is a genteel ballad in which Diamond displays his humanity, almost speaking the soft words against the backdrop of a sparse, but theatrical arrangement.
And finally there's "Gitchy Goomy," which he introduces as a philosophy lesson to a child learning about life. And like all great children's tales, this one has just the right mix of morality and infectious fun. Also included are the previously unheard band introductions, nearly ten minutes of a great showman putting on a class in the increasingly lost art of stage banter and showmanship.
Oh Neil! Love you!
TRACK LISTING:
Disc 1
1. Prologue
2. Crunchy Granola Suite
3. Done Too Soon
4. Dialogue
5. Solitary Man
6. Cherry Cherry
7. Sweet Caroline
8. Porcupine Pie
9. You're So Sweet
10. Red Red Wine
11. Soggy Pretzels
12. Gitchy Goomy*
13. And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind
14. I Think It's Going To Rain Today*
15. Shilo
16. Modern Day Version Of Love*
17. Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon
18. Walk On Water
19. Kentucky Woman
20. Stones
21. Musician Intros*
Disc 2
1. Play Me
2. Canta Libre
3. Morningside
4. Song Sung Blue
5. Cracklin' Rosie
6. Holly Holy
7. I Am…I Said
8. Soolaimon/Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
(*Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks)
What is your favorite Neil Diamond song?
—Maggie Pannacione
07.17.12
