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The Solitary Man
 

Who couldn’t say ‘I love you’
 

But found it easy to sing it



This Brooklyn born singer/songwriter considered using the stage name Noah Kaminsky.  He ran away from home at 13 and went to the Midwest where he formed a musical group called The Roadrunners.  He won a fencing scholarship to enter NYU and was on the 1960 NCAA men’s championship team.  He went to NYU in 1958 where he studied medicine. In his final year at NYU he was offered a job to write songs by Sunbeam Music on Manhattan's famous Tin Pan Alley.  He paid his ex wife $150 million in a divorce settlement.  He sold approx. 125 million albums in his 50 year career.


Neil DiamondNeil Diamond

I’m talking about the one and only Neil Diamond.

He was born Neil Leslie Diamond on 24th January 1941 in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jewish immigrants Akeeba "Kieve" Diamond and Rose Diamond. His father worked as a dry-goods merchant. The Diamond’s temporarily relocated to Cheyenne, Wyoming, due to Kieve’s military service during World War II.  After the end of World War II, the family returned to Brooklyn. At age 15 Neil wrote his first song, which he titled "Here Them Bells".  He was given a $9 acoustic guitar as a birthday present for his 16th birthday. He rented a room in a printer's shop located above the famed Birdland nightclub on Broadway.  Neil began to live there, bought a piano for $30, a pay telephone, and started writing his songs his own way.

 In 1963 he married his high school sweetheart, school teacher Jaye Posner; they had two daughters, Marjorie and Elyn, before they separated in 1967 and divorced in 1969

Neil met the song writing/record producing team Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry (who sang in the background of many his songs) which led to a contract with Bert Bern’s Bang Records, then part of Atlantic Records. In 1966, when he was 25, he recorded his first album, featuring hit singles such as "Solitary Man" and "Cherry, Cherry". Also in 1966, he appeared twice on Dick Clark's "Bandstand" TV musical variety show.


The Monkees recorded several of his songs, including "I'm a Believer" which was the Popular Music Song of the Year in 1966 and stayed in the number one position on the billboards for longer than any other song. A number of TV appearances followed, including singing gigs on "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Merv Griffin Show" and a part as a rock singer on an episode of "Mannix".  Other notable artists who recorded early Neil Diamond songs were Elvis Presley, who sang "Sweet Caroline" as well as "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind"; Mark Lindsay, former lead singer for Paul Revere & the Raiders, who covered "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind"; Deep Purple, which sang "Kentucky Woman"; Lulu, who sang "The Boat That I Row", and Cliff Richard, who released versions of "I'll Come Running", "Solitary Man", "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon", "I Got The Feelin' (Oh No No)", and "Just Another Guy".

Neil found wide acceptance among the young and old with his songs, but endured criticism that his music was too middle-of-the-road. He sang as opening acts for artists such as Herman’s Hermits and The Who.

In 1967, Neil wrote "Red, Red Wine". It was written as a country ballad, and didn’t receive much fame on the billboards until in 1988 UB40 recorded the song and made it a hit, singing it in Reggae style. Also in 1967, Neil tried to leave Bang Records because he felt restricted. This led to lawsuits and a drop in his career. He eventually won the court case and got ownership of his Bang recordings.

In 1968, he wrote "Shilo" and moved to MCA records. Shilo was on the billboards, even though not high. But it is still a favourite song for his fans. "Brooklyn Roads" was another song that was written more for Neil then for the audience.  In 1969: he wrote Sweet Caroline which hit no. 4 on the billboard charts. The song starts with a calm beginning, but the whole song is a build up to its chorus.  "Holly Holy" is another song with a long and exciting build up. It rose to no. 6 on the billboards.  Also in 1969, he wrote "Desiree", "September Morn", and "Forever In Blue Jeans". Desiree is best known for its beat, it has great rhythm. Forever in Blue Jeans has the forgotten message that money isn’t everything in life, it’s the little things that are important.

He married Marcia Murphy, a production assistant.  They had two children, both sons, Jesse and Micah. His second marriage ended in 1994 or 1995 and a $150 million divorce settlement.

He also developed into a dynamic concert performer, as demonstrated on his 1972 album Hot August Night, which spent a year and a half in the charts. In 1973, he moved to Columbia Records with a million dollar advance per album.  His first album was for the film Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  He also did Longfellow Serenade and I’ve been this way before.

In 1976, he released Beautiful Noise.  His young daughter came up with the name when she described the noise on the streets below.  In the summer of 1976, on the eve of three Las Vegas shows, his house in Bel Air was raided by the police because they received an anonymous tip that there were drugs and weapons stored there. The police found less than an ounce of marijuana. To have the arrest expunged from his record, Neil agreed to a six-month drug aversion program.

In 1977 he released I’m glad you’re here with me tonight and he starred in two TV specials for NBC.  He wrote "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show". It was a song about a preacher, and in his live performances his charisma raised the level of excitement dramatically.  This song never hit the top 20.  He wrote Cracklin Rosie – it’s a wine in an Indian reservation – which hit no. 1 and Crunch Granola Suite.  It took him four months to write I Am . . . I Said which hit no. 4.  Song Song Blue hit no. 1.

In 1979, he had a cancer scare when he collapsed on stage in San Francisco and was taken to hospital, where a tumour was found on his spine and had to be surgically removed, which confined him to a wheelchair for three months.  During this time he wrote "You Don't Bring Me Flowers". It was originally written for a solo recording for himself. Barbra Streisand recorded the song and radio stations started mixing the two versions together. So he and Barbra recorded a version that was meant to be a duet, and it rose to no.1 on the billboard charts.





















Fans flocked to his shows and bought his albums in big numbers until well into the 1980s. While his concert tours continued to gross highly, his record sales became more modest. Still, as of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart.

He appeared in and wrote some of the music for the remake of The Jazz Singer – original in 1920’s, then 1951 and finally 1980.  He signed a contract for $1 million and wrote 3 of perhaps his greatest songs for the album. "Love on the Rocks", "Hello Again" and "America". Each of these songs reached the top 10 on the billboard. Love on the Rocks is in a jazz style. Hello again is pretty similar the whole way through, it’s just a nice love song. America, is one of Neil's most famous songs. With these 3 hit songs, the Jazz Singer sold over 6 million copies of its soundtrack.

Aware of his lack of acting talent, Neil never acted in movie roles again, aside from making appearances as himself. As a movie fan, he collaborated on writing the scores of many different soundtracks, which can be heard in such films as Cactus Flower (1969), Pulp Fiction (1994), Beautiful Girls (1996), Donnie Brasco (1997), Bringing Out the Dead (1999) and many more.

In 1996, he had a relationship with Rae Farley that ended in 2008

When he was 70, on 7th September 2011, the same day he learned he was to be a Kennedy Centre Honouree, Neil announced his engagement to 41-year-old Katie McNeil in a message on Twitter. Katie is Neil’s manager and was the producer on the documentary Neil Diamond: Hot August Nights NYC. On 21st April 2012, Neil married Katie in front of family and close friends in Los Angeles, California.

He had an amazingly large range of music including pop, rock, R&B, folk, country, jazz, reggae, punk, heavy metal, alternative, easy listening, and new age performers who had recorded his songs, among them Altered Images, Gene Ammons, Chet Atkins, Michael Ball, Shirley Bassey, Les Baxter, Harry Belafonte, Acker Bilk, the Box Tops, the Brothers Four, Glen Campbell, Vikki Carr, Johnny Cash, Petula Clark, Ray Conniff, Floyd Cramer, Michael Crawford, Bobby Darin, the Spencer Davis Group, Joey Dee & the Starliters, Deep Purple, the Drifters, David Essex, Percy Faith, José Feliciano, Ferrante & Teicher, the Four Tops, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Goldsboro, Marcia Griffiths, the Heptones, Engelbert Humperdinck, Julio Iglesias, Chris Isaak, Millie Jackson, Wanda Jackson, Jay & the Americans, Waylon Jennings, Tom Jones, Bert Kaempfert, André Kostelanetz, Patti LaBelle, David Lanz, James Last, Peggy Lee, Liberace, Enoch Light, Mark Lindsay, Lulu, Arthur Lyman, Mantovani, Johnny Mathis, Ronnie Milsap, the Monkees, the Music Machine, Wayne Newton, Jane Olivor, Roy Orbison, Johnny Paycheck, Elvis Presley, Boots Randolph, Cliff Richard, Billy Joe Royal, Frank Sinatra, Smash Mouth, the Specials, Barbra Streisand, Third World, B.J. Thomas, Tin Huey, Tina Turner, UB40, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, Urge Overkill, Billy Vaughn, the Ventures, Bobby Vinton, Junior Walker & the All-Stars, Scott Walker, Roger Whittaker, Andy Williams, Bobby Womack, and Robert Wyatt.

Today, Neil continues to tour, and still releases new studio and live compilation box sets of his greatest hits. Members of his family now perform in his back-up band.

The kid from Brooklyn did good!


This is written specially for Ireland's biggest Neil Diamond fan - my sister Catherine Moore


Want to talk about Neil?  Email me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." mce_' + path + '\'' + prefix + ':' + addy40912 + '\'>'+addy_text40912+'<\/a>'; //-->


Copyright © 2012, DPNLIVE – All Rights Reserved























                                                                                The full Film



Studio albums





Year Title Label
1966 The Feel of Neil Diamond Bang
1967 Just for You
1968 Velvet Gloves and Spit UNi
(re-released in 1970 with a new recorded version of "Shilo")
1969 Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
(later renamed Sweet Caroline)
Touching You, Touching Me
1970 Tap Root Manuscript
1971 Stones
1972 Moods MCA
1973 Jonathan Livingston Seagull (soundtrack) Columbia
1974 Serenade
1976 Beautiful Noise
1977 I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight
1978 You Don't Bring Me Flowers
1979 September Morn
1980 The Jazz Singer (soundtrack) Capitol
1981 On the Way to the Sky Columbia
1982 Heartlight
1984 Primitive
1986 Headed for the Future
1988 The Best Years of Our Lives
1991 Lovescape
1992 The Christmas Album
1993 Up On The Roof: Songs From The Brill Building
1994 The Christmas Album 2
1996 Tennessee MoonA
1998 The Movie Album: As Time Goes By
2001 Three Chord Opera
2005 12 Songs
2008 Home Before Dark
2009 A Cherry Cherry Christmas
2010 Dreams









Live albums


Year Title Label
1970 Gold: Recorded Live at the Troubadour Uni
1972 Hot August Night MCA
1977 Love at the Greek Columbia
1987 Hot August Night II
1994 Live in America
2003 Stages (5 CDs of live recordings plus a DVD)
2009 Hot August Night/NYC (Walmart/Sam's Club Exclusive CD/DVD release)
2010 Hot August Night/NYC (2 Audio CD's of the 2009 DVD release)






Compilations





Year Title Label
1968 Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits Bang
1970 Shilo
1971 Do It
1972 Diamond's Diamonds
1973 Double Gold
Rainbow MCA
1974 Brooklyn Roads
His 12 Greatest Hits
1976 Solitary Man
20 Super Hits
And the Singer Sings His Songs
1978 Early Classics Frog King
20 Golden Greats
1980 The Very Best of Neil Diamond
1981 Love Songs Columbia
1982 12 Greatest Hits Vol. II
1983 Classics: The Early Years
1984 The Very Best of Neil Diamond
1992 The Essential Collection
The Greatest Hits: 1966–1992
Glory Road: 1968-1972
1996 The Best of Neil Diamond
The Ultimate Collection
In My Lifetime
1999 The Neil Diamond Collection
2001 The Essential Neil Diamond
2002 The Very Best of Neil Diamond
Play Me: The Complete Uni/MCA Studio Recordings MCA
2005 Gold Geffen
The Essential Greatest Hits Collection Columbia
2006 The Best of Neil Diamond
2007 Classic – The Universal Masters Collection
2008 The Best of Neil Diamond (2008 version)
2009 The Essential Neil Diamond (Limited Edition 3.0)
2010 Icon
2011 The Bang Years, 1966–1968
The Very Best of Neil Diamond: Columbia/Legacy
The Original Studio Recordings







Other appearances




Year Song Album
1978 "Dry Your Eyes" (live version) The Band's The Last Waltz
1994 "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (live version with Barbra Streisand) Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I




Singles






1960s




Title A Title B Release or chart
"You Are My Love at Last" (w/ Jack Packer as "Neil and Jack") "What Will I Do" (w/ Jack Packer as "Neil and Jack") 1962
"I'm Afraid" (w/ Jack Packer as "Neil and Jack") "Till You've Tried Love"(w/ Jack Packer as "Neil and Jack")
"At Night" "Clown Town" 1963
"Solitary Man" "Do It" 1966
"Cherry, Cherry" "I'll Come Running"
"I Got the Feelin' (Oh No No)" "The Boat That I Row"
"You Got To Me" "Someday Baby" 1967
"Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" (charted in Netherlands in 1971) "You'll Forget"
"Thank the Lord for the Night Time" "The Long Way Home"
"Kentucky Woman" "The Time is Now"
"Some Day Baby" "New Orleans"
"New Orleans" "Hanky Panky" 1968
"Red, Red Wine" "Red Rubber Ball"
"Brooklyn Roads" "Holiday Inn Blues"
"Two-Bit Manchild" "Broad Old Woman (6 AM Insanity)"
"Shilo" "La Bamba"
"Sunday Sun" "Honey Drippin' Times"
"Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" "A Modern Day Version of Love" 1969
"Sweet Caroline" (charted in Europe in 1971; except NL 1969) "Dig In"
"Holly Holy" "Hurtin' You Don't Come Easy"



1970s




Title A Title B Release
"Shilo" (Alternate version) (charted in Germany in Nov. 1971) "La Bamba" 1970
"Until It's Time for You to Go" "And The Singer Sings His Song"
"Soolaimon" "And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind"
"And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" "Merry-Go-Round"
"Solitary Man" (1966 single version-Bang 519) "The Time is Now"
"Cracklin' Rosie" "Lordy" (live)
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" "Free Life"
"Do It" "Hanky Panky"
"I Am...I Said" "Done Too Soon" 1971
"Done Too Soon" "I Am...I Said"
"I'm a Believer" "Crooked Street"
"Stones" "Crunchy Granola Suite"
"Song Sung Blue" "Gitchy Goomy" 1972
"Play Me" "Porcupine Pie"
"Walk on Water" "High Rolling Man"
"Cherry, Cherry" (Live) "Morningside" (Live) 1973
"The Long Way Home" "Monday, Monday"
"The Last Thing on My Mind" "Canta Libre" (Live)
"Be" "Flight of the Gull (instrumental)"
"Skybird" "Lonely Looking Sky" 1974
"Longfellow Serenade" "Rosemary's Wine"
"Morningside" "Porcupine Pie" 1975
"I've Been This Way Before" "Reggae Strut"
"The Last Picasso" "The Gift of Song"
"If You Know What I Mean" "Street Life" 1976
"Don't Think... Feel" "Home is a Wounded Heart"
"Beautiful Noise" "Home Is a Wounded Heart"
"Stargazer" "Jungletime" 1977
"Lady-Oh" "Surviving the Life"
"Desiree" "Once in a While"
"God Only Knows" "Once In A While" 1978
"Let Me Take You In My Arms Again" "As If"
"I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight" "As If"
"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (w/ Barbra Streisand)A "You Don't Bring Me Flowers (instrumental)"
"The Dancing Bumble Bee / Bumble Boogie" "Remember Me"
"Forever in Blue Jeans"B "Remember Me" 1979
"Say Maybe" "Diamond Girls"
"The American Popular Song" "Memphis Flyer"
"September Morn'" "I'm a Believer"






1980s




Title A Title B Release
"That Kind" "Jazz Time" 1980
"The Good Lord Loves You" "Jazz Time"
"Dancing in the Street"

"Love on the Rocks" "Acapulco"
"Hello Again" "Amazed and Confused" 1981
"America" "Songs of Life"
"Yesterday's Songs" "Guitar Heaven"
"On the Way to the Sky" "Save Me" 1982
"Be Mine Tonight" "Right by You"
"Rainy Day Song" "Be Mine Tonight"
"Heartlight" "You Don't Know Me"
"I'm Alive" "Lost Among the Stars" 1983
"Front Page Story" "I'm Guilty"
"Turn Around" "Brooklyn on a Saturday Night" 1984
"Primitive " "Brooklyn on a Saturday Night"
"Sleep With Me Tonight" "One-By-One"
"You Make It Feel Like Christmas" "Crazy"
"Headed For the Future" "Angel" 1986
"The Story of My Life" "Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
"I Dreamed a Dream" "Sweet Caroline" (Live) 1987
"Cherry, Cherry" (Live) "America" (Live) 1988
"This Time" "If I Couldn't See You Again"
"The Best Years of Our Lives" "Carmelita's Eyes" 1989
"Baby Can I Hold You"




1990s and 2000s




Title Release Date
"If There Were No Dreams" 1991
"Don't Turn Around"

"Hooked on the Memory of You" (w/ Kim Carnes) 1992
"All I Really Need is You"

"Morning Has Broken"

"You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'" (w/ Dolly Parton) 1993
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow"

"Play Me" (Live) 1994
"Marry Me" (w/ Buffy Lawson) 1996
"One Good Love" (w/ Waylon Jennings)

"Can Anybody Hear Me"

"As Time Goes By" 1998
"You Are the Best Part of Me" 2001
"A Mission of Love"

"Delirious Love" 2006
"Delirious Love" (w/ Brian Wilson)

"Pretty Amazing Grace" 2008
"If I Don't See You Again"

"Cherry Cherry Christmas" 2009
"Yesterday" 2010
"Midnight Train to Georgia"





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