BBC Review
Paints a picture that his tunes could be sung by anyone, in any style.
Andy Fyfe 2009-10-15
Neil Diamond is living, breathing hope to anyone that just by sticking around long enough you can become a living legend, a national treasure. Although he was briefly hip just as the 60s turned into the 70s – before denim shirts gave way to scarlet jumpsuits – it was a brave soul who dared express their love of Captain Sunshine beyond throwing a few ironic hands in the air as Sweet Caroline blasted away at their local version of Guilty Pleasures.
Diamond’s problem was that for every I’m A Believer or Holly Holy came the likes of self pity-fest I Am, I Said, anti-drug hokum The Pot Smoker’s Song or the simply dreadful Forever in Blue Jeans. Now, suddenly, it’s okay to like ‘the Jewish Elvis’, his rehabilitation into impolite society cemented by one immaculate Glastonbury Festival performance last summer.
But before the sequins and Song Sung Blue, Diamond made his living writing songs for others while struggling to make a name as a performer in his own right. From the opening Monkees track, the original TV mix version of Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow), which leaps out of the speakers, through Lulu, Deep Purple, Muscle Shoals pioneer Arthur Alexander, original Brit rocker Billy Fury, Jamaican rocksteady singer Tony Tribe and Motown legends The Four Tops (a version of Diamond’s other Monkees tune, I’m A Believer), it paints a clear picture that the Hebrew Hunk’s tunes could be sung by anyone, in any style, and still smell of Cracklin’ Rosies.
It wasn’t all great, as Sadina’s It Comes and Goes or Filipino brothers The Rocky Fellers’ We Got Love demonstrates, but the sheer breadth is astonishing. Deep Purple, for instance, turn Kentucky Woman into an early approximation of the charging rock they later perfected on Highway Star, complete with matching solos for Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord, while Northern Soul stalwart Jackie Edwards’ Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon may lack Urge Overkill’s debauched menace but is still uncomfortably predatory.
Sadly the version of the album’s title song is by BJ Cole rather than either Johnny Cash or Arthur Alexander, but the great soul man’s Glory Road is one of the album’s standout tracks. Alexander, the only man to be covered by both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in their formative recording years, called Diamond his favourite songwriter, and that is high enough praise to turn on anyone’s heartlight.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you choose to use this review on your site please link back to this page.
© MMIX
Comments
You need to sign in to contribute to this page. If you haven't registered to leave comments, creating your membership is quick and easy.
" I am, I said"??? "Forever in Blue Jeans" dreadful???
What heartless planet are you on. Have you ever written a song or do you just slag off those that do. Neil Diamond is a genius...pure and simple!
Thanks for reminding me of my opinion of music critics
Complain about this comment
'I am I said' is a brilliant song as is 'Forever in Blue Jeans' - OK some of his lyrics are not so good but what wonderfulo songs and a brilliant performer.
Albion1058
Complain about this comment
Music critics,like sport critics, are extremely annoying.They seem to court controversy for the sake of it as if they have some hidden wisdom about their chosen subject simply to add weight to their comments even though the majority of them have never had an ounce of success in their chosen field of criticism.What makes these people an expert? Everyone can watch,listen and have an opinion, I prefer to make my own mind up.
Complain about this comment
Music is always heard with a context, that is what is happening in your life when you heard it. This is the way I listen to music it is very rarely simply for the sake of the music only.
Critics are a guide to structure; but it can only ever be the external form - they can never open the door and show you what is like in the inside, we all furnish our own interiors differently.
How useful is a critic? They are of interest but as for usefulness, I would say 20%.
I love Neil Diamond.
Complain about this comment
Neil Diamond is a very talented singer and song writer, in my opinion. I don't "like" all of his songs but absolutely appreciate his talent. I don't understand all of the critic's points - as they are not articulated in a balanced or constructive way. I'd use someone else, BBC. He doesn't make you look very smart.
Complain about this comment
"Paints a picture that his tunes could be sung by anyone, in any style." - Andy Fyfe 2009-10-15
NO! Paints a picture for me that nobody should sing his tunes but him. – Paddy G 2009-10-20
A unique singer / songwriter and a first class performer. As for “proof that anyone who sticks around long enough…..” get real. ND has a solid world wide following which crosses generations, this is due to pure talent backed by live performances that reach out to his audience time after time. The music loving public are not fools we can spot a fake when we see one and Mr Fyfe you have been rumbled. Long live Neil Diamond.
Complain about this comment
"Forever in blue jeans" dreadful ?? I stop reading at that point, you clearly have no ear for music
Complain about this comment
I think it's more of a review than a critique and seriously guys, lighten up a little, if you dont like others opinions then why read them. I guess reviews are only helpful if you completely agree with them, but does'nt that render them a waste of time?
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS