Neil Diamond

I have always had a wide variety as far as my taste in music. But one of the advantages of being in a relationship (now married) to someone 20 years my senior, is the exposure to different generational music. For me, one such artist is Neil Diamond. Sure everybody knows Sweet Caroline because it has become popular at sporting events. But my spouses love of Neil Diamond really exposed me to Neil and all his greatness. I have seen Neil Diamond perform a half dozen times in Las Vegas and Philadelphia and always left "wowed". This guy is a fantastic song writer and story teller of a musical artist...genius.

So yesterday's news that Mr. Diamond is retiring from performing as he battles parkinson's disease, really tugged at my heart. Of course wishing Neil the best and I am really grateful for having had the privilege of enjoying his talent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM_7ZeUmS-8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfnDusDv1cI

I agree , linda Ronstat befell the same fate. She had an amazing voice and now she wont even try to sing.

When I was a kid in the 70s into rock.....I bought his Beautiful Noise album, which was produced by Robbie Robertson from THE BAND.
The vocals are amazing. And I was a fan fromm that point even though he had work before that on the charts.

He also wrote songs for alot of other people and groups. Best known is his songs for The Monkees.

He said he will still record. I hope he can...but there is no promise with that disease.

I wish I had seen him live. But A Beautiful Noise is one of my top 10 albums. ..amid all my rock albums. It isnt "rock" but still a fave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LarryS

..amid all my rock albums. It isnt "rock" but still a fave

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Similarly, my spouse, is a big rock guy from the 70's and 80's. Most of the concerts he drags me to (<-:)) are of aging rock bands from that era. When he introduced me to Neil Diamond, I was very (pleasantly) surprised, because Neil's music was very different than most of the rock music that he likes. Not that I am putting down the rock bands from that era, I have come to appreciate some of that as well. But Neil Diamond became kind of special to me. Definitely one of my favs of all time. :)

It definitely wasnt "cool" to talk about Neil Diamond as a kid. None of my friends were into him..But I found common ground with girls and women I dated. They loved him.
He had a voice that you could pick out of a crowd of singers. He wasnt in the musical company of the rock bands, but he was like a rock star. He was like what Frank Sinatra would be if he came along 20 years later than when he started.
I am talking about him like he is dead....I know. I hope he continues to produce music if he is able.

I am curious...what groups does he drag you to

and conversely. what groups do you drag him to

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s...1&action=click

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LarryS

I am curious...what groups does he drag you to

and conversely. what groups do you drag him to

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Alice Cooper, Meatloaf, Guns and Roses, Joe walsh, Bruce Springstein. Going to see one of the Who guys in a couple months.

I have seen Alice Cooper and Meatloaf several times. First time I honestly did not know Alice Cooper was a man. :confused: Even groups and people that I didn't know, it seemed there were always a couple songs that I was somewhat familiar with.

The meatloaf shows were a little weird. He doesn't dress like the pictures on posters and tee-shirts. He dresses fairly conservative, like normal for his age. He looks like someone's grandfather....and then starts singing about...well you know. Felt just a little weird. I heard he collapsed on stage not long after the last time we saw him. :(

AT his height his 2 bat out of hell albums were amazing.......but when I saw him sing in concert , he couldnt carry a tune very well....and I realized that Todd Rundgren the producer did a masterful job handling his vocal limitations....with back up singers, and whatever else he could muster. Hos early albums were classics. But I view him as void of real talent. He could strike all the rock star posses. Sometimes its not how well you do what you do..its how good you look doing it.
He didnt write his songs, he didnt play an instrument really, and his singing was limited. But he was a real rock personality, and was helped along by MTV.He looked the part for sure.

I wouldnt go see him again.I would see Joe Walsh or Springsteen though. And I saw "the WHO Guys" a few times in the 70s and 80s.

and you drag him to.....?

Don't know that I ever have...not a concert anyway. We did go see Donny & Marie about 6 months ago and that was my idea. Not a big fan, just wanted to see what the show was like. I wasn't impressed. (Maybe because I am not a fan). There have been a few comedy shows. I like Kathy Griffin and made him go. Why do you ask?

cool

By the way, Elton has just announnced he is stopping live performances. No more tours. He will finish his vegas contract which expires in May.
I saw him perform in NYC, Auburn Hills, Mi and Oakland Ca. Always was amazing.
He could still carry a show, he said it was to spend more family time.

I sort of admire people who hang it up before they become a shell of what they were. I guess he too may still record...He didnt close that door.

He crossed many generations.....and political viewpoints(he played at Rush Limbaughs wedding a few years ago )

As a rule I don't enjoy "dinosaur rock," as rock is for the young-uns, but when the wife and I saw Fleetwood Mac in concert at MGM a few years back I really, really enjoyed the show.

Yeah, their voices weren't as pure as they once were, but they pulled it all off perfectly; having other musicians hidden in the wings "reinforcing" them (especially drums: oh, those drums) helped.

Yeah they all do that....Elton has backup lady singers, Frankie Valli cant hit the high notes for a while and has backups, the beach boys for a few decades have backups to hit the high notes, its a normal transition, and its ok if the real singers do the majority of the heavy lifting . I imagine ND had back up singers as well to smooth things over.

Great movie about the LA sessions musicians who really played the instruments on many hit songs, behind the scenes and unknown to the public: The Wrecking Crew

Here's the trailer; highly recommended.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhl-3EOYTkc

my all time favorite group were just session musicians......the archies

sugar sugar

ok maybe they were 11 on my top 10