Neil Diamond has first No. 1 album - at 67

[Refugee 7]

As a recording artist who has sold 125 million records, made some three dozen albums and written and recorded a string of iconic hits that includes "Cherry, Cherry," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" and "I Am ... I Said," making a new album might not seem like it would be a big deal for Neil Diamond.

But Diamond, 67, says each new album project is filled with uncertainty and writing songs remains the hardest thing he does.

"You always have that lingering doubt when you take on a project, because I've been doing this since I was 16 years old, and you just never do know whether something is going to come out," Diamond said in a mid-July teleconference interview with music writers. "You can make all the plans and you make the commitments and you sit down with your guitar and you hope that something worthwhile starts to take shape. So that was a real high, because I liked the songs that were coming and it was very encouraging and gave me a lot of hope. It was a natural high."

Diamond was referring specifically to the satisfaction he felt in creating his latest studio CD, "Home Before Dark."

Along with his previous CD, 2005's "12 Songs," "Home Before Dark" has found Diamond putting his music in a decidedly fresh setting.

On both CDs, Diamond teamed up with uber-producer Rick Rubin (well known for working with the Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others), as well as a notable group of musicians that included guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, guitarist/bassist Smokey Hormel and guitarist Mike Sweeney.

Eschewing drums, Diamond and his collaborators created two intimate albums that found him placing passionately performed songs in a stripped back, largely acoustic setting.

Both "12 Songs" and "Home Before Dark" have earned the Brooklyn native, who had his first hit, "Solitary Man," in 1966, strong reviews and have marked a commercial resurgence. The former CD has sold nearly 600,000 copies, the most since his 1982 album, "The Jazz Singer." "Home Before Dark," meanwhile, became Diamond's first album to reach No. 1, debuting in the top spot on the "Billboard" magazine album chart in mid-May.

Diamond was both surprised and pleased with that accomplishment.

"Well, I didn't actually think it was my first No. 1," Diamond said, spicing his comments with self-deprecating humor. "Somehow in my mind, I don't know what the opposite of a state of denial was, but I thought for sure I had a No. 1 album somewhere along the way. I thought "Hot August Night" was No. 1, but then I was told it only went to No. 2, so I was crestfallen.

"It's a nice feeling to be No. 1," Diamond said. "Also, I'm told that I'm also the oldest performer on 'Billboard' charts ever to have a No. 1 album, which amazes me. I don't feel that old. I feel very young, but it's nice to feel that in this market that's filled with young people, or seems to be aimed at young people, that an old geezer can come along and knock a few of them off their perches and say 'hey, here's for the senior citizens, and we can kick a little butt, too.'"

Diamond will now be kicking it, so to speak, on an American concert tour that numbers nearly 40 dates. It follows a recently completed trek through Europe - not bad for a guy who jokingly called himself a geezer.

The show will feature a fresh visual presentation, Diamond said.

"The look is different," he said. "It's a completely new stage. The lighting grid is different. It's pretty impressive, I think. I think my lighting director really outdid herself this time and came up with some spectacular looks, as well as very intimate moments as well, because the music is varied and it goes to both of those spectrums.

"Basically, I'm trying to cover a lifetime of music and to be as close up to the audience as I possibly can," Diamond said.

In addition to playing many of his familiar hits, Diamond will include a number of songs from "Home Before Dark" and "12 Songs." Even though the treatment on album of this new material is quite different from the fully produced sound of many of Diamond's songs, he thinks he's found ways to make them blend in nicely within his show.

"I do a bunch of songs from the new album, and a couple from the '12 Songs' album, but I don't do them quite as spare, or as sparse as they are on the album, maybe with the exception of (the song) 'Home Before Dark,'" Diamond said. "I've put a little Latin pizzazz into 'Pretty Amazing Grace,' which I like a lot and it's fun to do. The other song is 'Don't Go There.' It's pretty much as we do (it) in the album. They seem to fit very well. The audience responds very well to them and I like doing them."

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/entertainment/1071919,6_5_NA24_NEIL_S1.article

[Echosoftom 3]

I like both these cds but I tend to lean more towards "12 Songs". I just like the arrangements on that album a little better. But both are very good cds.

Good for Neil! He's still got it!

[nurktwin 2,143]

wow, 125 million records. if he sells 1 more he'll pass "the nurktwins".....lol.

[Starfish 0]

I'm thrilled for him - and I'm also surprised that Hot August Night didn't hit Number 1!

[agirl 0]

Yay for Neil!:lock:

PS ^ I just noticed this guy for the first time and I had to use him.