Live In America

Performer: Neil Diamond
Artist: Linda Press; Raven Kane; Julia Waters; Maxine Waters; Oren Waters; Craig Copeland; Josef Powell
Engineer: Bernie Becker
Producer: Neil Diamond
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Neil Diamond (vocals, acoustic guitar); Jessie Diamond (acoustic guitar); Doug Rhone, Hadley Hockensmith (guitar); Don Markese (flute, clarinet, saxophone); Larry Klimas (flute, saxophone); Ralf Rickert (trumpet, flugelhorn); Art Velasco (trombone); Alan Lindgren, Tom Hensley (keyboards); Reinie Press (bass); Ron Tutt (drums); Vince Charles, King Errisson (percussion). Recorded live in 1992-93. Personnel: Neil Diamond (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Linda Press (vocals, background vocals); Craig Copeland, Joseph Powell, Julia Waters, Maxine Willard Waters, Oren Waters, Raven Kane (vocals); Doug Rhone, Hadley Hockensmith (guitar); Jesse Diamond (acoustic guitar); Larry Kilmas (flute, saxophone); Arturo Velasco (trombone); Alan Lindgren, Tom Hensley (keyboards); Ron Tutt (drums); King Errisson (congas); Vince Charles (percussion). Audio Mixer: Bernie Becker. Recording information: Centroplex, Baton Rouge, LA (02/18/1992-12/??/1993); Kansas Coliseum, Wichita, K C Subdivision (02/18/1992-12/??/1993); San Jose Arena, San Jose, CA (02/18/1992-12/??/1993); U.S. Air Arena, Washington DC (02/18/1992-12/??/1993). Photographer: Neal Preston. Neil Diamond's career underwent something of a resurgence in the 1990s, with his particular brand of flamboyant pop being ironically appreciated by a new, younger generation of fans. Recorded at various venues throughout the U.S. between 1991 and 1993, this double-CD set features three decades of hits, from the 1960s' "Cherry Cherry" "Sweet Caroline," and "I'm a Believer," to the 1980s' "Hooked on the Memory of You," ending with a climactic "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show." Backed by a fine, rocking band that includes Elvis Presley's ex-drummer Ron Tutt, Diamond gives his uniformly enthusiastic audiences a series of dynamic, sparkling performances that entertainers half his age would find hard to better. Much like its predecessor Hot August Night 2, Live in America captures Neil Diamond at the height of his powers as a showman. By the time Live in America was recorded, it had been several years since he had a hit; in fact, the closest he had come to the top of the charts was when UB40 took a reggae remake of "Red Red Wine" to number one. That doesn't mean the album is a wash-out. Diamond hauls out his old hits -- including an approximation of UB40's interpretation of "Red Red Wine" -- and gives one hell of a show. It might not offer anything that the previous Hot August Nights did, but Live in America remains an entertaining listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Q (10/94, p.112) - 3 Stars - Good - "...rollercoasts between cheezy Vegas nonsense and the kind of showbiz barnstorming that still sets Diamond apart..."

With a career as a hitmaker stretching across the decades, Neil Diamond has purveyed catchy, three-chord pop/rock, progressive singer/songwriter material, middle-of-the-road balladry, and even traditional country. He started out as a Brill Building hitmaker; a songwriter for hire, he worked alongside the likes of Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and penned hits for the Monkees and Jay & the Americans. His solo career took off in the mid 1960s and made him one of America's most successful recording artists and concert attractions for a long time to come. Even decades down the road, younger groups such as UB40 in the '80s, Urge Overkill in the '90s, and Smash Mouth in the 2000's were still scoring hits with Diamond's evergreen compositions.

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