Play Me: The Complete UNI Studio Recordings Plus [Box]

Performer: Neil Diamond
Engineer: Armin Steiner
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Includes every track from the albums VELVET GLOVES AND SPIT, BROTHER LOVE'S TRAVELING SALVATION SHOW, TOUCHING YOU TOUCHING ME, TAPROOT MANUSCRIPT, STONES AND MOODS. Personnel includes: Neil Diamond (vocals, guitar); Richard Bennett, Emory Gordy, Jr., Danny Nicholson (guitar); Reine Press (bass); Dennis St. Johns (drums). Producers: Tom Catalano, Neil Diamond. Compilation producer: Mike Ragogna. Recorded between 1968 and 1972. Includes liner notes by Robyn Flans. Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Erik Labson (Universal Mastering Studios West, North Hollywood, California. This sweeping collection covers singer-songwriter Neil Diamond's output for MCA's Uni imprint, for which he recorded from 1968 to 1972, and charts his artistic development from the ambitious pop writer of "Two Bit Manchild" to the existential wizard of "I Am...I Said." PLAY ME also incorporates many lesser-known Diamond gems, like the country-flavored "You're So Sweet Horseflies Keep Hanging Round Your Face," which carries more than a hint of the influence of his erstwhile producer Chip Taylor, and his elaborate "African Suite," from 1970's TAP ROOT MANUSCRIPT album. In addition, seven live tracks, featuring songs Diamond recorded for his previous label, Bang, are included.

Q (6/02, p.132) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Diamond has created a curious canon of robustly mature, youth-bypassing pop songs...worthy of investigation." Mojo (Publisher) (6/02, pp.126-7) - "...Here was rich madness, the soundtrack to millions of housewife crack-ups in '70s America..."

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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