The Greatest Hits (1966-1992)

Performer: Neil Diamond
Artist: Barbra Streisand; Kim Carnes
Engineer: Mark Guilbeault; Dan Bosworth; Dave Brock; Fred Breitberg; Dave Roberts; Mike Siebold; Mary Kettle; Jim Godsey; Julie Last; Phil Gitomer; Phil Ramone
Producer: Chip Taylor; Ellie Greenwich; Jeff Barry; Neil Diamond; Robbie Robertson; Tom Catalano; Tommy Cogbill; Val Garay; Bob Gaudio; Burt Bacharach; Carole Bayer-Sager
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: Neil Diamond (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Linda Press (vocals, background vocals); Marilyn O'Brien, Kim Carnes, Barbra Streisand (vocals); Hugh McCracken (guitar, harmonica); Ron Tuft, Doug Rhone (guitar, background vocals); Al Gorgoni, Bill Suyker, Charles Macey, Hadley Hockensmith, Larry Carlton, Marty Walsh, Richard Bennett (guitar); Tommy Morgan (harmonica); Irwin "Marky" Markowitz, Joseph J. Shepley, Allen Ralph, Joe Grimm, Mickey Gravine, Arthur Kaplan, Alan Raph, Joe Shepley, Artie Kaplan, Burt Collins (horns); Craig Hundley, Alan Lindgren, Nick DeCaro, Tom Hensley, Paul Griffin (keyboards); Ron Tutt (drums, background vocals); Dennis St. John, Reinie Press, Hal Blaine (drums); Jeff Barry (percussion, background vocals); George Devens, King Errisson, Paulinho Da Costa, Artie Butler, Specs Powell, Vince Charles, Gary Coleman (percussion); Carolyn Willis, Clydie King, Jon Joyce , Luther Waters, Verlene Rogers, Ellie Greenwich, Gerald Garrett, Oma Drake, Joseph Greene, H.L. Voelker, Jesse Kirkland, Monalisa Harrington, Mildred Lane, Gene Morford, Jim Gilstrap, Julia Waters, Oren Waters, Tom Bahler, Venetta Fields, Ron Hicklin (background vocals). Arranger: Neil Diamond. Columbia's retrospective of over a quarter-century of Neil Diamond's songs skillfully maneuvers its way around the inconvenience of his being signed to another label for six of those years by featuring well-arranged, impeccably performed live versions of his MCA material, like the autobiographical "Brooklyn Roads," the rousing "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show," and the existential "I Am...I Said." Also featured here is his salute to his heritage, "America," as well as duets with Kim Carnes on Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel, and Barbra Streisand on the classic break-up song, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." Columbia has been Diamond's label since 1973, and it acquired the rights to his Bang material of 1966-1968. But MCA still controls the recordings from 1968-1973. That's why (although you won't find out by reading the album cover) this two-disc, 37-track retrospective consists of the original versions of such hits as "Cherry, Cherry" (1966) and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (1978) but covers the middle period with re-recordings and live renditions of 13 of Diamond's biggest hits. As such, this collection gets only a qualified recommendation. ~ William Ruhlmann

Rolling Stone (8/6/92, p.56) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...provides a perfect opportunity to throw political correctness to the wind and finally admit the man's peculiar, unfashionable but ultimately undeniable brilliance..."

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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