Neil Diamond - Gold (2005)

Disc 1:
01. Two-Bit Manchild 3:05
02. Brooklyn Roads 3:38
03. Shilo 2:57
04. Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show 3:26
05. Juliet 2:52
06. And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind 3:30
07. Glory Road 3:18
08. If I Never Knew Your Name 3:15
09. Memphis Streets 2:39
10. Sweet Caroline 3:18 
11. Mr. Bojangles 4:53			play
12. Smokey Lady 2:40
13. Holly Holy 4:40
14. Both Sides Now 3:30
15. And The Singer Sings His Song 3:38
16. Cracklin' Rosie 2:59
17. Coldwater Morning 3:21
18. Done Too Soon 2:41
19. He Ain't Heavy ... He's My Brother 4:09
20. Soolaimon 4:23

Disc 2:
01. I Am...I Said 3:34
02. The Last Thing On My Mind 3:32
03. Chelsea Morning 2:35
04. Crunchy Granola Suite 2:53
05. Stones 3:00
06. Suzanne 4:42 			play
07. I Think It's Gonna Rain Today 2:35
08. Song Sung Blue 3:14
09. Porcupine Pie 2:03
10. Canta Libre 4:45
11. Captain Sunshine 3:22
12. Play Me 3:50
13. Walk On Water 3:04
14. Prelude In E Major 0:32
15. Morningside 4:21
16. Kentucky Woman 2:53
17. Thank The Lord For The Night Time 2:59
18. Solitary Man 3:09
19. Cherry, Cherry 3:49
20. Red, Red Wine 3:45
21. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon 2:48

Neil Diamond recorded six studio albums and two live albums for UNI/MCA during the period of 1968-1972. The original greatest hits album from that period, entitled His 12 Greatest Hits, is no longer in print. But in 1999, MCA did release an upgraded single-disc replacement for that album called The Neil Diamond Collection. The Neil Diamond Collection contained all 12 of the songs originally included on His 12 Greatest Hits plus half a dozen album cuts and live tracks. If you're looking for a single-disc sampler of the MCA period, The Neil Diamond Collection is the CD to get.

In 2002, MCA released Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings...Plus! It's a three-disc set and it includes all six of Diamond's MCA studio albums plus a handful of bonus tracks from Gold (live at the Troubadour) and Hot August Night (live at the Greek). Every track from 2005's Gold is included on 2002's Play Me, including the previously hard to find single edit of Cherry, Cherry (featuring an electric guitar overdub). Amazon's list price for Play Me is identical to the list price for this new 2005 collection so it's hard to understand why someone would purchase this set when the complete collection is available for the same price.

Prior to the release of Play Me, the most comprehensive collection of Neil's MCA material was 1992's excellent Glory Road. That title is now out of print but, given the similarity in song selection, this new compilation is a reasonable substitute.

The sound quality on this set is outstanding but it does have one minor flaw. The first second or two from the track "Stones" has been needlessly excised. This mastering error is a repeat of the same error made by MCA when they released Play Me in 2002. Earlier MCA compilations featuring the song (such as His 12 Greatest Hits and Glory Road) contained the unedited version.

While this set contains almost all of Neil's essential MCA recordings, I'm not sure I understand the market for this album. Casual fans will opt for the single-disc, The Neil Diamond Collection. Fans wanting to dig deeper can purchase Play Me: The Complete Uni Recordings...Plus! for the same price as this set and, of course, this entire set is contained in Play Me. --- Graveyard Boots. Amazon.com

Neil Diamond was with MCA Records from 1968 to 1972. This set gathers his best from this period including the number ones "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Song Sung Blue" along with the Top Ten hits "Holly Holy", "I Am I Said" and "Sweet Caroline". All of his other hits are here along with some select album cuts. Other noteworthy tracks include "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" (before The Hollies recorded it), a re-recording of "Shilo", the biographical "Brooklyn Roads" and "Play Me"-where he incorrectly says "brang" instead of "brought". He also covers tunes by Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell among others. The set is rounded out by live versions of songs from his pre-MCA years. The audiences were more captive than in later years. The tracks are from the albums "Gold" (what a coincidence) and "Hot August Night".

This is by far the most comprehensive collection from a very successful period. If you want the best of Neil Diamond and then some from his MCA years then look no further. --- Edgar Olivares "The Entity"

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