[.ca] Play Me Comp Uni Studio Recor

From Amazon.com:
The seven studio albums Neil Diamond recorded for Uni Records between 1968 and 1972 are all collected on the three-disc collection Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings. And it's quite a revelation to listen to them front to back in succession like this, as these records highlight the most dramatic artistic evolution in Diamond's career. Diamond was no neophyte when he signed with Uni in '68; he'd already penned million-sellers like "I'm a Believer" and "Cherry Cherry." But he was still coming into his own as a solo artist, and albums like Velvet Gloves and Spit and Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show are wildly erratic, even for an artist renown for producing uneven albums. That said, there are countless life-affirming, goose-bump-inducing, campy, and brilliant songs on this collection. And one could easily make the argument that they're somehow made more likable--more human, in a way--when heard in their original context, bookended by unsuccessful experiments such as "The Pot Smoker's Song" and "I Am the Lion." This may not be the single Neil Diamond collection to get, but it surely should be the second or third one you buy. --Mike McGonigal

The mystery of Neil Diamond:
It all comes down to a song called Captain Sunshine. The words are so dumb, but the melody is so nice, and the singing is so heart felt that in spite of myself I find myself enjoying it. Why his record company wouldn't insist on someone to edit his lyrics and protect his voice (Diamond was the biggest selling artist on the planet during the time this was recorded, and a heavy heavy smoker) is beyond me. But listen to Captain Sunshine, see if it hooks you, and if it does, there are lots of non hit gems on this collection. And I'm also grateful for the Cherry Cherry version available only on this cd which was a radio hit but different than the Hot August Night version.

Going Back - Memories !:
This 3cd compilation is a must for all those fans who have been collecting and own all these songs in some form or the other - LP/s, EP/s or CD/s. A fantastic collection of all those songs that made Neil Diamond who he is now. These were his beginnings and his maturing and this the best way to have all these songs in one great compilation with a superb package ! The tracks are all remastered - so what more can you possibly want ? Go back to your store...And go back in time...

Fantastic Collection for the Neil Diamond Fan!:
I love Neil Diamond, and I love this collection of his songs. Being an Eighties child, I grew up with some of Neil's biggest hits, passed on from my parents, but on this set, I found some new songs that have become favorites, like Porcupine Pie and River Runs, New Grown Plums. The only songs I feel that I am genuinely missing are Forever in Blue Jeans and Love on the Rocks. Side Note: This should have nothing to do with your decision whether or not to buy this set, but I happen to think the colors of the CDs are beautiful and earthy-looking. Somehow, this just makes me feel good, and it reminds of the whole Neil Diamond feeling.

Complete collection of Diamond's fruitful middle period:
Following his early success as a songwriter ("I'm a Believer") and recording artist for Bang Records ("Solitary Man" "Cherry Cherry" "Girl You'll Be a Woman Now" "Thank the Lord for the Nighttime" "Kentucky Woman") Diamond spent five fruitful years on the Uni label. MCA's triple-disc set collects all six studio albums from this 1968-72 period, plus non-LP singles and a handful of cuts from two contemporaneous live albums. It's an exhaustive (and, at times, exhausting) treatment that shows Diamond a superb singles artist and inconsistent album auteur. His Uni debut, "Velvet Gloves and Spit" placed three singles onto the lower rungs of the chart (including the fine "Two-Bit Manchild" and autobiographical "Brooklyn Roads"), but was otherwise commercially stillborn. The title cut of the follow-up LP, "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" cracked the top-40, and subsequent chart-toppers, "Cracklin' Rosie" and "Song Sung Blue," led a successful run at the top-20. Diamond's albums mix lower-charting singles, oddball experiments and, ironically for such a gifted songwriter, covers of contemporary composers. His originals are canny, hook-filled combinations of folk, rock, country, gospel and soul. In between the hits and misses are numerous little-known gems, including the blues of "Dig In," the shuffling soul of "Free Life," and a a surprisingly effective cover of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now." The six albums draw an arc of growing sophistication, trading the free-spirited pop found on the earlier releases for increasingly consistent balladry. It's a compelling collection, augmented by live recordings of his Bang hits, handsome photos, a detailed discography and Robyn Flans' over-the-top liner notes ("His vocals stir the listeners' dormant emotions with his passionate delivery of a style that belongs only to him"). Perhaps not for beginners, but it's a bargain for anyone interested in getting beyond the well-worn hits. 4-1/2 stars, if Amazon allowed fractional ratings.

A comprehensive review of Diamond's maturation:
As one reviewer already noted, there have been numerous variations of box sets containing the work of Neil Diamond's Uni/MCA years. But finally, with "Play Me...", they finally compiled it in the ideal way: complete, chronologically, and digitally remastered. The end result is an enjoyable, if slightly uneven, collection that really demonstrates Mr. Diamond's maturation into one of the seminal American singer-songwriters. Mr. Diamond had already enjoyed success on the pop charts in the late 1960's with "Solitary Man", "Cherry Cherry" and other hits. But his move to the Uni label was not so much a move to "reinvent" himself as it was to expand and refine his musical horizons. Disc One of this set - containing the albums "Velvet Gloves and Spit", "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show", and part of "Touching You, Touching Me" - shows the first awkward steps. There are probably more misses here than hits, so you may find yourself skipping tracks. It does include a humorous look into the studio with "Broad Old Woman (6 AM Insanity)", but in listening to this disc, you can begin to hear the maturation and transition of Neil Diamond in the tunes and lyrics. By the time the CD hits "Sweet Caroline", most of the "Cherry Cherry" sound is gone and a different kind of pop sound - the unique "Neil Diamond sound" that doesn't fit in any particular musical genre - is starting to form. Disc Two finishes off "Touching You Touching Me", then rolls into "Tap Root Manuscript" (an underrated album in the Diamond discography), and the beginning of "Stones". This disc shows the maturation nearly complete, as you listen to the awesome "Holly Holy", the hit and concert staple "Cracklin' Rosie", the African experimentation of the remainder of "Tap Root Manuscript", and the dynamic introspection of "I Am, I Said". By the time the listener reaches Disc Three, the maturation is very much complete, and the new "Neil Diamond sound" is in full effect. The lyrics are as deep, powerful, and emotionally touching, as are the tunes, which are now including elegant acoustic guitars, pianos, and strings. As this disc rolls through the last part of "Stones" and the tracks from "Moods", the listener gets to hear the foundation for "Jonathan Livingston Seagull", which - while not included on this set - became one of the seminal albums in Mr. Diamond's career. The add-on live tracks at the end of this disc are largely unnecessary, and don't add anything particularly to the larger collection. Throughout all three discs, the digital remastering of these songs is remarkable. It is a audio treasure to hear even more of the range of the rich music contained in this collection. This alone might draw the die-hard Neil Diamond fan to buying this set. One reviewer notes this demonstrates Mr. Diamond as more of a singles artist than an album's artist. That is debatable; while you could make a case to that effect simply from this box set, the breadth of Mr. Diamond's career has shown many examples of his ability to create powerful albums (e.g., "Jonathan Livingston Seagull", "Beautiful Noise", and "The Jazz Singer"). What listeners should take from this collection is what I have described here: the maturation of Neil Diamond as a singer-songwriter. Additionally, there is the simpler fact that with this one inexpensive purchase, you'll get six albums in one package. I wholeheartedly recommend this collection to Neil Diamond fans or those just discovering and/or becoming a fan of his music. The average listener may not appreciate it as much, despite the fact that there is some very good music to be found here.

• Two-bit Manchild
• Modern Day Version Of Love
• Honey Drippin' Times
• The Pot Smoker's Song
• Brooklyn Roads
• Shilo
• Sunday Sun
• Holiday Inn Blues
• Practically Newborn
• Knackelflerg
• Merry-Go-Round
• Broad Old Woman
• Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
• Dig In
• River Runs, New Grown Plums
• Juliet
• Long Gone
• And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind
• Glory Road
• Deep In The Morning
• If I Never Knew Your Name
• Memphis Streets
• You're So Sweet, Horseflies Keep Hangin' Round Your Face
• Hurtin' You Don't Come Easy
• Sweet Caroline
• Everybody's Talkin'
• Mr Bojangles
• Smokey Lady
• Holly Holy
• Both Sides Now
• And The Singer Sings His Song
• Ain't No Way
• New York Boy
• Until It's Time For You To Go
• Cracklin' Rosie
• Free Life
• Coldwater Morning
• Done Too Soon
• He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother
• Childsong
• I Am The Lion
• Madrigal
• Soolaimon
• Missa
• African Trilogy
• Childsong (reprise)
• I Said
• Last Thing On My Mind
• Husbands And Wives
• Chelsea Morning
• Crunchy Granola Suite
• Stones
• If You Go Away
• Suzanne
• I Think Its Gonna Rain Today
• I Am..I Said... (reprise)
• Song Sung Blue
• Porcupine Pie
• High Rolling Man
• Canta Libre
• Captain Sunshine
• Play Me
• Gitchy Goomy
• Walk On Water
• Theme
• Prelude In E Major
• Morningside
• Lordy (live)
• Kentucky Woman (live)
• Thank The Lord For The Night Time (live)
• Solitary Man (live)
• Cherry, Cherry (live)
• Red, Red Wine (live)
• Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon (live)