Three years ago, Capitol Records released All-Time Greatest Hits, a compilation of Neil Diamond’s biggest hits and album tracks that went to 14 in the U.S., the highest one of his many hits packages had ever gone.
On March 31, UME and CMG have announced Neil Diamond 50: The 50th Anniversary Collection, a new three-CD set that celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of Neil’s first charting hit, Solitary Man. The announcement coincides with Diamond’s 76th birthday today (January 24).
When All-Time Greatest Hits was announced, we criticized it for not presenting the songs in chronological order and for omitting a number of major hits to make room for a few album tracks.
For Neil Diamond 50, they almost fixed both problems. Tracks are sequenced in relatively chronological order although there are some oddities within years.
As for missing hits, they once again managed to miss a number of them even though, at three-CDs, there was plenty of room. Top Forty hits not on the album are He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (1970 / #20), Do It (1970 / #36), Walk on Water (1972 / #17), Cherry Cherry (Live) (1973 / #31), On the Way to the Sky (1982 / #27), Be Mine Tonight (1982 / #35) and I’m Alive (1983 / #35).
There is really no excuse for skipping those songs except, possibly, for the repeated Cherry Cherry. As the press release for the album stated, Neil has had 37 top forty hits. Why only include thirty of them when you are releasing a career retrospective with fifty tracks?
The track list with chart information:
Disc 1
Solitary Man (1966 / #55 // 1970 / #21)
Cherry, Cherry (1966 / #6)
I’ve Got The Feeling (Oh No No) (1966 / #16)
You Got To Me (1967 / #18)
Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (1967 / #10)
I’m A Believer (1971 / #51)
Thank The Lord For The Night Time (1967 / #13)
Red, Red Wine (1968 / #62)
Sunday Sun (1968 / #68)
Shilo (1968 / #24)
Kentucky Woman (1967 / #22)
Brooklyn Roads (1968 / #58)
Glory Road
Holly Holy (1969 / #6)
And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind (1970 / Did not chart)
Sweet Caroline (1969 / #4)
Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show (1969 / #22)
Disc 2
Done Too Soon (1971 / #65)
Soolaimon (1970 / #30)
Cracklin’ Rosie (1970 / #1)
Crunchy Granola Suite
I Am…I Said (1971 / #4)
Stones (1971 / #14)
Morningside
Song Sung Blue (1972 / #1)
Play Me (1972 / #11)
Be – Recapitulation And Farewell To Fletcher (1973 / #34)
Skybird (1974 / #75)
Lonely Looking Sky
I’ve Been This Way Before (1975 / #34)
Longfellow Serenade (1974 / #5)
Beautiful Noise (1976 / Did not chart)
Street Life
If You Know What I Mean (1976 / #11)
Disc 3
Desirée (Single Version) (1977 / #16)
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (1978 / #1)
Forever In Blue Jeans (1979 / #20)
September Morn (1979 / #17)
The Story Of My Life (1986 / Did not chart)
Yesterday’s Songs (1981 / #11)
I Believe In Happy Endings
Hello Again (1981 / #6)
Love On The Rocks (1980 / #2)
Heartlight (1982 / #5)
Lady-Oh (1977 / Did not chart)
Pretty Amazing Grace (2008 / Did not chart)
Hell Yeah
We
The Art Of Love
America (1981 / #8)
