Neil Diamond 50th Anniversary Collection Coming

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Forever in Blue Jeans…

A 3-CD Neil Diamond 50 – The 50th Anniversary Collection has been announced to coincide with the singer-songwriter’s 76th birthday. The career-spanning set, due March 31 via UMe and CMG, marks the 50th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame member’s first hit, “Solitary Man.”

As previously announced, Diamond will kick off the celebration with a 39-date U.S. tour that runs from April 7 through August 12 and newly announced U.K. and European dates from September 13 through October 17. Tickets for the 50 Year Anniversary World Tour are available here and here.

The 3-CD set includes 50 songs handpicked by the entertainer and a carefully curated booklet with new liner notes. (See complete track listing below.) Pre-order is available here.

Diamond’s early recognition came as a songwriter with early hits for The Monkees (“I’m a Believer” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You,” among others) and Jay & the Americans (“Sunday and Me”).

Watch a live performance of his first hit…

Since then, his compositions have also been covered by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash (“Solitary Man”). Deep Purple covered his “Kentucky Woman.” UB40’s version of his “Red Red Wine” topped the charts in both the U.S. and U.K. Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and is a recipient of the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon songwriters.

Diamond has achieved 37 Top 40 singles and 16 Top 10 albums. Diamond’s many other achievements include a Golden Globe Award, ASCAP Film and Television Award, Billboard Icon Award, NARAS’s MusiCares Person of the Year award in 2009 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2011, Diamond received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime of contributions to American culture. Only the Grammy voters have slighted him, awarding him a solitary one among his 10 nominations.

Photo: Andreas Terlaak. Used with permission

Neil Diamond 50 – The 50th Anniversary Collection Track Listing (Top 10 U.S. hits are indicated):

Disc One
1. Solitary Man
2. Cherry, Cherry (#6)
3. I’ve Got The Feeling (Oh No, No)
4. You Got To Me
5. Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon (#10)
6. I’m A Believer
7. Thank The Lord For The Night Time
8. Red, Red Wine
9. Sunday Sun
10. Shilo
11. Kentucky Woman
12. Brooklyn Roads
13. Glory Road
14. Holly Holy (#6)
15. And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind
16. Sweet Caroline (#4)
17. Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show

Disc Two
1. Done Too Soon
2. Soolaimon
3. Cracklin’ Rosie (#1)
4. Crunchy Granola Suite
5. I Am…I Said (#4)
6. Stones
7. Morningside
8. Song Sung Blue (#1)
9. Play Me
10. Be – Recapitulation And Farewell To Fletcher
11. Skybird
12. Lonely Looking Sky
13. I’ve Been This Way Before
14. Longfellow Serenade (#5)
15. Beautiful Noise
16. Street Life
17. If You Know What I Mean

Disc Three
1. Desirée
2. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers (solo version)
3. Forever In Blue Jeans
4. September Morn
5. The Story Of My Life
6. Yesterday’s Songs
7. I Believe In Happy Endings
8. Hello Again
9. Love On The Rocks (From “The Jazz Singer” Soundtrack)
10. Heartlight
11. Lady-Oh
12. Pretty Amazing Grace
13. Hell Yeah
14. We
15. The Art Of Love
16. America (From “The Jazz Singer” Soundtrack)

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