His first concerts saw him open up for everyone from Herman's Hermits to The Who. In a short time Neil Diamond began to feel restricted by Bang! Records, and wanted to record more ambitious, introspective music. Finding a loophole in his contract, Diamond tried to sign with a new record label, but the result was a series of lawsuits that coincided with a dip in his professional success. Diamond eventually triumphed in court, and secured ownership of his Bang-era master recording in 1977. After signing a deal with MCA Records (then called Uni Records) in the late 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1970. His sound mellowed, with such songs as "'Cracklin' Rosie", "Sweet Caroline" and the country-and-western tinged "Song Sung Blue." "Sweet Caroline" was Diamond's first major hit after his slump. In 1973, Diamond hopped labels again, this time to Columbia Records, where he recorded the soundtrack to "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" (which grossed more than the film itself). On Thanksgiving night, 1976, Neil made an appearance at The Band's farewell concert, "The Last Waltz" (already posted in RR). He performed one song, "Dry Your Eyes", which he had written with The Band's Robbie Robertson. As usual, like so many other singers that went on through the 80's and beyond, these years are the years that matters! So, this collection is about the golden age of Neil's career (maybe with one or another exception). Enjoy it!
