Diamond's earliest pop gems

Review Score: (10/10)
Before rising to international superstardom as an adult-contemporary vocalist, Diamond started out as a songwriter and recording artist for Bang Records. This collection pulls together 12 of his best compositions from that period, produced by Brill Building stalwarts Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich.

Included are well-known masterpieces like "Kentucky Woman" "Cherry Cherry" and "Solitary Man." But perhaps more interesting (and less well anthologized) are cuts lesser known as Neil Diamond compositions like "The Boat That I Row" (recorded by Lulu), Red Red Wine (recorded by ska artist Tony Tribe in the 60s and ressurected by UB40 in the 80s), and his own version of "I'm a Believer," which scored a massive hit for the Monkees.

Diamond had already mastered his singing style by the time he laid down these earliest sides, and combined with the fresh well of songs he was tapping, the results couldn't be anything less than stellar.

More Reviews:

• Thank the Lord for Neil Diamond
• Good material, but it's not enough
• Neil's best songs
• Classics: The Bang Records Years
• QUALITY POP
• Great Stuff
• Surprise-Surprise
• Neil Diamond
• I'LL BE WHAT I AM...SOLITARY MAN!
• Diamond's best period of music.
• The early years of a musical giant
• The year was 1966....
• Neil Diamond at His Best
• Neil Diamond is the man.
• Neil's Classic Oldies