Diamond shines, but doesn't dazzle!

Review Score: (6/10)
When I was a 12 year old boy, somebody bought me a double vinyl album by Neil Diamond called 'Diamonds'. I loved it and played it to death.

20 years later I suddenly got the urge to hear those great songs again and scoured the amazon sites. Alas 'Diamonds' isn't mentioned anywhere so I settled for this CD instead.

Imagine my horror when I played it and half the tracks were live versions (and weak ones at that!) I believe a live concert of your favourite artist is a great experience - when you are actually there - but rarely translates well to record.

The beautifully arranged orchestrations are replaced by a band and the soulful voice is replaced by the weaker, less tuneful live version, with applause and Neils comments to the audience thrown in for good measure!

The non-live songs are all excellent and he is a terrific singer - I just wish I could have had my 'Diamonds' back!

More Reviews:

• Be warned... this consists mostly of LIVE VERSIONS of hits!
• Neil Diamond's greatest Hits
• Pretty good, but way overloaded by the concert performances
• I AGREE THE LIVE VERSIONS ARE NOT THAT GOOD
• Oh, no, no, no ...
• All the classic hits
• not deceived, just not thinking.....
• Don't get tricked like I did
• Misleading, but good
• Absolute Perfection
• Buy the box set
• Know What is in Store!
• Greatest Hits...NOT!!
• Don't buy this CD unless you LIKE LIVE recordings!
• Great package
• Dont waste your money !
• Only In America
• Extremely disappointing
• Needs the disclaimer: "LIVE versions of classic hits"
• Extremely disappointed
• You Go Neil!
• Too Many Live Songs Not Identified by Amazon.com
• Give credit where credit is due
• Too many live songs
• Basically, should have been advertised as a "Live" CD
• Save Your Money
• Caveat Emptor
• This is not the real thing.
• Experience the "live" concert again, excellent live versions
• Just the greatest!
• Live performances of favorites dissapointing
• Die hard fan
• Neil Diamond at his best with a guitar and some strings
• Can't Live Without It
• Great Collection
• Neil's Mood Getter!!
• Has all the greats...but still
• I LOVE THIS ALBUM!
• Version is everything!
• Neil Diamond--One poetic voice of the 60s
• A Collection of Disappointment
• Excellent collection spoilt by mediocre live versions
• A Superb Collection of Great Hits
• 5 stars for the songs, less one for the lame live recordings
• Buyer beware! (read on)
• Some dubious live acts, unfortunately...
• Too many live tracks
• Disappointing
• A REAL TREAT FOR THE EARS! THIS WORK DESERVES MORE STARS!
• Neil Diamond Rocks on this Greatest Hits
• BEWARE! LIVE RECORDINGS!
• Yikes!
• Live versions of his great music are poor
• Needs the disclosure: LIVE versions of classic hits.
• brooklyn roads
• To coin a phrase...
• Snow doesn't know
• The Greatest Hits 1966-1992
• I am...I said
• Many tracks live, but cd still worth buying
• For All Of You Kenny G Fans
• I expected to hear familiar tunes but most of album is live.
• The truly greatest hits by a fantastic singer
• Too Many (Cheesy) Live Cuts
• Don't waste your money on bad live recordings.
• If you love his old hits It's GREAT
• The music is great, it makes me feel good.
• worst song ever
• My Favorite!!
• Bill Murray Covers Neil Diamond
• Neil Diamond's Wayne Newton impression
• Great selections, but 2 disappointments:
• Only one disappointment!
• brilliant ,as usual with The Diamond