Great selections, but 2 disappointments:

Review Score: (6/10)
I commend Neil Diamond's enormously successful 30 year career, and this CD certainly contains quite a bit of his material. However, I don't understand why Columbia reproduced the earlier hits, such as "Thank The Lord For The Nighttime" and others, in monoral. I know there are stereo recordings available, as my Father has some of his original records from the orange "Bang Records" label, and all recordings (except for "Solitary Man") were in true stereo. I say "true" stereo, meaning the effect of 3 dimensional sound distribution. I'm not refering to music in the 1960's that used to be recorded as music in one channel, and singing in the other.

My other disappointment is that there is no indication on the front or back cover that this album contains live recordings. I am neither a "Live" or a "Monoral" fan. Had I known of these two issues, I would not have purchased this CD.

More Reviews:

• Be warned... this consists mostly of LIVE VERSIONS of hits!
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• 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
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• Absolute Perfection
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• Know What is in Store!
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• Don't buy this CD unless you LIKE LIVE recordings!
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• Dont waste your money !
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• Extremely disappointing
• Needs the disclaimer: "LIVE versions of classic hits"
• Extremely disappointed
• You Go Neil!
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• Save Your Money
• Caveat Emptor
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• A REAL TREAT FOR THE EARS! THIS WORK DESERVES MORE STARS!
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• Yikes!
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• brooklyn roads
• To coin a phrase...
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• brilliant ,as usual with The Diamond