Not just the hits...
vmzfla | Orlando, Fl. | 06/12/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Surely not all the material on this 20 song retrospective CD is worthy of a 5 star rating. It is the composition as a whole that is worth it. The selections are drawn from his MCA years and illustrate just how multi-faceted Neil Diamond's talents are. This disc is an inexpensive way for those on a budget to add him to their archives. During this period Diamond experimented with gospel and African elements to great success.
This is evident in songs like "Holly Holy" and "Soolaimon". Included are the covers of the Hollies "He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" and "Mr. Bojangles" a folk classic done by everyone, including Sammy Davis Jr. He practically made them his own! I do prefer the studio recording of "Solitary Man" over the live one included here(missing the horns). A good basic biography and notes on each track(how the songs charted)are included.
As I said before, this is a good value."
Average Collection.
vmzfla | 02/02/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This Album Has Some Classic Hits On It Like Sweet Caroline,Holly Holy And Cracklin' Rosie But It Is Not The Essential Package. I Think You're Better Off Paying A Bit More Money And Getting Alot More Great Music Than Paying Less And Getting Considerably Less Music. Having Said That, This Compilation Is Not A Bad Introduction To Diamond To A Casual Fan,But Not For Hardcore Fans. There Are Also Some Boring Cover Versions On It, But Worth A Listen."