Neil Diamond – 12 Songs (2005)

I have spent years disliking Neil Diamond. Too 'Las Vegas', too much Mr. Showbiz, too much of nothing as Bob Dylan would say. But going back to the days of Sweet Caroline & Cracklin' Rosie I used to love him. What happened in-between? 12 Songs means it doesn't matter anymore what happened. This album has completely blown me away. It is direct, sincere, has the Rubin “less is more” approach and each song is brilliantly sung and communicated. He writes from the heart here and sings like it all matters. If you felt like I did don't ignore this CD as I was tempted to. Even when I laid my hands on it I was in a 'why' frame of mind. Why? Just listen. It is a magnificent record. All great songs but if I had to pick ones it would have to be "Evermore" and the additional version of "Delirious Love" with Brian Wilson as backing vocalist which made the hairs on my back stand up. Fantastic!

Please note that this is an old but good rip, made with an old version of EAC, and coming from my archives on external hard disc.

Personnel:

Neil Diamond - Guitar & Vocals
Mike Campbell - Guitar
Smokey Hormel - Guitar
Pat McLaughlin - Guitar
Jason Sinay - Guitar
Jonny Polonski - Guitar & Upright Bass
Billy Preston - Organ (On Tracks 04, 09& 11)
Benmont Tench - Piano & Organ
Larry Knechtel - Piano
Roger J. Manning Jr. - Piano
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Patrick Warren - Chamberlin

Brian Wilson - Backing Vocals On Delirious Love (Track 14)

Tracklist:

01. Oh Mary
02. Hell Yeah
03. Captain Of A Shipwreck
04. Evermore
05. Save Me A Saturday Night
06. Delirious Love
07. I'm On To You
08. What's It Gonna Be
09. Man of God
10. Create Me
11. Face Me
12. We

Additional Songs

13. Men Are So Easy
14. Delirious Love (With Brian Wilson)

Recorded And Mixed At ArchAngel Recording Studio, LA, CA
Pruduced By Rick Rubin
Words And Music By Neil Diamond

Sound Quality: 8/9