AnneCarlini.com Home
 
  Giveaways!
  Insider Gossip
  Monthly Hot Picks
  Book Reviews
  CD Reviews
  Concert Reviews
  DVD Reviews
  Game Reviews
  Movie Reviews
  Check Out The NEW Anne Carlini Productions!
  [NEW] Belouis Some (2024)
  [NEW] Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel (2024)
  [NEW] Mark Ruffalo (‘Poor Things’)
  [NEW] Paul Giamatti (‘The Holdovers’)
  [NEW] Crystal Gayle
  [NEW] Ellen Foley
  Gotham Knights [David Russo - Composer]
  The Home of WAXEN WARES Candles!
  Michigan Siding Company for ALL Your Outdoor Needs
  MTU Hypnosis for ALL your Day-To-Day Needs!
  COMMENTS FROM EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINE READERS!


©2024 annecarlini.com
Ghost Canyon

Title - 'Hot August Night (40th Ann. Deluxe Edition)'
Artist - Neil Diamond

The night of August 24, 1972, a young singer/songwriter by the name of Neil Diamond took over Los Angeles' beautiful Greek Theater for 10 sold out nights.

The legend of Neil Diamond the performer was unquestionably born on that night. Diamond and his band were at the peak of their game that summer, a night that would be captured forever on the two-record set Hot August Night changed his life and his legacy.

One of Diamond's most successful albums worldwide, the multiple platinum album in the US spent a mind-blowing 29 weeks on the top of the charts in Australia. Hot August Night is one of his more celebrated and acknowledged albums of his career and arguably one of the greatest live albums ever recorded.

Now, HOT AUGUST NIGHT - 40TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION has been released through Universal Music Enterprises and covers an even greater array on this re-mastered edition, featuring signature hits and fan favorites.

It also includes three previously-unreleased recordings and all his stage banter and band introductions unearthed from the archives of 40 years ago making this a complete aural experience capturing that magical night.

The album opens with the orchestra "warming up" re: 'Prologue,' before the pulsating 'Crunchy Granola Suite' is followed by 'Done Too Soon,' some chit chat from Neil (where he thanks the "tree people" out in his audience and calls The Greek, where he is standing, a "performers paradise"), and then we're into 'Solitary Man,' the vibrant organ-fused 'Cherry Cherry,' and both his big hit (although slowed down here, mysteriously) 'Sweet Caroline' and the great 'Porcupine Pie.'

Next up is the twanging country guitar of 'You're So Sweet,' which is followed by 'Red Red Wine' (once covered famously by UK band UB40) and Neil's ode to those wasted at the bar, 'Soggy Pretzels.' 'Gitchy Goomy' is next and is followed by the bewitching ballad, 'And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind.' That is followed by another slow song in 'I Think It's Going To Rain Today,' before the always-fantastic-to-hear 'Shilo' and then 'Modern Day Version Of Love.'

The once-covered-by Edwyn Collins song 'Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon' is next, with the first disc being rounded out by 'Walk On Water,' 'Kentucky Woman,' 'Stones,' and then Neil introduces the entire band.

Disc 2 is noticeably shorter and kicks off with a lovely guitar-played 'Play Me,' before heading into the Spanish-sung 'Canta Libre' and 'Morningside.' The fantastic, live or otherwise 'Song Sung Blue' is next, with the album getting rounded out by a powerful 'Cracklin' Rosie,' a stern 'Holly Holy,' a beautiful 'I Am...I Said,' and then a near-ten minute, crowd-clapping version of 'Soolaimon/Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show' (complete with drums and organ in perfect harmony) brings the show to a close.

www.neildiamond.com

www.twitter.com/NeilDiamond





...Archives