Neil Diamond: You Don't Bring Me Flowers CD Track Listing

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Neil Diamond You Don't Bring Me Flowers (1978)
Originally Released 1978\nCD Edition Released February 1986\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Neil Diamond -- the voice, the artist, the entertainer -- is best described through this record as a rhapsody of American pop culture during this period in the late '70s. Directly and appropriately, Diamond sings with sincerity that "the American popular song goes on." Perhaps this record best demonstrates a mission statement of creating an endearing work of music that all Americans can feel happy and satisfied with. Much of the material is uplifting, both in tempo and lyrical expression. Other songs are emotionally gripping and romantically involved. The work as a whole seems to be vintage Diamond, and does not stand out from any of his other records as unique. However, there is one duet that breaks the mold: his passionate showing with Barbra Streisand on the cover song, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," a slow, powerful, and troubling ballad for those drifting out of relationships. "Forever in Blue Jeans" is the anthem that caught on with easy pop listeners in the late '70s, and continues to be a staple song for Diamond. "Remember Me" is a gentle song of longing and memories concerning past friendships, past loves, and places traveled. The typical Diamond sound is expressed here to perfection, with the vocals of Diamond backed by a stirring and articulate orchestra. The record doesn't dive into any deep ocean of creativity, nor does it strive to meet jazzier expectations. The arrangements and the songwriting are written just well enough to appeal to the easy listening audience, and the marching percussions of Diamond's songs fit the grade. Such a well-performed song of percussion and charging tempo is the cover, "You've Got Your Troubles." Sung with passion and grace, this is Neil Diamond during his peak, and merits a listen for all late-'70s enthusiasts. -- Shawn M. Haney\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFrom a huge Diamondhead!, April 7, 2006\nReviewer: Christopher D. Propfe "CD Collector" (Poughkeepsie, NY United States) \nAt first I didn't like this album. I guess I was too used to listening to the older stuff. This sounded too DISCO to me. Then I gave it a chance and it has become an enjoyable album for me. A lot of classics, and not-so classics but definitely worth owning and listening to. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot the best effort but it has its moments (1978), October 16, 2005\nReviewer: Darren S. Wools "duke 1980" (minneapolis)\nSounds alot like I'm Glad Your Here Eith Me Tonight which preceded this one and actually has a solo You Don't Bring Me Flowers on it. Neil was releasing alot of material in the mid-late 70s and each had the same great production ingredients but this does struggle a bit for consistency. Still, I like mothers and daughters and forever in blue jeans. I do actually listen to this one quite a bit. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn Excellent Album By Neil Diamond !!!, October 13, 2005\nRvr: John Baranyai "Book Nerd & Ex High School Geek Member Of The Chess Club"\n\nThis would have to one one of my favourite Neil Diamond albums. The track "Forever In Blue Jeans' is worth listening too just for the acoustic guitar introduction alone. "You Don't Bring Me Flower" , a duet with Ms.Barbra Streisand was also a big hit probably because it contained the lyrics "Now after loving me late at night, you just roll over and turn out the light". I suspect one reason for this song's sucess was that millions of lonely married women could relate to this predicament. I was so impressed with the track "Memphis Flyer" that I named my Porsche 930 Turbo after it!!!\n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot A Classic But A Solid Album For Diamond Fans, December 7, 2004\nReviewer: GregCnAZ "Greg" (Phoenix, AZ USA)\nYou Don't Bring Me Flowers may not be on par with Neil's earlier albums from the '70s such as "Tap Root Manuscript", "Stones", and "Moods". However, for the Neil Diamond fan, this one is worth owning. This release was produced by Bob Gaudio as was 1977s "I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight" (and other Diamond albums) and is actually quite similar in its production values. After 1976's "Beautiful Noise" Neil's sound seemed to move from the big, expansive sound of his previous albums to music with more of a smaller "band" feel. Granted, this album is more in the "fluffy pop" category than some of his deeper, earlier work, but still very enjoyable for many Diamond fans, including me. This album did produce two big singles for Neil that year: "Forever In Blue Jeans" and his duet with Barbra Streisand on "You Don't Bring Me Flowers". By the way, if you are a fan of "Flowers", Neil originally performed this song solo on the "I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight" album, which is also a very good version. \n\nIf you're not a big Neil Diamond fan or you are but haven't purchased a lot of his music, this would probably not be the best one to start with. However, if you like Neil but don't own "You Don't Bring Me Flowers", you should add this one to your collection. \n\n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: Barbra Streisand \nProducer: Bob Gaudio \n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel includes: Neil Diamond, Linda Press, Barbra Streisand (vocals); Richard Bennett, Doug Rhone (guitar); Tom Hensley (piano, keyboards); Alan Lindgren (piano, synthesizer); Reinie Press (bass); Dennis St. John (drums); Vince Charles, King Errisson (percussion); Maxine Willard Waters, Julia Tillman Waters (background vocals).\n\nContaining one hit single in the nostalgic "Forever in Blue Jeans," one characteristic opus in the panoramic "American Popular Song," and one bona fide classic in its title track, a duet with Barbra Streisand, YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS is a classic collection of solid mid-1970s Neil Diamond songwriting, notwithstanding that on many of the cuts Diamond appears to have been hit with the disco stick. There's even a real oddity in the "Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie," a bizarre disco take on Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumble Bee," and a similar version of the Fortunes' '60s hit "You've Got Your Troubles, I've Got Mine." But it's the singer's duet with Streisand that steals the show here, a timeless piece of '70s pop balladry that's still capable of jerking a tear decades later.\n\n\nROLLING STONE REVIEW\nLike Sylvester Stallone, Neil Diamond is an icon of the American Dream, wearing his street-toughened ego as a badge of artistic authenticity. No other pop singer capitalizes quite so heavily on the naked celebration of having Made It. If Diamond seemed garishly out of place in Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz, the mere fact of his presence was a testament to his indomitable will to conquer.\n\nBut after well over a decade of making hits, Neil Diamond's craft remains elementary. His oratorical and elocutionary roar lacks any subtlety, while his forte is still the simple two- and three-chord ballad. What's apparent, however, is that Diamond, driven by a boundless belief in his ability to make universal "art" out of popular song, has always worked to his aesthetic capacity. An artist must avoid condescension in order to succeed the way Diamond has, or audiences will scent the falsity and flee. It's this combination of unreachable ambition and the utter confidence of its attainment that forms an essential ingredient of his appeal.\n\nYou Don't Bring Me Flowers, Diamond's latest proclamation of this confidence, is an ornate pop album, pure Las Vegas in spirit, with a hint of disco pulse in several cuts. Lavishly produced by Bob Gaudio, with quasi-symphonic orchestrations overlaying the propulsion of the nine-member "Neil Diamond Band," it's the least interesting of the singer's recent records. Except for the title tune. Rerecorded in the studio with Barbra Streisand, the now-famous duet in which Barbra and Neil play old married folks may be mere teary-eyed schmaltz, but it's also a sure-fire standard. And further proof that, at the very least, Neil Diamond possesses a melodic talent as unstoppable as it is primitive. (RS 288 - Apr 5, 1979) -- STEPHEN HOLDEN
This misc cd contains 10 tracks and runs 41min 15sec.
Freedb: 7f09a90a
Buy: from Amazon.com

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