Neil Diamond Bio

Neil Diamond built a career, first as a pop songwriter, and then as a pop singer, that has withstood the changing fashions of music, especially rock, over more than 25 years. Born in Brooklyn, Diamond was writing and recording in New York in his teens, though he graduated from Brooklyn's Abraham Lincoln High School and attended New York University for a time. In 1965, he signed to Bang Records as an artist while also working as a songwriter. In 1966, he reached the Top Ten with his "Cherry, Cherry," while the Monkees took his "I'm a Believer" to #1. "Cherry, Cherry" was the first of five straight Top 20 hits, among them "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon."
Diamond began to develop into more of an individual writer in the mold of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon in the late '60s, and this led to his move to Uni Records in 1968, where he continued to score hits like "Sweet Caroline," "Holly Holy," and "Cracklin' Rosie," in a pop/rock style laced with gospel and country influences. His albums also began to go gold consistently beginning with 1969's Touching You, Touching Me.

Diamond signed a lucrative contract with Columbia Records in 1973 that began with his soundtrack to the film Jonathan Livingston Seagull. His 1976 album, Beautiful Noise, was produced by Robbie Robertson of the Band; it was his first album to go platinum. In 1980, Diamond starred in a remake of the film The Jazz Singer. Its soundtrack was another million-seller for him.

Diamond had developed into a dynamic live performer over the years, and his concert recordings were among his most successful. In the late '80s and early '90s, while updating his sound, he faded from the singles charts though his albums continued to sell consistently. And his shows continued to sell out: According to Amusement Business, he was the top concert draw in the U.S. for the first six months of 1992.

In early 1996, Diamond released Tennessee Moon, a country music album that was his first set of newly written material in five years. Tennessee Moon became a hit on the country charts, peaking at number three and going gold within six months of its release. As Time Goes By: The Movie Album followed in 1998.

Neil Diamond Discography


Showing 1 - 75 of 75 albums by Neil Diamond

Album Title

Best Of [Spectrum]

This Time

Reflections

Stages: Performances 1970-2002

Stages: Performances 1970-2002 [Bonus DVD]

Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings...Plus

Love Songs [2002 MCA]

Essential Neil Diamond

Three Chord Opera

Millennium Edition

Ultimate Collection

Collection

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Neil Diamond

Best of the Movie Album: As Time Goes By

Collection [MCA 2297]

Movie Album: As Time Goes By

Ultimate: 30 All Classics

As Time Goes By

Classics: The Early Years/Jazz Singer/Beautiful Noise

In My Lifetime

Under Tennessee Moon

I Knew Love

Tennessee Moon

Live in America

Love Songs [2002 UK Bonus Tracks]

Christmas Album, Vol. 2

Roof Party: Songs from the Brill Building

Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building

Gold: 20 Super Hits

Christmas Album

Glory Road: 1968 to 1972

Greatest Hits (1966-1992)

Lovescape

Sweet Caroline [Compilation]

Best Years of Our Lives

Greatest Hits Live

Red Red Wine

Hot August Night 2

Headed for the Future

Love Songs: Gold

Primitive

Classics: The Early Years

Stones/Moods

12 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

Heartlight

Best of Neil Diamond

Diamonds

On the Way to the Sky

Solitary Man

Jazz Singer

September Morn

20 Golden Greats

You Don't Bring Me Flowers

I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight

Love at the Greek

Love at the Greek [Video]

And the Singer Sings His Song

Beautiful Noise

Serenade

His 12 Greatest Hits

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Rainbow

Sweet Caroline

Hot August Night

Love Songs [1972]

Moods

Gold

Stones

Neil Diamond

Tap Root Manuscript

Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show

Touching You, Touching Me

Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits

Velvet Gloves & Spit

Just for You