Classics: The Early Years

1	Kentucky Woman 2:24
2	Cherry, Cherry 2:41
3	Solitary Man 2:34
4	You Got to Me 2:45
5	I Got the Feelin' (Oh No, No) 2:09
6	Thank the Lord for the Night Time 3:02
7	I'm a Believer 2:38
8	Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon 3:20
9	Shilo 3:49
10	Do It 2:22
11	Red, Red Wine 2:39
12	The Boat That I Row 2:41

Barnes & Noble

Long before his vision pulled him toward more ornate, bombastic pop, Neil Diamond was a master of the '60s pop miniature. All he needed was three minutes and three chords; his sophisticated songcraft and his sense of drama would do the rest. From the born-again ecstasy of "Thank the Lord for the Nighttime" to the love-powered drive of "I'm a Believer" and "Cherry, Cherry," Diamond delivers singalong hits with smart, effervescent arrangements powered by handclaps and gospel-tinged choruses. When he slows the beat down, as in the hangover dirge of "Red Red Wine" and the passionate "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" -- both songs with the staying power to be remade into hits years later -- his dramatic delivery never fails. Yeah, his last true gem, "Sweet Caroline," is missing here, but don't let that deter you; this is passionate, driving pop. Seth Kaufman

All Music Guide

Classics: The Early Years rounds up 12 highlights from Neil Diamond's recordings for Bang Records. These, of course, were Diamond's earliest recordings, and for many fans they remain among his very best work, and it's easy to see why -- not only are these terrific songs, but the productions don't oversell the songs. Even when strings grace the productions, there's a dark, brooding vibe to the ballads, and a crisp feeling to the pop songs. And while some of the songs won't be instantly recognizable, most of them will, because these are the tunes that made Diamond's reputation as a songwriter and performer: "Kentucky Woman," "Cherry, Cherry," "Solitary Man," "Thank the Lord for the Night Time," "Im a Believer," "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon," "Shilo," and "Red, Red Wine." Diamond occasionally matched these peaks later in his career, but never again did he deliver so many great songs at such a frequency -- and Classics conveniently collects them all in one place. Stephen Thomas Erlewine