Classic Diamonds [Deluxe Edition]

by London Symphony Orchestra, Neil Diamond

Overview

Although a 2018 Parkinson's Disease diagnosis effectively ended Neil Diamond's touring career, the songwriting legend has no plans to stop making music. Recorded between London's historic Abbey Road Studios and the singer's own Los Angeles studio, Classic Diamonds is equal parts retrospective and reinterpretation as he revisits 14 of his best-known songs with assistance from the London Symphony Orchestra. Playing with an orchestra is nothing new for Diamond; brass and strings have been a defining characteristic of his music since the late 1960s, both on-stage and in the studio. To that end, it's almost surprising that a symphonic reimagining of his hits doesn't already exist. Still, with a catalog as deep as Diamond's, it's hard to fault him for playing to his strengths and at 79, he still brings a remarkable amount of emotion and an easy warmth to the experience. Forgoing his usual band, Classic Diamonds aims for a classy vibe, relying mostly on piano and orchestra to reframe songs like "Beautiful Noise" and "Song Sung Blue," neither of which resemble their original arrangements. A sweeping overture and deconstructed chord changes breathe new life into the former, while the latter is extended with a newly written intro containing extra lyrics. Likewise, the sudden appearance of a sitar and exultant choir adds an interesting twist and makes for a bombastic and surprisingly moving version of "Holly Holy." Produced by Walter Afanasieff who also co-arranged with conductor William Ross, it's nice to hear Diamond and his collaborators taking liberties with the material. On the whole, Classic Diamonds feels in keeping with the already-lush nature of Diamond's work with strong performances and a handful of surprises. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	11/20/2020
Label:	Capitol / Emi Records
UPC:	0602435092881

Tracks

1. Beautiful Noise
2. Hello Again
3. I Am... I Said
4. I'm a Believer
5. Song Sung Blue
6. September Morn
7. America
8. Holly Holy
9. You Don't Bring Me Flowers
10. Play Me
11. Love on the Rocks
12. Heartlight
13. I've Been This Way Before
14. Sweet Caroline

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Neil Diamond   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
London Symphony Orchestra   Primary Artist
Keri Larson   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Charles Jones   Vocals (Background),Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Dean Parks   Guitar
Nathan East   Bass
Nigel Thomas   Timpani
Onitsha Shaw   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Norelle   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Gabrielle Painter   Violin
Stevie Wonder   Harmonica,Featured Artist
Mabvuto Carpenter   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
RaVaughn Brown   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Rebecca Gilliver   Cello
Vinnie Colaiuta   Drums
Paul Milner   Trombone (Bass)
Leonardo Amuedo   Guitar
Rafael Padilla   Percussion
Neil Percy   Percussion
Nikki Leonti   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Christine Pendrill   Cor Anglais
Carmine Lauri   Violin
Siret Lust   Double Bass
Daniel Finney   Oboe,Cor Anglais
Diego Incertis   Horn
David Loucks   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Philip Cobb   Trumpet
Angela Barnes   Horn
Bryn Lewis   Harp
Amanda Truelove   Cello
Robert Turner   Viola
Jennifer Brown   Cello
Maxine Kwok   Violin
Andrew Pollock   Violin
Laurent Quenelle   Violin
Michelle Bruil   Viola
Hilary Jones   Cello
Sam Walton   Percussion
Paul Robson   Violin
Hazel Mulligan   Violin
Gordon MacKay   Violin
Julian Sperry   Flute
Belinda McFarlane   Violin
Niall Keatley   Trumpet
Daniel Jemison   Bassoon
David Alberman   Violin
Colin Renwick   Violin
Silvain Vasseur   Violin
Harriet Rayfield   Violin
Richard Blayden   Violin
Noel Bradshaw   Cello
Dominic Morgan   Bassoon,Contrabassoon
Matthew Gardner   Violin
Malcolm Johnston   Viola
Edward Vanderspar   Viola
Patrick Laurence   Double Bass
Elizabeth Pigram   Violin
James Maynard   Trombone
Chi-Yu Mo   Clarinet
Ginette Decuyper   Violin
Alastair Blayden   Cello
Jonathan Durrant   Horn
Philip White   Trombone
Raphael Padilla   Percussion
Tim Davis   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Gerald Gregory   Violin
Sarah Quinn   Violin
Clare Duckworth   Violin
Matthew Gibson   Double Bass
Jose Moreira   Double Bass
Ilona Bondar   Viola
Alec Harmon   Oboe
Mariam Nahapetyan   Violin
Sofia Silva Sousa   Viola
Alexandra Lomeiko   Violin
Chris Richards   Clarinet
Hugh Sparrow   Double Bass
Julia O'Riordan   Viola
Michael Kidd   Horn
Claire Wickes   Flute
Nancy Johnson   Viola
Emily Benford   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Luke Edgemon   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
German Clavijo   Viola
Joost Bosdijk   Bassoon
Iwona Muszynska   Violin
Thomas Goodman   Double Bass
Ben Thomson   Tuba
Victoria Simonsen   Cello
Stephanie Edmundson   Viola
Simon Cox   Trumpet
Paul Sherman   Double Bass
Mark Templeton   Trombone
David Jackson   Percussion
Robin Totterdell   Trumpet
Jan Regulski   Violin
Peter Mallinson   Viola
Andrew Harper   Clarinet (Bass)
Raja Halder   Violin
Greta Mutlu   Violin
Alex Wide   Horn
Juliana Koch   Oboe
Rhys Watkins   Violin
Miya Vaisanen   Violin
Laure Le Dantec   Cello
Laura Dixon   Violin
Csilla Pogany   Violin
Carol Ella   Viola
Alix Lagasse   Violin
Erzsebet Racz   Violin
Alexandra Lomeika   Violin
Lulu Fuller   Violin
Gerard Gregory   Violin
William Melvin   Violin
Julian Azkoul   Violin
Fiona Dalgliesh   Viola
Luca Casciato   Viola
Jenny Lewisohn   Viola
Claire Maynard   Viola
Simo Vaisanen   Double Bass
Francois Thirault   Cello
Daniel Gardner   Cello
Sharon Williams   Piccolo
Eve-Marie Caravassilis   Cello
Alexander Edmundson   Horn
Jonathan Maloney   Horn

Technical Credits

Ari Michelson   Portrait Photography,Cover Photo,Photography
Micah Diamond   Photography
Bernie Becker   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Mastering Engineer
Marilyn Bergman   Composer
Jay Landers   Liner Notes,Executive Producer
Walter Afanasieff   Arranger,Producer,Co-Arranger
Alan Lindgren   Composer
Alan Bergman   Composer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
Gilbert Becaud   Composer
William Ross   Arranger,Co-Arranger
Andrew Dudman   Engineer,Recording
Carole Bayer Sager   Composer
Neil Diamond   Composer
Carmine Lauri   Leader
Jamie Rosenberg   Engineer
Tyler Gordon   Engineer,Recording
Wesley Seidman   Pro-Tools
Sam Cole   Project Coordinator
Todd Gallopo   Design,Art Direction
Steven Cook   A&R
Dale Becker   Mastering Engineer
Mary Webster   Supervisor,Coordination
George Oulton   Assistant Engineer
Todd Sussman   Liner Notes
Jamie Rosenburg   Recording