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From the Vault...
07/29/2018
#1631 |
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info
Neil Diamond
"I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight"
© Columbia Records
Year of Release: 1977
Rating:
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track listing
God Only Knows
Let Me Take You
In My Arms Again
Once In A While
Let The Little Boy Sing
I'm Glad You're Here
With Me Tonight
Lament In D Minor/
Dance Of
The Sabres
Desiree
As If
You Don't
Bring Me Flowers
Free Man In Paris
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Neil Diamond related sites:
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Neil Diamond
"I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight"
The true spotlight song from Neil Diamond's 1977 release, "I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight -- is his (solo) recording of "You Don't
Bring Me Flowers." Of course, this song would be a giant hit duet with Barbra Streisand. Streisand herself also recorded this song solo (from her
Songbird album). DJs would take both songs and splice them together. This would lead to a new recording of an "official" duet, where both
Neil and Barbra would sing together. (The success at first was from the spliced recordings; The official duet would become a huge #1 hit, in 1978.)
From his beginnings as a songwriter in the 1960s, Neil has written and recorded classic love songs and easy listening favorites throughout his career.
He recently retired from performing/touring in January 2018. He has recorded new material until then, and we can hope that he will continue recording,
if he desires.
1977 was the year for his solo album, I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight. "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" is the standout from this
album, but yet the remaining songs are just as equally entertaining. It's Neil Diamond at his Easy Listening finest. His version of the Beach Boys'
classic "God Only Knows" is quite different than the original, being slower, and yet, just beautiful. He wrote or co-wrote many songs on this
album -- 3 songs by himself (actually 4; "Lament In D Minor/Dance Of The Sabres" are two separate songs, where Neil wrote the "Sabres."
"Lament In D Minor" is a more classical sounding track, written by Richard Bennett, and is in the style of classical guitar.) Two other songs were
co-written by Diamond -- the famous "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" (along with Alan and Marilyn Bergman. "Let The Little Boy Sing" was
co-written by Diamond and Bob Gaudio (who was famous for writing songs for Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.) Gaudio was album's producer, and he would
also co-write the title track, with Judy Parker. "Free Man In Paris" was written by Joni Mitchell.
The Neil Diamond penned songs are true, entertaining Easy Listening tracks, likewise the entire album. of the Diamond-penned songs, "Desiree"
would reach #1 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart, and would become his fifth #1 there. It also reached #1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart.
"Let Me Take You In Your Arms Again" and "As If" are nice, and "Once In A While" is even better. A tropical feel is heard on the
title track.
Neil Diamond has many great songs from his career, either as songwriter (penning songs by the Monkees), and on his own. Most of his great songs
were written or co-written by him. (His The Greatest Hits 1966-1992
reviewed here.) His solo albums are just as equally great, hearing album tracks that may or not have been charted. His accomplishments on the
Easy Listening/Adult Contempoary chart is another triumph, as his style of music and great songs easily fits this format.
I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight is a fine album, and worth listening to, to relax by. Neil Diamond is a legend. He was inducted into the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. A legendary songwriter, and a legendary singer and performer. Whether it's his greatest hits, or album tracks to
listen to, his music is treasured for many decades, generations, and influences to come.
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