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"...The Feeling's Laid
Back..."
If you're a fan
- or even casually browsing Neil Diamond's early career - you will probably
notice the photos that accompany the Amazon entry for this 80's MCA CD of his
1971 album "Stones". It features that dreaded plain rear sleeve. In
means the single disc offered here is from the first vanguard of CD reissues
and most 'weren't' remastered - leaving you the listener with decidedly average
sound. If you want the 'actual' best audio for "Stones" - you have to
look elsewhere and spend a few quid (but it will be well worth it).
Using Discs 2
and 3 - the very best audio variant of the "Stones" LP by NEIL
DIAMOND can be found within "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio
Recordings…Plus!" on MCA/Universal 088 112 824 2 (Barcode 008811282424)
released in the UK and USA in March 2002 (use the Barcode supplied to get the
right issue). Here are the details...
Disc 2 (77:26
minutes):
21. I Am…I Said
[Neil Diamond song]
22. The Last
Thing On My Mind [Tom Paxton cover]
23. Husbands And
Wives [Roger Miller cover]
24. Chelsea
Morning [Joni Mitchell cover]
Disc 3 (77:27
minutes):
1. Crunchy
Granola Suite [Neil Diamond song]
2. Stones [Neil
Diamond song]
3. If You Go
Away [Jacques Brel – Rod McKuen cover]
4. Suzanne
[Leonard Cohen cover]
5. I Think It’s
Gonna Rain Today [Randy Newman cover]
6. I Am…I Said
(Reprise) [Neil Diamond song]
Tracks 21 to 24
on Disc 2 combined with Tracks 1 to 6 on Disc 3 are Sides 1 and 2 of the album
"Stones" – released November 1971 in the USA on Uni Records 93106 and
December 1971 in the UK on Uni Records UNLS 121. Produced by TOM CATLANO – it
peaked at No. 11 in the US LP charts and No. 18 in the UK.
The 24-page
'Play Me' booklet has full Discography info including mini pictures of the
album artwork and incisive liner notes by ROBYN FLANS (of People Magazine). But
the big news is the 96K/24bit Remasters by ERICK LABSON of Universal – a man
who has over 1200 Audio restoration credits to his name including most of the
Chess Label and huge swathes of Universal's monster back catalogue (Mama's
& Papa's, Steppenwolf, Buddy Holly, Etta James, Bobby Bland, Bo Diddley,
Joe Jackson, Three Dog Night, Wishbone Ash, The Who, The Big Chill Soundtrack - the list of his
accomplished transfers is long and illustrious). The sound quality here is
awesome and adds huge power to every track - but especially to the beautifully
produced "Stones" LP - the most underrated album of Neil Diamond's
on-going catalogue.
As you can see
from the track list provided above - of the 9 songs (the last is a 'Reprise' of
"I Am...I Said") - only three are Neil Diamond originals - but all
are proper corkers. You get "I Am...I Said", "Stones" and
"Crunchy Granola Suite" – each taken by Uni and flogged as successful
45s. The other seven songs are covers of the best contemporary artists of the
day - Tom Paxton’s plaintive and lovely “The Last Thing On My Mind", Joni
Mitchell's upbeat and summery "Chelsea Morning" (not as good as her
original it has to be said) and Randy Newman's aching and sad "I Think It's
Going To Rain Today". We even get a go at Roger Miller’s domestic morality
tale “Husbands And Wives” and Leonard Cohen’s mumbling shagpad classic
“Suzanne”. And on all - Diamond manages to respect the original while adding
his own slice of Neil-ness to the proceedings.
I've often
thought that the beautiful ballad "Stones" should have been a number
1 - backing on the B-side by the "dig!" of "Crunchy Granola
Suite" - the closest he ever got to Rocker-Cool. And what can you say
about "I Am...I Said" – surely the album's penultimate song. It's
cheesy I know, but it's my kind of Gorgonzola, Red Leicester and Wensleydale – "Crunchy Granola Suite" and "Stones" still tickles
me. Hell - he even looks good in his bare feet on the cover...
"...L.A.'s
fine…the sun shines most the time…and the feeling's laid back…"
The 26 March 2002 American MCA 3CD haul "Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio
Recordings...Plus!" is probably more Big Neil D than most can handle (a single
disc "Best Of" would most likely suffice that also includes his later
Columbia/CBS stuff). But if you're prepared to dig a bit deeper and embrace
your inner Neil - the good stuff like the 'Stones' album is truly great.
More forgotten
and overlooked album goodies include May 1969's "Brother Love's Travelling
Salvation Show" and November 1970's "Tap Root Manuscript". And
that audio quality will blow you away…
