Before he was a middle-aged woman’s dreamboat and Laurence Olivier’s foil, Neil Diamond was just a songwriter from Brooklyn who had been dropped by two small labels, had a baby on the way, and was making his last stabs at a career in music. He put the last of his money into a full-blown recording session for what he hoped would be THE song that would put him into the NYC publishing world. The song didn’t make the intended impact, but it was at this session that Diamond met Ellie Greenwich, a songwriter, record producer and background singer who is credited with discovering Neil Diamond. As Diamond says in the booklet that accompanies The Bang Years 1966-1968, it was during that session that his career began.
Kicking around that famous New York City seat of songwriting hitmakers, Diamond did get a job at the Brill building, working for the legendary songwriting team, Leiber and Stoller. Then he worked with Greenwich and her partner/husband Jeff Barry and got signed to Atlantic Records. The 23 songs on The Bang Years 1966-1968 came next. Nearly five decades later, the songs have been remastered in their original mono mix. There’s the snare drum, horn-driven “Solitary Man,” Diamond’s first international hit; “Cherry Cherry” with Greenwich on backing vocals; and the original, plaintive (and still the best version as far as I’m concerned) “Red Red Wine.” And who doesn’t love the single note, rushed verses of “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon.”
Along with original compositions penned by Diamond, there’s a handful of covers, including Richie Valens’ “La Bamba,” Paul Simon’s “Red Rubber Ball,” and Greenwich and Barry’s “Hanky Panky.” None seem to stand up to the originals Diamond was writing. In addition to the actual songs, pianist Artie Butler is brilliant throughout these recordings. Despite Diamond’s own reservations about his singing voice, you can definitely sense the potential of something more on these songs. There’s the poppy, almost gospel jangle of “Thank The Lord For The Nighttime.” The original take of “I’m A Believer,” a Number One hit for the Monkees, features some fantastic piano from Butler piano and equally impressive backing vocals. The expansive “Shilo,” the last song on the disc, is yet another hint of things to come from Neil Diamond. Brought together on one disc, The Bang Years 1966-1968 is a great boon to collectors and casual fans alike.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
