After a three-year hiatus, Neil Diamond made his return to the stage with a seven-city tour of Australia and New Zealand. At the time, he was a huge hit down under because his classic 1972 live album Hot August Night had become Australia’s biggest-selling record. According to the DVD liner notes because of the overwhelming, enthusiastic response Diamond got from the audiences, he “announced that for the first time ever there would be live TV coverage of his performance at the 14th and final show, broadcast nationwide via Channel Nine and 37 affiliate stations.”
Playing in front of a record size crowd in front of more than 35,000 at the Syndey Sports Ground on March 9th, Diamond and his group delivered almost two full hours that covered, what was then, his ten years as a performer, from the upbeat, mid-‘60s pop of “Cherry, Cherry” to the mellow, early-‘70s singer-songwriter contemplation of “I Am, I Said.”
Diamond engaged the audience a lot, having as much playing as the audience has listening. He revealed “Song Sung Blue” was inspired by a Mozart piece and then got the crowd to sing, whistle, and hum along. At one point he rambled on far too long, taking an almost 10-minute break where he asked people to shout out where they were from and later attempted to get philosophical about the moment, which was obviously off the cuff. He was likely spared laughter because the sincerity of his emotions outweighed the corniness of his words.
“…every concert is a once-in-a-lifetime affair. I’ve performed all over the world but every one is unique. We will never us, be here the way we are tonight. It’s going to happen once. Before we know it, it will be over. But while we have it, it’s something to remember and absorb.”
Article comments
1 - Evan
i have got to get this dvd
2 - Evan
i never swim for sports anyways and i dont really care for water parks
3 - Evan
i got music dvds of Elton John Barry Manilow Billy Joel James Taylor Cat Stevens Jim Croce the Carpenters but i dont have Neil Diamond on dvd i got one Neil Diamond dvd coming but that will be on christmas i got get this dvd off amazon . com
4 - Evan
i dont like sports and im not a sportsmen but im tough and i dont swim for sports i swim for fun and piano pool looks nice to swim in
5 - Evan
i dont like golf or any sport
6 - Evan
i discuss music all the time in my mind and out loud
7 - Evan
this dvd looks nice i know a video now does not have Neil Diamond
8 - Evan
i dont like sports there are better ways to get strong then sports
9 - Evan
Neil Diamond should have made his apperance on the Muppet Show i know Elton John did
10 - El Bicho
There are plenty of people that talk about music here as well. Sports is another section and people usually don't mingle, so you are safe.
11 - Glen Boyd
Oh, look. El Bicho's made a new friend...
-Glen
12 - Mat Brewster
A friend who forgot to take their meds.
13 - Evan
i dont like sports
14 - Evan
Neil Diamond has not played where i live yet
15 - Evan
i dont need my meds
16 - Evan
listen guys and listen good okay i dicuss music all the time in my mnd and out loud of course you guyd are acting stupid i dont like sports not everybody does and there are much better ways to get strong then sports and i do not need no damn meds so shut up
17 - El Bicho
You tell 'em, Evan
18 - jerry
ive been A NEIL FAN ALL MY LIFE. i have some neil diamond concert dvd. but this dvd is by far the best. it a concert dvd you must have i have. i just got it and have played it 3 times already. it like listing to the -HOT AUGUST NIGHT CD. I HIHLY RECOMEND THIS concert dvd from neil
jer
19 - Evan
i do like sports now but um anyway im also here tp discuss Neil Diamond and artist similar to him that i like
20 - Evan
in the 50s it was Neil Sedaka
21 - Evan
in the 60s it was Neil Diamond