He also chastised those in the crowd that threw streamers at him, yet some thoughtless rube still made contact with him during “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.”
Diamond closed the set with seven songs from the soundtrack to Jonathan Livingstone Seagull. Throughout the segment, video effects created images of a flying gull, the blue ocean, and a sunset sky that augmented the story. They look strange by today’s standards, but were likely state of the art for Australia mid-‘70s television. He encored with “Brother Love’s…” and “I’ve Been This Way Before” with fireworks that occurred elsewhere superimposed over the conclusion.
The video holds up well, but the audio isn’t great. On my 7.1 Surround Sound Speaker System, I could hear an occasional high-pitched whine throughout the concert. It didn’t overwhelm the music, but it was noticeable.
The DVD comes with bonus features. There is footage of “Morningside,” but I don’t understand why it was cut out of the sequence. Also from the television broadcast is an introduction by David Frost and live commercials for Cadbury Chocolate and Pioneer Stereo, although Diamond’s playful, teasing humor about the task might have been more than the sponsors had bargained for. The best feature is a 47-minute interview from A Current Affair with Michael Schildberger. It is engaging and informative as Diamond reveals quite a lot about himself in a serious conversation. This alone might well be worth the cost of the DVD for fans. There is also a replica of the advertisement that appeared in the March 7, 1976 Sunday Independent promoting the special.
Diamond fans will thank themselves for picking up Live 1976 to absorb as often as they desire. Casual fans should be pleased with the number of hits played and how well they sound.
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