Neil Diamond, The #21 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Three

 

(Continued from Part Two)

Diamond resumed touring, playing in Australia and again at the Greek Theatre, with his show captured live for the album Love at the Greek.  

Diamond was invited to open the new Theater for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he played four sold-out shows.  Showing his universal appeal, Neil performed before 55,000 at Woburn Abbey in 1977.  

 Diamond released the album I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight in 1977, which included the song "You Don't Bring Me Flowers".  Friend Barbra Streisand covered the song on her album Songbird and soon, the two went into the studio to record a duet after a mix of the two singers began getting attention on the radio.  The single was a massive hit, becoming Diamond's third #1 in the U.S. that also motored into the Top Five in the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.  

The single "Desiree" became Neil's biggest hit from the album, #1 with Adults in the U.S. that also hit the Top Five in New Zealand.  It has the distinction of being the first song used in Casey Kasem's popular "long-distance dedication" on Kasem's American Top 40 on August 26, 1978.

 

The following year, Neil released the album You Don't Bring Me Flowers, featuring the title song recorded with Streisand.  "Forever In Blue Jeans" gave Diamond his 21st Top 10 hit already on the Adult Contemporary chart.  Neil says the message of this song is that "the simple things are really the important things".

 

Diamond stepped out of his comfort zone for "The Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie".

                                                                                                                                                                "American Popular Song" is another popular track from the album.

 Diamond released the album September Morn in 1979.  He worked with French composer Gilbert Bécaud on this song and the two would later pair up for "The Jazz Singer" Soundtrack.  The title song stalled at #17 overall, but was a #2 smash with adults.

Neil collapsed on stage in San Francisco while promoting the album, and underwent a 12-hour operation to remove what proved to be a tumor on his spine.  He said he had been losing feeling in his right leg for years but had ignored it.  After spending a considerable amount of time rehabilitating, he began work on the movie The Jazz Singer, sure that this project would fare much better than the earlier Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  

 

For one thing, it co-starred Sir Laurence Olivier opposite Diamond.  But alas, the movie received poor reviews, although Diamond was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role.  The soundtrack, meanwhile, did wonders, going to #3 and selling over 5 million copies.  It was Diamond's eighth consecutive Top 10 album.  The lead single "Love On The Rocks" was one of his biggest career hits, and one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era*, having spent four weeks at that position.

 "Hello Again" rose to # 3 on the AC chart and #6 Popular.

 "America" had special significance for Diamond, as he wrote it with his grandparents in mind, who immigrated to the United States.  It became an American anthem, played when the hostages taken by Iran returned in 1980, when the space shuttle landed, during the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty, as a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., and at the Vietnam Vets Welcome Home concert.  It was yet another #1 Adult hit for Neil, #8 overall.

Diamond had become a legend by this point.  But he wasn't done yet, and we have Part Four exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!