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

 

(Continued from Part Three)

 

In 1981, Diamond released the album On the Way to the Sky, another million-seller.  "Yesterday's Songs" was Neil's seventh career #1 Adult hit.

 

"Be Mine Tonight" almost made it eight, stopping just short at #2.

 

Here is the title song, #4 on the Adult chart and #1 in Canada.

 

In 1982, Neil recorded "Heartlight", inspired by the classic movie E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and released it as the lead single from the album of the same name, another #1 on the AC chart that reached #8 Popular.

The album sold over one million copies.  Also that year, Diamond released the compilation album Greatest Hits, Volume II, which has now topped 3 million in sales.  The following year, he released the Platinum album Classics:  The Early Years.  

Although Diamond's long chart run was essentially over, he continued to pack concert halls.  In 1984, Neil released the Gold album Primitive and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  In 1986, Billboard ranked Neil as the most profitable solo performer of the year.

Neil released the album Headed for the Future that year, which went Gold.  He also starred in the television special Hello Again.

The next winter, Diamond sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl. 

Neil released the 1988 Gold album The Best Years of Our Lives and performed for U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the Christmas in Washington television special.

In the '90's, sporting events began to play "Sweet Caroline" over 20 years since its release, and Diamond's music became fashionable again.  Neil released Lovescape in 1991, his 18th consecutive Gold album.  In 1992, Diamond released the album The Greatest Hits:  1966-1992, a three-million seller, and The Christmas Album, which went Double Platinum.  

Neil released Up On The Roof:  Songs from the Brill Building in 1993, The Christmas Album, Volume II, Tennessee Moon in 1996 and The Movie Album:  As Time Goes By in 1998, all of which went Gold.  In 2001, another compilation, The Essential Neil Diamond, was released that has sold over two million copies.

In 2001, Neil released the album Three Chord Opera, another Gold certification.    

In 2005, Diamond released the album 12 Songs, which debuted at #4 and has sold over one million copies. It includes "Delirious Love", his collaboration with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

Neil was a guest coach on the television show American Idol in 2008 to help the remaining contestants sing his songs. 

 

In 2008, Diamond released the Platinum album Home Before Dark, his 24th consecutive non-Christmas studio album to be certified Gold, an incredible achievement.  He announced during the traditional eighth-inning singing of "Sweet Caroline" in Boston's Fenway Park that he would be appearing in Boston as part of a world tour.  Diamond told the Sun newspaper on May 16, 2008 about this song:  "I stand back and look at 'Pretty Amazing Grace' and to me it's a song about the perfection of love."

 

The album reached #1 in the U.S., U.K., and New Zealand.  This is "Forgotten".

Diamond performed before an estimated 108,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival in England.  The four concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City were recorded and released as a CD and DVD the following year.  Hot August Night/NYC debuted at #2 on the Album chart and CBS showed an edited version as a television special.

 

In 2009, Diamond was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year.  In the fall, Neil released the album A Cherry Cherry Christmas.  Incredibly, the title song hit #4 on the AC chart 20 years after his last Top 10.

Diamond released the album of cover songs called Dreams in 2010 and a career compilation from 23 studio recordings (The Very Best of Neil Diamond) the following year.

Neil was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and received a lifetime achievement award at the Kennedy Center Honors later in the year.  

In 2012, Neil received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  The next year, Diamond released the single "Freedom Song (They'll Never Take Us Down)", with all proceeds benefiting One Fund Boston and the Wounded Warrior Project.

In 2014, Diamond signed a contract with Capitol, a part of Universal Music Group.  The album All-Time Greatest Hits was released, with Neil's next studio album Melody Road released later in the year.  Diamond conducted a world tour in support of the album.

Diamond released the album Acoustic Christmas in 2016, including original songs and acoustic versions of Christmas classics.  In 2017, Diamond released the album Neil Diamond 50 - 50th Anniversary Collection, and performed in his final concert tour in support of the album. 

In January of 2018, Neil announced he would immediately retire from touring due to being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  Remaining dates in Australia and New Zealand on his world tour were canceled.  Diamond said he would still write songs and record.

Neil received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2018.  In 2019, "Sweet Caroline" was chosen by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

Diamond has sold over 100 million albums.  He has racked up 55 career hits with 14 of those reaching the Top 10 and  3 number one songs.  Among adults, which are of course the large majority of the listening audience, he is one of the most popular and most successful artists, recording 56 hits, with an incredible 36 of those going Top 10 and 8 #1's.