12 Songs | 
 enlarge | Artist: Neil Diamond
Label: Columbia
Category: Music
List Price: $21.98
Buy Used: $1.20
You Save: $20.78 (95%)
New (18) Used (14) from $1.20
Rating:  34 reviews
Sales Rank: 156331
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
UPC: 827969477625
EAN: 0827969477625
ASIN: B000BLL8BS
Release Date: November 8, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
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| Tracks:
| • | Oh Mary | | • | Hell Yeah | | • | Captain Of A Shipwreck | | • | Evermore | | • | Save Me A Saturday Night | | • | Delirious Love | | • | I'm On To You | | • | What's It Gonna Be | | • | Man Of God | | • | Create Me | | • | Face Me | | • | We | | • | Men Are So Easy (Bonus track) | | • | Delirious Love- with Brian Wilson (Bonus track ) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
One of the year's most heavily-anticipated new releases, 12 Songs pairs the pop music icon with legendary producer Rick Rubin. Producing a Neil Diamond album has been a long-time dream for Rubin, whose extraordinary resume spans the history of hip-hop from LL Cool J to Jay Z, the world of hardcore rock from Slayer to System Of A Down, and the pantheon of mythic stars from Tom Petty and Donovan to Mick Jagger and Johnny Cash's immortal Grammy-winning American Recordings series. "Most of the songs were recorded with Neil playing and singing at the same time," said Rick Rubin in a Rolling Stone article (9/22/05) profiling the producer, "and it's a different animal. It's taking him back to being more of a singer-songwriter. He really blows me away." When it came time to record 12 Songs, Rick Rubin assembled a sympathetic ensemble of musicians to capture the essence of Neil Diamond's extraordinary new songs, each of them a finely-wrought gem, soul-searching, honest, yearning, and powerful. A core group of musicians made up of Mike Campbell (guitar) and Benmont Tench (piano/organ) from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers and guitarist Smokey Hormel (Beck, Tom Waits) and other musicians including the renowned Larry Knechtel (piano) and Billy Preston (organ) played on the album. The track listing for 12 Songs is: "Oh Mary," "Hell Yeah," "Captain of a Shipwreck," "Evermore," "Save Me A Saturday Night," "Delirious Love," "I'm On To You," "What's It Gonna Be," "Man of God," "Create Me," "Face Me," and "We." A special digipak edition of 12 Songs features two bonus tracks: "Men Are So Easy" and an alternate version of "Delirious Love" with guest artist Brian Wilson. "….judging by eight finished tracks," wrote Lorraine Ali, previewing 12 Songs for Newsweek (August 1, 2005), "this is the best work Diamond has done in 30 years."
Album Description
Produced by Rick Rubin, the man behind Johnny Cash's comeback and hit's by the Beastie Boys and Slayer and more Columbia. 2005..
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| Customer Reviews:
 Neil Diamond 12 Songs Review January 31, 2007
D. Marquardt (Texas)
Suberb...the best Neil Diamond CD in many years...goes back to the style of music that made him so popular. If you are a Neil Diamond fan, this is a must have CD. Can be played over and over again without getting tired of the music. I like to store CDs on my computer and play back while working...the copy protected version, however, has seemingly caused some problems (i.e. Music Match program crashing) so I have erased it from my system...absolutely no problem on home stereo, CD player, etc. Interestingly, this CD will not even play on my system at work...doesn't recognize anything in the CD drawer. Sony recalled this version of the CD and has replaced it with a version that does not cause problems (or so I've heard).
 12 Songs + a couple... December 30, 2005
Clinton S. Jeffrey (Melbourne, Victoria. Australia.)
Well I've read all the comments, interesting, I'm 45 now, I've followed diamond since I think I was 12, I have had respect for his style and taste for his dreams and for his music all the way through these years, so in other words, I have come to like, love and enjoy each and every song, though I do have a most favorites list. Now we have "12 Songs" give or take, for as much of a fan I am, I'd say most albums have taken a couple of listening to's to let it grab you, to listen to the lyrics then pick up on the music and have a drink or two, listen again and then make judgment...because I'm currently dieting, I can't have the drink or two, but I'm sure this new album will sink into my skin very soon. I have always enjoyed singing along with Neil, I can easily sit in his register without a problem, and there is no doubt his voice is changing with time, I suspect he still smokes too, naughty lad!...but I'm going to have to listen to this new album a few times to let it in, it's different, I definitely like the close and personal feel, I like the simple approach with less instrumentation which makes it sound uncluttered and therefore distinctive, I must admit that "Oh Mary" is a little funny, not exactly the way I would have sung it i.e. not so many of the "Oh Mary" especially the parts sung in the lower soft register and repeated, I wouldn't have sung it, spoken it, whatever...but I'll still respect what Neil has done and will do and until my own dying day, hurry back to Melbourne Neil get that Aussie girl to convince you Australia is the place to live!!....."thank you Neil you've been fantastic"
Diamond in the rough November 26, 2005
Dr. Emil Shuffhausen (aka Tom Bombadil) (Central Gulf Coast)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is Neil Diamond like we haven't heard him since the 1960s, or maybe ever. Paired brilliantly with Producer Rick Rubin, music legend Diamond is corralled with his guitar, a microphone, and a batch of stellar songs, and the result is more intoxicating than red, red wine.
Stripped down and roughened up, Diamond comes off less as "The Jewish Elvis" and more like a biblical voice of old (see Johnny Cash, the Rubin years). There is wisdom, grace, and power in Diamond's voice and words, recapturing a vitality and dynamic that he has not displayed in seeming aeons. He sounds warm, yet defiant and fiesty also.
"Oh Mary" is a simple song who's power is in its very understatement...the longing and pathos in Diamond's voice is palpable. "Hell Yeah" is a triumph, it's Diamond's "My Way," but you get the sense that Diamond still has more life left in him, rather than being simply an epitaph. Other highlights include "Evermore," with it's building intensity, and the giddy, swinging "Delirious Love." I loved the simplicity, spirituality, and conviction of "Man of God," and the directness of "Face Me."
There is no filler here on this CD; no false moves or phony moments. Here is the sound of a seasoned, successful artist re-discovering the joy of daring and risk-taking and KNOWING that somehow it's really, really working well. While some of the songs have serious themes, there is an underlying sense of pleasure throughout; for Diamond as he performs and the listeners as we take it all in .
Musically, the sound here is spare...Diamond's acoustic guitar, with the occasional light orchestral flourish or soulful organ or spritely piano. But make no mistake; simplicity is by no means uninviting here. Quite the contrary--12 SONGS by Neil Diamond draws in the listener and doesn't let go even long after the disc has finished spinning.
Rate Diamond or Sony ? November 25, 2005
Buckeye (Germany)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Although I don't completely understand the background and the problems with that SONY XCP and why Diamond and Rubin possibly agreed to that process - I think we should rate the music of that album - so I do. During a 2 week travel in the US I heard 12 Songs, liked it a lot - so all my American friends did - and we bought it. I really appreciate Diamond for trying this "back to the roots" after so many years of different intentions. Exept for 1 or 2 "quite ok songs" that album is absolutely great, deserves 5 stars and a better and more professional promotion by Sony.
WELCOME BACK...NEIL !!! November 23, 2005
L. Mccullough (Boulder, CO)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
THE BEST !!! After I ripped open my Amazon delivery this week, I have listened to this just released Neil Diamond CD non-stop. Each play sounds even better. The music, lyrics and arrangements are the best, in my opinion. There is the Neil we remember,and there is a New Neil to welcome. A great combination of Diamond and Rubin. Thanks for your efforts and accomplishment.
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