Classics: The Early Years (1966-67) - Diamond, Neil (CD 1990)

When we hear the name Neil Diamond, most of us think of the middle-of-the-road fare that made him popular during the 1970s and early-'80s. However, much of Neil's early work was rock-influenced and very youthful-sounding. These songs have been covered by acts as diverse as The Monkees, Deep Purple, Urge Overkill, UB40, and T.G. Shepard, among others. This set opens with "Kentucky Woman," an acoustic strummer and a simple, earnest love song about a down-to-earth woman. "Cherry Cherry," an oldies staple, was Diamond's first top-10 hit, in 1966. It is a good-timey record with an irresistible...