Neil Diamond built up a large, loyal following during the late ’60s, producing a string of pop hits like “Sweet Caroline,” “Holly Holy,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” and “Song Sung Blue.” Diamond’s landmark 1972 live album Hot August Night established him as a major performer in adult pop, both as a recording artist and as a live performer. Columbia stole Diamond away later that year, signing him to a controversial multi-million dollar deal. His first Columbia album, 1973’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack, went double platinum and won him a Grammy. After taking a few years off to spend time with his family, Diamond returned in 1976, selling out shows worldwide and releasing several platinum albums in a row. His 1978 duet with Barbra Streisand, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” reached No. 1, and his soundtrack for 1980’s The Jazz Singer, in which Diamond also starred, spawned three Top 10 singles and sold five million copies. Though he had few hit singles in the ’80s and ’90s, album after album continued to go platinum, and Diamond remained a top concert draw for years. His album, 1996’s long-awaited Tennessee Moon, marked a departure from Diamond’s usual pop style to country, reaching No. 3 in the country charts. In 2010, Diamond released Dreams.
