Music Review: Neil Diamond - "Dreams"

On this, his 28th studio album, Neil has decided to once again record a collection of songs made famous by other artists. Diamond has done this twice before with 1993's "Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building" and 1998's "The Movie Album: As Time Goes By." Both of those releases were spotty at best and sad to say, so is "Dreams." But that can be said of almost any album made up of "cover songs." Sometimes they work (James Taylor's "Covers" and Shaw/Blades "Influence") and sometimes they don't (Poison's "Poison'd").

Diamond adds nothing new to his versions of classic songs such as the Eagles "Desperado" or the Beatles "Blackbird" and "Yesterday." And while I'm on the subject…

"Attention all recording artists! Please STOP covering Beatles songs!!!

The original versions of these songs are so etched into our subconscious that trying to better what the Beatles did is almost sacrilegious. There's really only one time I can remember a Beatles song being done as well as the original and for that one we have to go all the way back to 1978 for Aerosmith's exceptional version of "Come Together."

So what's good about the CD? For one thing Diamond's voice sounds great. Gone is the raspy voice that sometimes plagues his live performances and by keeping the quiet stripped down production style that Rick Rubin used on "12 Songs" & "Home Before Dark," some of these songs take on a whole new life.

How do you top Gladys Knight and the Pips' "Midnight Train To Georgia?" Well to be honest… you can't. But, Diamond's acoustic take on this classic song had me really listening to the lyrics more than I ever have and I found his version to be almost hypnotic.

Of the handful of songs I did like the two written by Randy Newman: "Feels Like Home" & "Losing You" and Leon Russell's "A Song For You" were some of the best -- though this might be because I was not familiar with the original versions.

But by all means stay away from Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)." This song actually had me cringing and laughing at the same time -- a feat that should not be done while driving.

Now, before I give my final word on this CD, I want you to know… I am a HUGE Neil Diamond fan. Neil Diamond has been in my life since my older brother brought home a copy of "Beautiful Noise" in 1976. Since then I have purchased every single Neil Diamond album on the day of release. I am a true fan. But, I'm also one who won't let my favorite artists off the hook every time.

Drumroll please… 5 out of 10 drumsticks!!!