Retro Reviews: Neil Diamond: Stones

     I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 60s and start of the 70s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are indeed classic albums. 

Neil Diamond – Stones (1971)

***1/2

Producer: Tom Catalano

Musicians: Same line-up as prior album, Neil Diamond, Al Cassey, David Bennett Cohen, Neil LeVang, Don Peake, Louis Sheldon, Red Rhodes, Randy Cierley, Joe Osborn, Ray Pohlman, Artie Butler, Larry Muhoberac, Marty Paich, Don Randi, Hal Blane, Larry Bunker, Sandra Crouch, Earl Palmer, Gary Coleman,  Gene Estes, Emil Richards, Lee Shamburger, etc…

Songs: I Am…I Said, The Last Thing On My Mind, Husbands and Wives, Chelsea Morning, Crunchy Granola Suite, Stones, If You Go Away, Suzanne, I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today, I Am…I Said (Reprise)

Reviewed by Matthew Anthony Allair

    Neil Diamond’s follow up to last year’s Tap Root Manuscript, at points, may not be as compelling, but there’s little doubt that Neil’s writing keeps showing a marked evolution as the opening track acts as the emotional anchor, but we’ll get back to that shortly, it has a mixture of other’s songs Joni Mitchell, Roger Miller, Randy Newman, Jacques Brel, Neil’s few originals are what keep this album interesting, There’s more a selection of ballads and mid tempo numbers, with one original that comes to life, such is the way Neil works there days, and I have a strong hunch that producer Tom Catalano lead some of the safer selections. Arrangers Marty Patch, Lee Holdridge and Larry Muhoberac offers up a good balance between the rock and pop backing and orchestras, there’s some good playing throughout as much as little of it is intrusive to the vocals.

    One of Neil’s greatest strengths has been his introspective nature with his writing, and the opening, and the heart of the album “I Am…I Said” has a profound sadness, it’s the kind of self honestly you hope from Dylan, and get from Mitchell at various times. The ballad “The Last Thing On My Mind” is a good choice and fitting for the tone of the album, filled with regret. The country ballad by Miller “Husbands and Wives” does seem to channel the spirit of Jimmy Webb at moment. Mr. Diamond does a good read here, and sprinkles of saloon piano keep it interesting. Joni Mitchell has become one of the best out there, and Neil does a brisk, upper tempo read on the number, it gives a trace of hope from the bleakness. Neil’s “Crunchy Granola Suite” has a real life with the electric guitar, and bright shifts with the arrangement. Again, it represents the dark and shade that is necessary. 

    The second half opener and title track is another Diamond original has a sympathetic recollection has some memorable musical phrases. French pop songs has had a large impact in the pop firmament, Neil’s take on the pleading “If You Go Away” is good, and I recall that Streisand had done the record on her sixties French album. Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne” is another fitting choice for the album’s tone, the spiritual take about romance gives something interesting for Neil to work with. Newman’s “I Think It’s Gonna Rain Today” has become a popular number to cover, but it’s a tricky number as some focus on the wistfulness but not on the bottomless sadness of the piece, Nail manages to handle this well. The reprise of “I Am…I Said” just sounds like another take that accents the strings, but it makes for an interesting coda for the album.

    The biggest frustration with the album is it doesn’t give Neil room to showcase where his original writing is going, and I will be curious to see if he can meet the challenge and deliver more original compelling work. This sounds like a stopgap.