Hot August Night

I'm 33 years of age and I don't think this album will ever be surpassed in my lifetime.


What's the difference?   July 25, 2002
mark harper
18 out of 18 found this review helpful

As a 26 year old many people find it unusual that I am a Neil Diamond fan!? However I can honestly say that since the age of probably six I have always been so.

The album which I battered on my fathers' turn table which first captured my attention at such an early age was 'Hot August Night'

It is safe for me to say that this is probably mr. Diamonds best ever live performance however, as the title suggests, he doesn't change. I went to see Neil Diamond at the Birmingham NEC Arena 20.07.02 and except for the expected like a little loss of umph ( he is 61 now!) nothing really changes.

Hot August Night is like a musical pheonix rising from a stale world of boring entertainment, the emotion which Neil produces from both his lyrics and, at times, his haunting tones is second to none. If you close your eyes you feel as though you are there with the rest of the audience as Neil describes to everyone his views from the stage.

A true marvel of musical and personal emotion, this is a lesson in how to entertain people whilst enjoying doing so.

Robbie Williams, eat your heart out!


A Live Album of Rare Quality   March 1, 2005
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

Neil Diamond: 30 years ago live in concert.They dont come much better than this.This album is an amazingingly well produced and performed live album.The quality of the recording is stunning and then there is Neil Diamond himself singing songs that are songwriting masterpieces;tender,beautiful,heartfelt and touching those areas of the mind and heart that only truely great music can do.He has written some of the greatest and most beautiful songs of the last century and all those years ago at the Greek theatre he performed them with an aura that surpasses the many years ago it happened.A live album of rare perfection.It shouldnt matter what music you are into,if you really are a musicphile,this album should be in your collection.


"and for the tree people this album is for you"   December 11, 2001
Romari (Glasgow)
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

if you only buy one Diamond album for your historical collection, make it this one. Bought my first copy when I was 15 and i am now almost 50!Another name for this album maybe quite simply Neil Diamond. It says it all. From the haunting intro and through his classic songs that kids nowadays just can't get into the groove, thro' country sounds to the exhillarating finale and encore of Soolaimon. I would not upgrade my vinyl to CD until recently. I just prefered the atmosphere of the records or scratches.

This is Neil at his best and in my estimation his best album.. ever. Regardless of best sellers to come in the wake of Hot August Night it is still an album that will stand the test of time and be a classic to be enjoyed when other records are kept in boxes in the loft.
in fact I am about to buy the remastered version but i suspect that it might be too clean a recording. And for the tree people out there, this album is for you, if you have the album you know what this means.

Looking forward to seeing him live in Glasgow in June 2008.


Simply One Of The Best Live Albums Of All Time   February 20, 2006
David Lusher (London England)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

This album is pure entertainment. It's as simple as that. Artists' reputations are made in live performance; this album illustrates - no - PROVES - that Neil Diamond is one of America's premier live performers. The sheer quality of the music shines like a beacon. And that voice is just unmistakable. This is one of the best live albums in the music business. Never mind diamond, this is pure gold!