Home Before Dark

Editorial Review

Home Before Dark is the 29^th Studio album in Neil Diamonds long and illustrious career that goes back some 42 years to his first release, in 1966, The Feel Of Neil Diamond. In 2002 he was ranked third most successful adult contemporary artist behind only Elton John and Barbara Streisand in the history of the Billboard chart. So he has some legacy to follow!

For this release Neil has, once again, teamed up with producer Rick Rubin who he first worked with on his critically acclaimed 2005 release ‘12 songs’ on which Rubin, who had previously revitalised the career of Johnny Cash, stripped down the by then massive production on Neil’s previous albums, to the bare bones of Voice, Guitar and a very subtle backing band, the album was intimately recorded and lovingly produced, and a showcase for his song writing talents, as unlike the Johnny Cash work this album was full of all new songs, and was regarded by many critics as Diamond’s best album ever.

It is no surprise then to see this new release follow the same formula as 12 songs. Once again Neil has written a whole bunch of new songs and they have been recorded in the same stripped down way, of course the surprise element is missing this time but that by no means detracts from the quiet strength of this work. The first track If I don’t see you again is clearly supposed to pick up where 12 Songs left off and is an ode to a loved one showcasing Neil’s fret board techniques. Don’t Go There has that special Neil Diamond swagger, Act Like A Man, first written in 1984 but never recorded before this album shows why he was on the stage with The Band at The Last Waltz and Power Of Two has the full hearted conviction that Neil always brings to the best of his Pop tunes. Outstanding tracks for me are the title song, Home Before Dark’s lament to marital bliss and Pretty Amazing Grace, a hymn to the soul healing power of love.

This release also comes as a bonus DVD edition with film of Neil, in the studio, performing the songs Pretty Amazing Grace, If I Don’t See You Again, Forgotten and The Boxer a bonus track that does not appear on the album

Additional Info

• Recording: STEREO
• Format: Single Case

Tracklisting