For this ‘Throwback Thursday’ (TBT) episode of Documenting Popular Music, we are replaying our 2014 review of Neil Diamond’s Melody Road album. To date, it is the last studio album of all new songs Diamond has delivered, and he is currently out of the country with his concert tour, celebrating 50 years in music. The TBT replay of the album review is a small way to satisfy Diamond’s legion of fans during his absence.
The episode also offers some Neil Diamond history and takes a close-up look at the ‘A-list’ of musicians who performed on the album under the guidance of rock producers Don Was and Jacknife Lee.
The album was ultimately another Top 5 success for Diamond and featured several standout songs such as “Nothing But a Heartache,” “In Better Days” and “Something Blue.” Melody Road also continued the success Diamond is having late in a career that first saw him hit the charts in 1966.
Future episodes of Documenting Popular Music will feature a look at the making of one of Barry Manilow’s most beloved hits, an interview with the author of a new biography about Gordon Lightfoot, an in-depth interview with Merilee Rush (“Angel of the Morning”) and a conversation with a well-traveled musician from the 1980s who will be debuting a new jazz song.
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