ALBUMS: Diamond ‘Beautiful Noise’; Streisand: ‘My Name is Barbra’
MVC Rating: Barbara — 3.5/$; DIamond -3.5 –$$
This is not my cup of tea. I don’t deny their success and know they have some passionate passionate (yes 2x) fans, Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond.
There is nothing connecting these two selections other than I have them in my collection. I just thought I’d do them in the same review given my perception of them is of two MOR balladeers with Top 40 chops and talent I appreciate — but don’t enjoy very much. I am filing them in the D’s for Diamond.
The Diamond album I bought used because the cover said it was produced by Robbie Robertson famed member of the Band. He even plays guitar on some tracks.
Babs is a great singer. Not a fan of the song selection on this one. The Sweet Zoo song made me bite down on a leather belt until it was over. Why Did I Choose You — well after the ‘you’ in this heard this song, he was wondering the same thing. This was a tie-in to a TV show and it did become a Gold record (500,000 in sales.)
The Diamond album is a little better. But he reminds me too much of a perpetual Elvis in Vegas act. His Top 40 hits in the 70s are a guilty pleasure, even the inane ones (which covers about all of them).
Shilo, Sweet Caroline, Cracklin’ Rose, Song Sung Blue, and so on.
Oh and I should give props to Barbra for much of her acting career, except I don’t know if I could stomach ‘A Star is Born’ these days without a little dramamine.
I’m counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.