What's Up with Neil Diamond?
Australian television is having a love affair with the 1970s right now. That glorious era of big moustaches, Chiko rolls and ham steaks is being celebrated in shows such as Paper Giants, Puberty Blues and the upcoming Howzat.
Those who were there will remember there was one artist who appeared in almost every suburban record collection around the nation, whose songs could be heard at just about every backyard barbie and neighbourhood party.
Neil Diamond's Hot August Night spend almost 30 weeks at number one in the Aussie charts, and he did a triumphant tour of Australia in 1976 ending in a massive farewell concert that was filmed and broadcast on television.
That show broke attendance records at the Sydney Sports Ground.
Diamond, 71, was recently given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, only fitting for an artist who has sold more than 125million albums worldwide.
More than 50 of his songs appear on Billboard's Hot 100 list of the most-heard songs, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.
He's considered the third most successful adult contemporary artist ever, behind Barbra Streisand and Elton John.
His eight number-one singles include Cracklin' Rosie, Song Sung Blue, Desiree and his duet with Barbra, You Don't Bring Me Flowers.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Hot August Night, and a deluxe edition has just been issued.
In 1972 Diamond played 10 sold-out concerts at the Greek Theatre in LA, and the August 24 performance was recorded and became the classic release.
The live double album includes number-one hits such as Song Sung Blue, as well as the intensely personal I Am ... I Said, which took more than four months to complete.
The song addresses his feeling of not really belonging anywhere after leaving his home in New York to move to LA.
Neil Leslie Diamond was born into a Jewish family in Brooklyn in 1941.
Despite having a name seemingly made for show business, he bizarrely considered changing it to Noah Kaminsky or Eice Charry!
At high school Neil was so good at fencing he received a scholarship to NYU, and maintained his skills into adulthood, even warming up with fencing exercises before his concerts.
Diamond initially planned to study medicine, with ambitions to work as a cancer researcher after his grandmother died from the disease.
But a music publishing company offered him a job writing songs for $50 a week, and he found himself working in the legendary Brill Building alongside the likes of Carole King.
After some early disappointing efforts at establishing a singing career, Neil's biggest success came as a songwriter for others, with the Monkees having big hits with I'm a Believer and A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.
Contrary to popular belief, he didn't write these songs specifically for the band but for himself, however the cover versions were released first.
Over the years many artists have had hits with his songs, including UB40 with Red, Red Wine and Urge Overkill with Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon.
Neil's performing career finally kicked into gear in the mid-60s with his first hit, Solitary Man, and he continued with smashes like Cherry, Cherry and Kentucky Woman.
A turning point came in 1970, when he moved to Los Angeles, and his sound mellowed.
This was the era of hits such as Sweet Caroline, Holly Holy, Cracklin' Rosie and Song Sung Blue.
Sweet Caroline is probably his best-known song, but never reached number one.
Diamond has said it was inspired by a photograph of Caroline Kennedy on a magazine cover, and took only an hour to write in a Memphis hotel room.
In the mid-70s he had success with the soundtrack to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, despite the film being a flop, and the Beautiful Noise album.
In 1980 what looked like a great opportunity for Neil became a setback, when he starred in the remake of The Jazz Singer, which was poorly received.
However, it did produce several hit singles, including Love on the Rocks and Hello Again.
During the 80s and 90s Diamond's record sales slumped, although he continued to be a very successful touring artist, and to this day audiences rave about what a wonderful live performer he is.
Only last year he played in the Hunter Vineyards, to glowing reports.
It's amazing he's still been able to perform on stage, after spinal surgery in 1979 to remove a tumour left him with severe and chronic back pain.
Even in his seventies he's maintained a youthful zeal, marrying his 41-year-old manager, Katie McNeil, earlier this year.
It's his third marriage, and he has four children with his former wives.
In recent years Neil Diamond has continued to do what he does best, writing and recording songs then performing them live on tour.
His 2005 album, 12 Songs, was well received and his 2008 release, Home Before Dark , became his first chart-topping album.
With this year's 40th anniversary of Hot August Night and plans for a series of return concerts at the Greek Theatre, Neil Diamond is likely to be in the spotlight again.
And he'll probably be bringing back a lot of memories for those of us who remember his music as the soundtrack to those Aussie summers of the 1970s.
In the "What's Up?" segment each Thursday at 3pm on 1233 ABC Newcastle's Drive program, Jeannette McMahon looks at aspects of popular culture including music, film, television and fashion. You can also listen via our website on abc.net.au/newcastle.
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