We’ve posted several vintage 70s BBC In Concert programs on the blog, wonderfully intimate performances featuring the likes of Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Carole King, James Taylor, The Carpenters, David Crosby and Graham Nash taped in front of small studio audiences at the old BBC Television Centre in London. With each of the artists they featured, the BBC sets are probably the very best records we have of these performers in their youthful prime. That would most certainly seem to the case with Neil Diamond’s set for the series. It smokes.

Admittedly I’m not all that big on Neil Diamond after his early years—he loses me pretty fast by the time he’s in his “hairy chest and glittery open shirt live at the Greek Theatre” phase, plus he and Billy Joel practically invented MOR—but when it comes to the first hits he racked up in the earlier part of his performing career, numbers like “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Shilo,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Song Sung Blue,” “I Am…I Said,” “Kentucky Woman”—well, the man could do no wrong. He wrote “I’m a Believer” for chrissakes! I love Neil Diamond, but it’s a pretty specific sliver of his six decade career that I love.
 

 
So basically I only have two pre-1972 Neil Diamond CDs—this one and this one, to be exact—but believe me when I tell you that they’re never far from the speed rack or out of the car.

This is, in my opinion at least, when Diamond was at his peak. The show is seriously rad, dad and features a set list comprised of “Sweet Caroline,” “Solitary Man,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Done Too Soon,” a killer recital of “A Modern Day Version Of Love” at 16:22, “He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother,” “Holly Holy,” “I Am I Said” and rounding out with a rousing “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” with its revival tent rap.

A better selection of Neil Diamond performances you simply could not ask for. Turn it up loud.