In 1973, my mother returned from a lengthy bridgework session, where the dentist played her what became her favorite record, Neil Diamond’s career making live double, Hot August Night. It’s a more interesting set than I, age 5, then realised.
The former Tin Pan Alley tunesmith, brandishes his cast iron contributions to the Great American Songbook in a Californian amphitheatre, shaggy like a rock star, but unambiguously showbiz.
Diamond’s bizarre Springsteen-Manilow hybrid remains unresolved, even after tinkering from the reinvention guru Rick Rubin in 2005, but this expanded Hot August Night captures the freshly cut Diamond in his most enjoyably conflicted state.
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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98rosjon, Twitter
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World Without End, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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John Robins, Comedian
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Stuart, Chortle
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Brighton Argus
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com