Originally released as three separate albums, CLASSICS: THE EARLY YEARS (1966-1967), THE JAZZ SINGER and BEAUTIFUL NOISE.

In the mid-1960s, Neil Diamond was just another respected journeyman songwriter who had cut his teeth cranking out tunes at New York's celebrated Brill Building. CLASSICS: THE EARLY YEARS captures the singer at what some consider his 1960s creative apex. "Red, Red Wine," will be familiar to many listeners from the chirpy UB40 reggae version, while the moody "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" still sounds fresh decades later. Naturally, Diamond penned the music for his version of THE JAZZ SINGER himself, and the soundtrack was a phenomenal commercial success. Three of the songs here should be instantly familiar to anyone who drew a breath in the early '80s: the tender ballad "Hello Again," the haunting, swirling "Love on the Rocks," and the swelling patriotism of "America." Elaborate instrumentation and arrangements (the songs are richly outfitted with strings) add to the power of Diamond's performances. Produced by the Band's Robbie Robertson, 1976's BEAUTIFUL NOISE features the cream of L.A. sessionhood in a collection that includes the hit title track and the anthemic "Dry Your Eyes," also featured in the movie THE LAST WALTZ.