Neil Diamond Band: Neil Diamond, Linda Press (vocals); Tom Hensley (conductor, piano, keyboards); Alan Lindgren (conductor, piano, synthesizer); Richard Bennett (acoustic & electric guitars); Doug Rhone (guitar, background vocals); Reinie Press (bass); Dennis St. John (drums); King Errisson, Vince Charles (percussion).

Additional personnel: Leonard Rosenman (conductor); Assa Drori, Sid Sharp, Jimmy Getzoff (concertmaster); Marilyn O'Brien, H.L. Voelker, Oren Waters, Luther Waters, Donny Gerard, Timothy Allan Bullara, Jeremy C. Lipton, Boyd H. Schlaefer, Mark H. Stevens, James Gregory Wilburn, Dale D. Morich, Yoav Steven Paskowitz, David Teisher (background vocals); The London Symphony Orchestra, The National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Originally released on Capitol (46026).

Neil Diamond's revisiting of the 1927 Al Jolson classic THE JAZZ SINGER (the first film to feature synchronized sound) keeps to the story of the original film; a young Jewish man turns his back on his heritage in an attempt to make it big in show business. 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."

In between are the hand-clapping groovers "You Baby" and "Amazed and Confused," the melancholic waltz of "Summerlove," and traditional Jewish songs like "Kol Nidre." Elaborate instrumentation and arrangements (the songs are richly outfitted with strings) add to the surge and power of Diamond's performances, and while the film itself may have faded into obscurity, the soundtrack has not. THE JAZZ SINGER remains one of Diamond's best-loved post-'70s efforts.

Q (8/96, p.132) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "....there's a solid seam of quality running right through the album....The attention to arrangement detail...gives the songwriting enduring depth and makes THE JAZZ SINGER both fresh and exciting 15 years after its original release."