The Bang Years

iTunes Review

Released to coincide with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Bang Years is a fantastic reminder of just how skilled a singer and songwriter Neil Diamond was from the moment he made the determined shift from Brill Building songwriter to performer. These are great pop tunes, produced with a vibrancy that remains just as sharp forty-plus years later. The horns of “Solitary Man,” the handclaps of “Cherry, Cherry,” the Spaghetti Western tension of “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon,” the hip swagger of “Kentucky Woman,” the blistering keyboard and guitar of “I’m A Believer” (a hit for the Monkees) and his own ease with classic pop-rock, Paul Simon’s “Red Rubber Ball” (a hit for the Cyrkle) and Ritchie Valens’ hit, “La Bamba,” there was nothing Diamond couldn’t do well. Over the years he would settle into more relaxed and glossier productions, but for fans of ‘60s pop-folk-rock, there are so many tracks to recommend. Even obscure tunes such as “I’ll Come Running” and “The Time Is Now” are essential cuts for Diamond fans and casual listeners alike.