Get a Home Version of the Neil Diamond Concert Experience with Hot August Night II

I’ve been a Neil Diamond fan since about the age of eight, so when I decided to host a write-off for the month of August, the phrase “hot august night” popped into my head immediately. Diamond released two live albums by that title; Hot August Night II was recorded in 1986, 15 and a half years before I saw him live and 14 years after the first Hot August Night was recorded. Folks looking for a nice collection of his hits will find most of them here, though you’re probably better off going with a Greatest Hits version if you want the best renditions of these songs.

Hearing a favorite performer live is an exciting experience, and the energy of the crowd and the thrill of close proximity make up for melodic deficiencies, but listening to it on an album, it gets a little grating to hear all that cheering, as well as the way he often shouts out lyrics in order to make them heard over the roar of the crowd. Still, if you’ve never been to a Neil Diamond concert, Hot August Night II will give you a pretty good idea of what it’s like.

Song of the Whales - The concert kicks off with this short, spooky-sounding tune with pounding drums, crashing cymbals and synthesizer blasts approximating the sounds of the ocean. Presumably this is what plays as he takes the stage; over the aquatic-styled music, the cheers of the crowd rise.

Headed for the Future - Neil sounds a bit growly in this one, which I suppose is mostly to get the crowd riled up. The notion of moving in unison toward a communal goal seems fitting for the opening of a concert, and the future element works with the fact that this concert was recorded more than a decade after the first. After the song, he gives some introductory remarks that indicate this and greet the throng of fans who have come to hear him in Los Angeles. “Time don’t wait around forever. We gotta do it right now; let’s do it all together.”

September Morn - While this album was recorded in August and the title phrase appears in a later song, September is the only month to turn up in a title. This is a slow but rather over-the-top song with a nostalgic bent as he recalls a long-ago September, confessing how September mornings often inspire a reminiscent mood. “Look how far we’ve come. So far from where we used to be, but not so far that we’ve forgotten how it was before.”

Thank the Lord for the Night Time - Neil introduces this song by showing off his “Everly Brothers acoustic guitar,” apologizing that the problem with it is that it only plays oldies. He proceeds to play this peppy song with the old-timey chorus of voices in the background. By the end, it’s more than just acoustic we’re hearing as he discusses the disappointments of daily life and the reprieve that comes at the end of the day. “Talk about plans, well, baby, I got plenty. Nothin’ ever seemed to turn out the way it should…”

Cherry, Cherry - This upbeat little number is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. It’s a simple little song of young love and mild rebellion with blasts of brass to help set the rhythm throughout the song. A fun number. “Oh yeah, oh yeah, you know what I’m sayin’. Can’t stand still while the music is playin’.”

Sweet Caroline - But not as fun as this one, which is the one Neil Diamond song that people just can’t seem to resist singing along with. It’s not a particularly melodic version of the song, since he spends half his time shouting rather than singing, but it’s a rare performer who sounds better on a live album than a studio one. He addresses the verses to the crowd, to a series of massive cheers. I wonder if this crowd was instructed not to sing along because it seems strange to hear the song and not the “BUM BUM BUM” that usually follows “Sweet Caroline” in a big group. Still, it’s easy to tell how enthused the audience is. “Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good. I am inclined to believe they never would.”

Hello Again - This is another slower song, with violins and piano the primary accompanying instruments. Like September Morn, it feels a bit over-the-top when those strings swell, but this tender song of apology and appreciation is a nice, mostly quieter moment in the set. Again, he addresses the song to the audience, changing the word “friend” to “friends.” “I couldn’t sleep at all tonight, and I know it’s late, I just couldn’t wait…”

Love on the Rocks - Two slow songs in a row, and this one gets a bit maudlin as he mourns the loss of a relationship, occasionally snarling his way through the chorus. It’s a bit of a downer, but then so is the experience of falling hard for someone and then having that romance fall to pieces. “I got nothin’ to lose, so I’ll just sing the blues for a while.”

America - After two slow songs, it’s time for one of the most energetic songs in the set. This one is just so much fun to listen to with the multi-faceted accompaniment and the lyrics capturing the immigrant experience. At times the music reminds me of Aaron Copeland as he tries to express the tumult and joy of people from a variety of backgrounds embarking on life in a different land and finding newborn patriotism. One of my favorite tracks, though hearing it second-hand doesn’t quite compare to the energy of seeing it performed live. “Everywhere around the world, they’re comin’ to America. Every time that flag’s unfurled, they’re comin’ to America.”

Forever in Blue Jeans - I’m also a big fan of this ode to simple joys. The upbeat tempo and generally optimistic tone puts a smile on my face, as does the idea that material pleasures can’t compare to the happiness derived from the company of certain people. Incidentally, this song is strongly associated with A Crooked Kind of Perfect, one of the most delightful mid-grade novels I’ve read this decade. “As long as I can have you here with me, I’d much rather be forever in blue jeans.”

You Don’t Bring Me Flowers - A piano-heavy lament about a relationship that has grown mundane. Linda Press joins in this duet of a long-together couple wishing they could inject some fresh romance into their marriage. “It used to be so natural to talk about forever, but used to be’s don’t count anymore, they just lay on the floor till we sweep them away.”

I Dreamed a Dream - It’s funny to listen to Neil introduce this Broadway classic as a song from a brand-new musical. First he speaks, then he sings a sort of introduction as well, setting the tone for the song that is now associated as strongly with overnight sensation Susan Boyle as Les Miserables. It’s interesting to hear such a strongly pop version of this, and one such by a man at that. He also adds a couple of unique touches to the lyrics, ending it more optimistically with “But life can’t kill the dream I dreamed.”

Back in L.A. - This is an appropriate song to break out at this concert. Basically a love letter to Los Angeles, it talks about all the traveling he does and the special place in his heart that he reserves for this bustling city. “This is my time, and I like to be free. I know I can do it if L.A. is there for me.”

Song Sung Blue - A mellow, acoustic-flavored song with a fun intro. “This song goes back so far that I usually forget the words to it myself,” he jokes before asking the audience to help him out by joining in. It’s a very simple and cheerful song about how singing sad songs can make you feel better. “Song sung blue, everybody knows one. Song sung blue, every garden grows one…”

Cracklin’ Rosie - This is one of those songs that is a lot more melodic in the studio version, and I miss the way he exploits his lower register; here, he doesn’t stretch his voice much, and a lot of the time he hollers more than sings. Still, a very peppy song. “We got all night to set the world right, find us a dream that don’t ask no questions.”

I Am… I Said - A rather despondent song about figuring oneself out and feeling very lonely in the process. Some unusual lines in this one help make it especially memorable. “’I am,’ I said to no one there, and no one heard at all, not even the chair.”

Holly Holy - Not a Neil Diamond song I’m very familiar with, and I find it a little hard to figure out the point amid its tongue-twistery lyrics. It seems to be using religious imagery to describe a desired romantic relationship. A little odd, but I dig the choir singing backup. “Touch a man who can’t walk upright, and that lame man, he’s gonna fly.”

Soolaimon - This fast-paced, guitar-driven track is the shortest on the album. The lyrics consist mostly of variations on the title, giving most of it a chant-like feel. Just a snippet leading into the longest song on the album.

Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show - This song incorporates the words “hot August night” as he sets the stage for an old-fashioned tent revival. There’s more talking, in the manner of a charismatic sermon, than there is actual singing, aside from the Gospel chorus of “Alleluias”. A very boisterous song. “Take my hand, sweet Lord. I will never stray. In my heart I know I will find my way.”

Heartlight - This song, inspired by the movie E. T., makes an appropriate ending for the concert as he once again addresses it to the audience, expressing his appreciation for their presence and his hope of seeing them again. A low-key closer, and it’s easy to imagine a crowd of thousands swaying back and forth with lighters in hand. “Turn on your heartlight. Let it shine wherever you go. Just let it make a happy glow for all the world to see.”

I saw Neil Diamond on a cold February night, but the sense of fun in gathering with thousands of others to hear these timeworn songs was undiminished by the lower temperatures. While I wouldn’t listen to these tracks in lieu of the studio versions, Hot August Night II is a solid album for all those who have ever wished they could attend one of his concerts.