Personnel: Neil Diamond (vocals, guitar); Emory Gordy, Jr. (guitar, vibraphone); Richard Bennett, Danny Nicholson (guitar); Alan Lindgren (keyboard); Reine Press (bass); Dennis St. John (drums); Jefferson Kewley (percussion).

String section includes: Hyman Goodman, Jay Rosen, John deVoogdt, David Turner, Tibor Zelig, Samuel Boghossian, Myron Sandler, Sven Reher, Linn Subotnick, Marilyn Baker, Philip Goldberg, Jesse Ehrlich, Giacinto Nardulli, Salvatore Crimi, Henry Ferber, Beldassare Ferlazzo, Wilbert Nuttycombe, Shari Zippert, Walter Wiemeyer, Richard Kaufman.

Recorded live at the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, California on August 24, 1972. Originally released on MCA Records (6896). Includes liner notes by Karen Shearer.

All songs written by Neil Diamond.

In addition to his excellent skills as a songwriter, Neil Diamond is also known for his bold, often theatrical performance style. One glance at the cover of HOT AUGUST NIGHT--Diamond clothed in denim and Native American jewelry, with his hands hovering over his body, and an expression suggesting a trance of intensity--and the listener knows he or she is in for some serious performing. The pop icon delivers as expected; HOT AUGUST NIGHT, recorded in 1972 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, documents the epic showmanship of a Neil Diamond concert.

Listeners will certainly get their money's worth. Diamond's best-loved songs stuff the two-disc, 25-track set list--the ubiquitous "Sweet Caroline," the infectious "Song Sung Blue," et al, plus versions of "Red Red Wine" and "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon," which he wrote, but were also hits for others. An energetic backing band and a full string section complement the singer's impassioned performances, and an encore medley of "Soolaimon" and "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show" brings the show to a fiery close. HOT AUGUST NIGHT remains one of Diamond's best-selling albums. Give it a listen and see why.