Neil Diamond, Lee Holdridge - Jonathan Livingston Seagull: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

My favorite "non-greatest hits" album from Neil Diamond

I've had this CD for over 20 years now. It's a masterpiece in its own right. When you listen to a Neil Diamond song, you are focused on that one song as a great moment for Neil, even if the rest of his album may not impress you. But this album of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" is something to be cherished from Neil Diamond as a whole concept, a project.

On this album, Neil Diamond's voice really is only merely another instrument in what can easily be perceived as an instrumental album. Although he sings or speaks on most of the tracks here, it's the instrumentation that makes this album more than just another Neil Diamond album. Two tracks barely charted on the radio from this album. The song "Be" charted #34, and "Skybird" even lower at #75. But the album charted #2 for one week, and it happens to be Neil Diamond's highest charting album of all time. So, what does that tell ya?

I'm surprised that an effort hasn't been made to remaster this album so that the orchestration can be made fuller and more glorified.

I've never seen the movie and I'm hearing mixed reviews on the film being either a great movie achievement or just a dull passage of non-exciting events that portray the life of a single seagull.

Well, whether the movie is great or not, this album is definitely a masterpiece. It came out in 1973. Alot of fantastic albums came out of 1973. The year for ground-breaking starts for many artists. Pink Floyd, Elton John, Abba, Paul McCartney and Wings, Steve Miller Band, etc. etc.

And even some more brave Pioneers of Technical Sound Invention got recognized in 1973, like Emerson Lake and Palmer, Tangerine Dream, Rick Wakeman, Mike Oldfield.....

Yeah, I know I drifted here, but you'd have to agree that Neil Diamond couldn't have release this album at a better time than the glorious year of 1973. And just after he left MCA to sign on with Columbia.

I'll bet that MCA cried that year. Because Columbia also picked up Pink Floyd the following year and they really began to soar.

But, too bad Neil's music wasn't maintaining its appeal after "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Sure, he was still putting out hits, but he just wasn't that Aggressive Jewish Folk Rock Vocalist that he once was. I think he "Barry Manilow'd" on us and was performing "wussy pop suicide" which could only appeal to listeners his age and older. Much older.

"The Jazz Singer" was a remotely interesting comeback in 1980. But, I think nearly everything else on pop radio was pretty weak in 1980. 1980 was a bad year for everybody in music. 1981 and 1982 were pretty decent but MTV changed everything about how we listened to music.

Jeez, I can still go on and on, but I think I better end this review right here. August 11, 2008

This story will change your life forever...

This story will change your life forever, if you understand the message.

I read this book and saw the movie as a student in the 8th grade. This book has a very strong meaning and has helped me to make a difference in my life. This book has remained as my favorite book, to this day. I still love to read it. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is my role model. I feel that this story also helped me to develop strong charisma in my life.

I strongly recommend this book for class readings for anyone with students age 12 or older. I am very thankful to my teacher, Mrs. Jimenez, for sharing this book with her class and me. July 20, 2008

jonathan

I absolutely love Neil Diamond as a singer/songwriter since I was 16 and now am 56. I had the Jonathan Livingston Seagull music as an album when it first came out. I have always loved the music and especially, when he plays it in concert. So, naturally, I love this cd. June 5, 2008

A Diamond Constantly Above the Crowd

It's good to see the renewed interest in Neil Diamond's work. Although most people know him via his hits during the 60s, 70s and early 80s, this album is completely different from most of his other recordings.

I heard this album the first time a few years after its release and despite a young age got hooked on it. It has a majestic feel all over, as if it flew over the musical landscape of its period, and probably would do the same even if being released today. One could claim that it gave signals of the new age sound that later developed. In other words, it has aged remarkably well.

Anyone who has any of his compilations and actually listens to them should not let this Jonathan Livingston pass them by. Even those who do not have any interest in Diamond's other work may enjoy this album. It is timeless and a constant pleasure. May 25, 2008

Finally available

I waited many years to see this movie as I was a kid when it came out and no one would take me to it. Watch it with an open mind and gain some spirituality. The music is excellent and the message is as good for today as it was then. In a time when special effects rule our movies, this one is all natural. April 24, 2008

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