ONLINE AUDIO: NEIL DIAMOND
Teleconferences can be dull affairs, but leave it to Neil Diamond to make the best of the situation. During a recent chat with reporters, this classy pop-rock superstar took care to address everyone on the line on a first-name basis.
Diamond, 67, didn't shy away from tough questions, either.
In the liner notes to his latest album, "Home Before Dark," he writes about how the new material coincided with some of the highest points of his life, as well as some of the lowest.
Pressed for details, Diamond replied:
"I didn't want to get into that, but OK -- you asked it, and I'm here to answer it.
"The highs were that I was able to actually continue to write songs that I liked. You always have that lingering doubt when you take on a project -- because I've been doing this since I was 16 years old -- and you just never do know whether something is going to come out. You can make all the plans and you make the commitments and you sit down with your guitar and you hope that something worthwhile starts to take shape. So that was a real high, because I liked the songs that were coming and it was very encouraging and gave me a lot of hope.
"As far as the lows -- and I don't want to get into it too deeply -- but my girl [Rae Farley, Diamond's long time companion] was going through a very difficult time after surgery [for severe back pain]. And by the way, she's much better now --getting around and doing fine -- but when the album was being written, she was in real trouble and I had a lot of conflicted feelings about trying to write music and create beautiful things while someone that I loved was going through such a difficult time."
When conversation turned to the sense of mortality weighing down on some of his new songs, Diamond shrugged it off as business as usual.
"I've thought about my mortality since I was 16, so that's nothing new," he said. "I never thought I'd make it this long, but somebody's been smiling on me and I have. I think the music has played a big part in keeping me going and keeping me happy and vital."
Immortality came up, too. Asked if he feels snubbed because the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has yet to induct him, the singer-songwriter who gave us "Sweet Caroline," "I Am . . . I Said," "America" and dozens of other Top 40 hits quoted Scripture, with a twist.
"What I tell myself is, 'Forgive them, Elvis, they know not what they do," Diamond said. "My only consideration is to make beautiful music."
Charming to the last, he left us with these words:
"Thank you, everybody. Have a beautiful day. I love you, just remember that, and come to see the show. Listen to the music. Be happy. Life is short, and let's enjoy it."