Description
Neil Diamond – Hot August Night III – Double Vinyl Record
Neil Diamond – Hot August Night III, released in 2018, is the third and final installment in a trilogy of legendary live albums that began with 1972’s iconic Hot August Night and continued with Hot August Night II in 1987. Recorded live at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on August 24, 2012, this performance marked both a homecoming and a farewell of sorts — a victory lap by an artist reflecting on a storied career, delivering an emotionally charged, career-spanning set to an adoring crowd at a venue that’s long been central to his legacy.
Where Hot August Night (1972) captured Neil Diamond in the flush of his early stardom — passionate, youthful, and kinetic — and Hot August Night II (1987) presented him as a mature showman in full control of the stage, Hot August Night III portrays an artist gracefully embracing his legend, looking back not with nostalgia, but with purpose, gratitude, and enduring vitality. A total of 20 tracks that blend fan favorites, deep cuts, and heartfelt tributes to a decades-long career.
The performance is particularly poignant given that, just a few years later in 2018, Diamond would announce his retirement from touring due to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. That makes Hot August Night III more than just a live album — it is a parting gift, a document of one of the final times Diamond performed live in his full, charismatic glory, surrounded by a full band, a string section, backup singers, and the roar of a crowd that had grown up with his music.
The concert opens in grand fashion with “Overture,” a lush, orchestral introduction that sets the tone for the show’s scale and sentimentality. From there, Diamond launches into “Soolaimon” and “Beautiful Noise,” both delivered with exuberance and precision. His voice — rich, resonant, and unmistakably his — shows signs of age, but not of decline. There’s a warmth and depth in his vocal delivery that adds new emotional weight to familiar material.
The setlist spans virtually every era of his career. Early classics like “Solitary Man,” “Cherry, Cherry,” and “Kentucky Woman” are performed with raw energy, reminding listeners of his roots in 1960s pop-rock. His 1970s songwriting peak is well represented through masterworks like “Play Me,” “Song Sung Blue,” “If You Know What I Mean,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and of course, the epic “I Am… I Said.” These songs, with their blend of introspection, melody, and theatrical flair, are given new life with orchestral flourishes and a live band that enhances rather than overwhelms.
Naturally, the concert builds to “Sweet Caroline,” Diamond’s singalong anthem that has long transcended its original form to become a communal experience. Here, it becomes a near-religious moment, with the entire Greek Theatre audience joining in for the famous “so good, so good, so good” refrain. It’s a performance full of joy, showmanship, and mutual affection between artist and audience.
The production quality of Hot August Night III is excellent. The recording captures not only the clarity of the music but also the electricity of the live setting. The DVD (or Blu-ray, depending on edition) brings it all to life visually, showing Diamond’s connection with his audience, his command of the stage, and the emotional arcs of the performance. The camera work emphasizes not just the performance, but the intimacy and emotion — particularly in moments when he’s addressing the audience between songs with gratitude, humor, and humility.
In the broader context of Neil Diamond’s legacy, Hot August Night III stands as a testament to longevity, craftsmanship, and audience connection. It’s not just a continuation of the Hot August Night tradition — it’s the culmination. The original 1972 album helped establish Diamond’s reputation as one of the greatest live performers of his generation; Hot August Night III reaffirms it in the twilight of his career, showing that the magic never faded, only deepened with time.
For longtime fans, this album is an emotional ride — a concert that feels like a reunion with an old friend. For new listeners, it’s a beautifully captured introduction to the scope of his artistry. And for the artist himself, Hot August Night III is, in many ways, his final bow — filled with grace, gratitude, and the music that defined a lifetime.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Overture
Soolaimon
Beautiful Noise
Forever In Blue Jeans
Play Me
Red, Red Wine
You Got To Me
Cherry, Cherry
Kentucky Woman
Solitary Man
Cracklin’ Rosie
I’m A Believer
Holly Holy
Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline – Reprise
I Am… I Said
America
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
I’ve Been This Way Before
Walk Off
