Hot August Night III
Hot August Night III commemorates one of the modern rock era’s most electrifying live performers, Neil Diamond. Hot August Night III, is a live concert performance that features the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s triumphant return to the legendary Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in August 2012. This magical performance also served as Diamond’s 40th anniversary celebration of the original multiplatinum-selling Hot August Night collection that was recorded at the very same venue on August 24, 1972. Diamond’s concert performance and onstage prowess is in full evidence on Hot August Night III, which features 33 songs including 31 of the Songwriters Hall of Famer’s greatest hits. Clocking in at over 2 hours and 20 minutes in length, his video contains rare behind-the-scenes footage with both the band and the crew, showcasing the undeniably palpable energy surrounding Diamond’s return to this most historic venue.Every album from Diamond and every concert is a chance to renew that commitment he made to his fans so long ago—to give them everything he possibly can. With many more years to go, the mission remains the same now as it was at the start: “I'd like just to continue to write songs that express my own life and feelings,” Diamond told Variety. “Writing songs and performing for an audience is such a satisfying creative outlet that I can't think of anything else I could do to top it.” In his lifetime, we have come to expect nothing less.From the fine acoustic twang of “Forever in Blue Jeans” to the pure Americana swing of “Kentucky Woman” to the eternal singalong sunshine of “Sweet Caroline” to the raw emotionality of “I Am I Said” to the welcoming arms of “America,” Hot August Night III cements Diamond’s mastery of the live stage and his unique connection with audiences the world over.Released in December 1972, the original Hot August Night — the title of which was culled from the opening line to one of Diamond’s most celebrated tracks, 1969’s “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” — captures the artist at the height of his live powers on the evening of one of his ten sold-out shows at the Greek that August. Of these nights, Robert Hilburn of The Los Angeles Times declared, “His 1972 Hot August Night stand at the Greek remains among the most celebrated series of shows by a mainstream pop-rock performer ever in Los Angeles.”Hot August Night II followed 15 years later in 1987, chronicling Diamond’s command of the Greek stage in August 1986. Subsequent set additions such as the pleading “September Morn,” the chart-topping ballad “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” and the intimate glow of “Heartlight” all continued to illustrate the ongoing evolution of Diamond’s deepening audience connection. In 2009, Hot August Night/NYC was released on CD and DVD featuring songs from recorded from Diamond's four shows at Madison Square Garden during his 2008 tour. An hour-long special featuring songs edited from the DVD was shown on CBS on the night of the disc's release which was watched by 13 million viewers.And now, with the endless dynamic enthusiasm that’s apparent all throughout Hot August Night III, Neil Diamond once again sweetly proves that good times never seemed so good.