Neil Diamond - Velvet Gloves And Spit (review)
Neil Diamond - Velvet Gloves And Spit (Rev-Ola; CR REV 238)
reviewed by Michael Macomber
Neil Diamond has always been an interesting character. Too tough to be a pop guy, too pop to be a tough guy, he falls somewhere in between. His love songs have an edge. His edged songs are tempered by romance. This delicate balance is all over his brilliant 1968 LP, Velvet Gloves And Spit.
“A Modern Day Version Of Love” is a darkly glittering gem. When Diamond intones, “Gave not at all/got back as much,” he does so with the emotional depth of someone who has been there and back, time and again. The hilarious “Pot Smoker’s Song” comes from the opposite end of the spectrum, setting a sickly sunny chorus against sound samples of drug users telling their stories. As quaint as the message of the lyrics may seem, the structure is undeniably clever. Diamond’s wry sense of humor can also be heard on “Holiday Inn Blues,” a kickin’ band-on-the-road song. “Knackelflerg” is another grinner, with a lush arrangement and truly silly words.
Diamond takes a shot at social commentary on “Merry-Go-Round,” and not surprisingly, his aim is true. Like other successful social commentators, he personalizes his message, using the lyrics to question his own needs, desires, ethics, and goals. “Practically Newborn” is more self-analysis, with Diamond examining his past in light of a new love. On “Brooklyn Roads,” he takes us back to his home, spinning one of the finest and most evocative nostalgic ditties of the era.
Moving effortlessly from the velvet touch of “Sunday Sun” to the sarcastic spit of “Two-Bit Manchild,” Diamond is the ultimate pop troubadour. “Shilo,” added to the 1970 reissue of the LP and included here, is perhaps the best example of what makes Diamond’s style so engaging. In just a few lines, he evokes all the bitterness, joy, and sadness of childhood. And he does it to a darned catchy beat.
