2008 issue UK 11-track digitally remastered CD album - 'Velvet Gloves And Spit' was recorded in New York before Diamond had perfected the Memphis-helmed sound of his subsequent hits and appeared in 1968 to little acclaim; however, following the single success of 'Shilo' in 1970, the song was tacked onto the album and was reissued in a new sleeve; stylistically, the album covers the whole spectrum of contemporary sounds from romantic ballads to tongue-in-cheek social commentary to brash pop gems not unlike his mid-'60s Brill Building output.

1. Two-Bit Manchild
2. A Modern Day Version Of Love
3. Honey-Drippin' Times
4. Pot Smoker's Song
5. Brooklyn Roads
6. Shilo [Re-Recording]
7. Sunday Sun
8. Holiday Inn Blues
9. Practically Newborn
10. Knackelflerg
11. Merry-Go-Round

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012NOKHS/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0012NOKHS/?tag=imwan-21

Note ~ the 1970 packaging of this album has been available for some time in the USA as a budget-priced CD. It has the later artwork (not the original 1968 cover art which will be used for the new UK pressing above), and the same tracks (but not remastered like the new UK version).



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002QW2/?tag=imwan-20

What--the first cover just wasn't brooding and sensitive enough?

Not a bad album, though I can do without the Pot Smoker's song. I have Play Me: The Complete Uni Studio Recordings....Plus!. There may be better sounding cds, but this has it all (4cds) in one fatboy case. Wish Neil's complete Bang recordings could be released.

I didn't know this album originally had a different cover.
The original cover scares me a little.
Actually, Neil Diamond scares me a little, too.

Pretty good songwriter, though. At least in the beginning.

There's a suggestion in the thread below that Neil's complete Bang material may at long last be forthcoming, from Sony/Legacy.

http://www.imwan.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=24676&hilit=neil+diamond+bang

Too bad Rev-Ola hasn't appended any bonus tracks, but this one probably will be worth picking up for the remaster, at least...now if only the Bang recordings are forthcoming, 2008 should be a very good year for Diamond fans. I believe his new, Rick Rubin-produced album is due in June, too, from a recent interview he gave with the British press!