Diamond

Neil Diamond's five-decade career as a singer, songwriter, and performer has certainly been a successful one by any standard. He’s sold well over 115 million records worldwide to date and has had eight number one singles ("Cracklin Rosie," "Song Sung Blue," "Desiree," "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," "Love on the Rocks," "America," "Yesterday's Songs," and "Heartlight"), and if he hasn't always generated the kind of critical respect he probably deserves, he’s been a steady and dependable artist who has managed to keep his large core audience happy. This 23-track set surveys the whole of Diamond's recording career, collecting his key and signature sides, beginning with his first hits for Bang Records in the mid-'60s through his commercial peak for Uni/MCA between 1968 and 1972, cuts from 1980’s The Jazz Singer (a soundtrack album that went platinum five times over on Capitol Records), and ending with tracks from Diamond's two Rick Rubin-produced albums, 2005’s 12 Songs and 2008’s Home Before Dark, on Columbia Records.

It could have been that Sade (collectively, the vocalist Sade Adu and her band) would have remained the darlings solely of the British underground rare-groove scene, but their sound proved irresistible to the mainstream, and the rest is history. Caught at the beginning of her career in 1985, Sade's cool vocals and exotic looks grabbed everyone's attention. But equally as important to Diamond Life's success was the velvet muscle of the band's accompaniment, a sinewy after hours groove, laden with minimalist funk. Eight of the nine tracks are self-penned. Straddling R&B and pop, this disc lays out the hooks and sultry allure that became Sade's soulful standard–intelligent and sexy at the same time. ~ Derek Rath

Diamond wrote the song "Hot Butterfly," which was released in 1978 under one of his group's names, Bionic Boogie, with Luther Vandross providing lead vocals. The song was later covered by David Lasley, The Sweet Inspirations, and Chaka Khan.

Conspiracy is a name of a concept album by King Diamond, being the second part of a story that begun on the album "Them". It was released in 1989. The song "Cremation" appears in the 2009 video game game Brütal Legend.Conspiracy was the last album to feature original drummer Mikkey Dee (however, he was only a studio musician at that time).

Hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden, DIAMOND DAWN are easily one of the most promising melodic rock bands to come out of the Scandinavian underground scene.The musical spirit and creative attitude of Diamond Dawn was born out of the idea that compromise won’t do when it comes to great melodic rock. With no desire to restrain their principles when it comes to the most important part of music, the songs, this group of young rockers possess the attitude and ability to bring the impact of a big time hard working band, anywhere they go.In a world where rock n roll seems to lack a certain positive nerve, the band stands for a vision of conveying energy and excitement through their pompous and melodic, yet hard rocking songs. With a clear vision of how melodic rock is supposed to be delivered, Diamond Dawn is ready to bring back the excitement to the music!