Neil Diamond: Thank You Australia Concert - Live 1976

All these reviews have made excellent points, and the shortcomings, from today's perspective, have been validly pointed out - but I want to emphasize that this concert was 33 YEARS AGO! Yes, we have come a LONG way since then in audio/video production for live concerts, but we must understand that wasn't the way it was in those days. And, yes, Neil is older now ... but: AREN'T WE ALL? Putting it all into perspective: ABBA had just barely won the Eurovision Song Contest and were just barely getting off the ground. Now, doesn't THAT seem like it happened in the Stone Age? So much has happened since those days. IF you are a Neil Diamond fan, appreciate this concert for what it was then: totally dynamic. Speaking just for myself: I feel darn lucky to have come across this DVD and have added it to my collection ... love it! It arrived today, and I IMMEDIATELY sat down and watched it. Sure, we WISH we had the modern production techniques back then to have smoothed all sorts of stuff out (such as not having TV cameras with numerous low shots into glaring overhead lights), but I'm sure they did the best with what they had at the time. As I mentioned in a prior review of his HOT AUGUST NIGHT/NYC performance (DVD): we saw his show live in Paris the year after this '76 concert. Yes, it was classic (young) Neil Diamond ... dynamic ... awesome performance. And this DVD reminds me so much of that Paris gig. I will put in a plug for the HOT AUGUST NIGHT/NYC DVD, again, however. It HAS all the modern audio/video techniques fully utilized ... with a bigger band ... totally awesome experience. I would unhesitatingly recommend BOTH DVDs for your collection if you're a fan.UPDATE: 11-06-09: Just watched this concert again. It was the first time since my initial review, above. We turned off the lights, cranked up the sound, and WE WERE THERE! This concert is totally absorbing. Diamond has those 38,000 people at the concert ... and my wife and I here at home ... in the palm of his hand. Classic Diamond songs ... powerful ... VERY powerful. His music has always appealed to my very soul, and it was not a whit different tonight watching the concert again. I was transformed back to the time of long hair, flowered shirts, bell-bottomed jeans, and great ... GREAT ... Neil Diamond music! I am sooooo glad I had the opportunity to buy this superb DVD!Over ... and out ... :-)

I am amazed and not confused. This is so precious. I can imagine now why everyone wanted to see and get this video. It is awesome. How terrific and how generous a show it was. Why did we have to wait so long??????I am blown away. What a year it was in 1976 in Australia for Neil and how lucky for all his fans.The "Thank You Australia" video is so much fun to watch there is a lot of laughter, but mainly it is his music and all those wonderful songs that stay in your head forever. His voice is unbelivable still even now. I keep watching the video over and over. it is so much fun to see him do the commercials for the chocolates and the Pioneer sound system.What is so amazing about Neil Diamond is that he is so passionate about his songwriting and the music that he creates. He adores what he does and it shows when he tours. That is when you can see his passion.His fans from way back when have stayed with him for all these years because we know how wonderful his music is and how much fun we have watching him. He is a great entertainer and we are so lucky that we have a tour going on now and I know I will see him again in San Diego, at the Sports Arena in October, 2008. There is no way that I can personally express my joy in his music. I love Neil.........I know that all his fans will enjoy this video.

This is the best Neil Diamond DVD to come out. Other Neil Diamond Dvds are either chopped up Tv specials or 60 min made for TV affairs. Not so with "Thank you Ausrailla" concert in March 1976. Recorded before a large crowd of 38000 people(a record at the time)You get the complete 2 hour concert plus bonus features.Most experts agree that it's better to film a concert rather than videotaping it. However, It appears that the tapes have been preserved and taken care of. The quality of the picture and sound are very good.There is a bonus track of "Morningside", which has been restored. During the origanal broadcast, it was cut short by a comerical break. I wish they would have edited this song into the concert. This is only a minor thing-no big deal.If you are a diamond fan, you will want this DVD. Buy it. You won't find a more complete Neil Diamond concert on DVD than this!

Two hours of Neil playing great acoustic rock & roll with his classic band, the same folks who played on the immortal "Hot August Night" concert four years prior. Diamond was coming off of a concert sabbatical, filling stadiums throughout Australia and New Zealand. In appreciation of this great support, he allowed the last show to be televised live across Oz, nearly in it's entirety. And what a show it was--the version of Cherry,Cherry may have surpassed the HAN performance. I could have done without the lengthy "Johnathan Livingston Seagull medley which dominated the second half, but it had just been a massive hit, especially in that country. Video quality is better than most from that era, audio is acceptable stereo, echoey but with nice instrument separation.Don't miss the live onstage commercials, comprising about five minutes of the bonus features. Hilariously cynical readings of a script for candy bars and stereo equipment-good fun!

I Ordered “very good “condition. was shipped acceptable condition according to the packing slip. I would never have paid $35. for an “acceptable “ dvd item.. dvd has bubbles and paper residue stuck on the top side of the disk and It will not play.. Cannot order another to arrive before Christmas. This belongs in the trash. Total ripoff.

This is a keeper since he tours no more it is my favourite go to for Neil's music.

J'adore ce grand chanteur. La photo du DVD ne correspond pas avec le live.

Un concerto superlativo. Edizione ben curata

Diese DVD ist ein Sahneschnittchen!!!! Ein super gut gelaunter und fröhlicher Neil Diamond, der seine Songs - wie immer - super präsentiert. Seine rauchig klingende Reibeisenstimme geht unter die Haut und er selber rockt mit seiner Band ab, bezieht das Publikum mit ein und es gibt zudem noch ein Bonusprogramm auf dieser DVD. Unbedingt bestellen und genießen. Ich bin ein großer Neil Diamond Fan, doch auch andere werden begeistert sein. Von wegen Schmalzsänger, er ist einfach zum "Niederknien".

It is a particularly interesting time for me to personally review this DVD of Neil Diamond in Concert in Australia circa 1976. Having just been to see him at the Birmingham Concert last week, it is fascinating to compare the two, plus make an opinion on the intervening years.Firstly, I have been a fan for more years than I care to say.........38 years and counting. I have seen him many times live and probably have most of his recorded output on disc, vinyl or whatever format. Throughout, there has been a stellar rise through the 60s & 70s, a levelling off in the 80s and a severe dip in the 90s and early 2000s.I have never hidden from telling it as it is and have, up until 12 songs, been quite harsh, but honest when appraising the quality of his writings and performances during the mediocre years.To date, there has been little of note on DVD for the Diamond fan to first of all purchase, let alone appreciate. The Greatest Hits/Live in LA and Stages DVDs are in my opinion, very sub-standard Diamond. Too showbiz and ineffectual. This, I thought, would long be the case for ever and a day, until a few things changed my mind. Firstly, "12 Songs" and "Home Before Dark", both of which reminded both me and the public at large what true quality Diamond used to have...........and still does. Secondly, on the back of his new found credibility, the performance at Birmingham also harkened back to his golden days. He sang as opposed to growled, he had sensitivity as opposed to insincerity and lastly, he looked and acted like a serious star, not a performing clown. In short, he was brilliant and his whole being and direction turned around.This, brings me to the "Thank You Australia" DVD. It is superb. Never have I seen such terrific camera work as on this DVD. You couldn't get closer to the feel of the man himself unless you were actually on the stage alongside him. At times, you feel you are. He is at his most assured and charismatic, with a great selection of songs that are sung in that great voice, not always perfect, but always captivating. It may not have the raw power and emotion of "Hot August Night", or the intimate feel of the BBC 1 "In Concert" special from the early 70s, but it has other things that are just as wonderful.His stage presence from start to finish is what aspiring stars on American Idol can only dream of. On this DVD you get the delivery and most of all an exercise in stage craft. His interaction with the crowd is as good as you'll get with any performer. He has humour, timing and most of all, an ability to make you feel that he is communicating with you only, even when you're just watching as opposed to being there.One song I've never been too bothered with is "Song Sung Blue", but on this DVD, it is captivating the way he gets the audience firstly to sing with him and then whistle with him. Unbelievable.But this is more than just a DVD with a tremendous concert performance; it has so many other things on it.The commercials that he reads out to avoid having to break off to advertise the sponsors are delivered with a humour that it is worth watching a few times. However, perhaps the most exciting add on is the 50 minute interview that he gives. I have never seen such a personal "one to one" with Neil Diamond before, very interesting and revealing. Also delivered by both Diamond and the interviewer in a serious and intelligent fashion. Interesting to note that at this stage of his career, he didn't admit to the true source of inspiration for "Sweet Caroline". (Caroline Kennedy)To any true Diamond fan, I can't recommend it too highly. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Unlike some of his other DVDs I have been scathing about and only ever watched once, this is a collectors item..................it will be viewed many times again.