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It was as a Brill Building songwriter that the young Neil Diamond first found success in the early 1960s, before mounting one of the most impressive solo careers in pop history. Over the past five decades, many great artists have recognised Diamond’s songwriting talent and chosen to cover his songs. We look at ten of the best of those Neil Diamond covers, spanning the years 1966 to 1993.

The Monkees – “I’m a Believer”

The Monkees’ cover of “I’m a Believer” is a fine recording of an excellent pop song, with a great vocal from Mickey Dolenz. Their version was released on single in November 1966, backed with “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.” The single went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1967, where it stayed for seven weeks, and would become the best selling single of 1967. With an impact like that, it’s not surprising that the Monkees’ cover is more well known and certainly more often played than the Neil Diamond original.

The song would not have been regarded as a cover when released, as although Diamond recorded “I’m a Believer” first, he didn’t actually release it until the summer of 1967 when it appeared on his second album “Just For You.”

Urge Overkill – “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman”

Urge Overkill released “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman” on their 1992 EP “Stull”, but it is much better known for its inclusion on the “Pulp Fiction soundtrack” album in 1994.

Urge Overkill stay quite faithful to the Diamond arrangement and vocalist Nash Kato is certainly influenced by Diamond’s original. Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” was such a big movie and the soundtrack album sold so well that many will have heard the Urge Overkill cover before the Diamond original.

Diamond’s version of “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman” first appeared on his 1967 album “Just for You.” It was also released on single and hit number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Elvis Presley – “And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind”

When producer Chips Moman was given the opportunity to work with Elvis Presley at the American Sound Studios in Memphis, he postponed the Neil Diamond session that had been scheduled. To compensate Diamond for this delay, Moman encouraged Elvis to record Diamond’s “And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind”, which he did on February 18, 1969. Elvis turned in a subtle and very engaging performance, with expert backing from the American Sound Studios house band.

“And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind” was one of the strongest cuts on the second LP of Elvis’ great double album “From Vegas to Memphis”, which was released in October 1969. This second LP was re-released a year later as the standalone album “Back in Memphis.” The album was released in 2009 on disc two of the Legacy Edition of “From Elvis in Memphis” and that is the best way to purchase it.

Elvis’ recording of the song was made before Diamond released his version in May 1969 on his fourth album “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show” (later reissued as “Sweet Caroline”).

This is one of only two Neil Diamond songs that Elvis tackled. The second was “Sweet Caroline” which Elvis began incorporating into his live act during his second season at the International Hotel, Vegas in February 1970.

Deep Purple – “Kentucky Woman”

Deep Purple’s 1968 hard rock cover of “Kentucky Woman” hit number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also featured on their second album “The Book of Taliesyn.” The band still had their original line-up at this stage, including vocalist Rod Evans.

Diamond’s “Kentucky Woman” was released in October 1967. It was his last single for Bang Records and reached number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

UB40 – “Red Red Wine”

UB40 had a worldwide hit with their reggae-based reworking of “Red Red Wine” in 1983, reaching number one in the UK and also topping the US charts when re-released four years later. It also appeared on the band’s hit album “Labour of Love.” UB40 had been influenced more by a 1969 cover by Jamaican singer Tony Tribe than the Diamond original.

Diamond’s 1967 original was nothing like as successful as the UB40 cover, peaking at a lowly 63 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also appeared on his second album “Just For You.”

Jr. Walker & The All Stars – “Holly Holy”

Jr. Walker & The All Stars sound like they are in the middle of a gospel revival on their excellent recording of “Holly Holy.” Walker’s sax work is well judged and the gospel choir is used to great effect, as on the Diamond original. This was released on single by Motown at the end of 1970 and was a moderate hit for the group the following year.

Diamond’s version, released in October 1969, hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and also featured on the album “Touching You, Touching Me.” It remains a popular part of his stage show to this day.

Chris Isaak – “Solitary Man”

Chris Isaak recorded a fine version of “Solitary Man” in 1993. Isaak’s mournful vocal delivery works perfectly on the song and the lyrical content is a good match for the melancholy tone of much of Isaak’s own work. “Solitary Man” is a great closer for Isaak’s excellent album “San Francisco Days.”

“Solitary Man” was Diamond’s first single release in April 1966. It was a minor hit, reaching number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was also the opening track on his first album “The Feel of Neil Diamond.” Strangely, it also re-appeared on his second album “Just For You.”

Bobby Darin – “Song Sung Blue”

“Song Sung Blue” got the swing treatment from Bobby Darin in a live version on his 1972 weekly variety show. Darin’s approach works well with the song, with his laidback vocal accompanied by lively orchestration. This recording is available on the excellent CD/DVD collection of Darin rarities “Ace Back to Back.”

Diamond had recorded the song the same year and featured it on his album “Moods.”

Bobby Womack – “Sweet Caroline”

“Sweet Caroline” is Diamond’s most iconic song and so readily identified with him that it’s perhaps unwise for other artists to tackle it. Womack rises to the challenge with a solid, soulful rendition.

Womack included “Sweet Caroline” on his 1972 album “Understanding“. He also had a moderate hit with the song when released on single, backed with “Harry Hippie.”

Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, which was his biggest hit to date. It remains a hugely popular song to this day and is always a highlight of his live show.

Lulu – “The Boat That I Row”

“The Boat That I Row” was a comeback single for Lulu in 1967, reaching number six on the UK singles chart. Her previous five singles had failed to chart. Lulu’s cover has a similar arrangement to the Diamond original, but with a more dominant organ. There is a typically energetic vocal performance from Lulu which works well on this fun and catchy pop song.

“The Boat That I Row” was the B-side of Neil Diamond’s 1966 single “I Got the Feelin’ (Oh No No)”, which hit number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is also the last of five songs in this “ten of the best” list that were featured on Diamond’s second album “Just For You.”

Fans of Neil Diamond will be glad to know that remastered and restored versions of his original mono recordings will be included on “Neil Diamond: The Bang Years – 1966-68”, which is available to buy now. The 23-track collection includes the originals of five of the tracks discussed above, namely “Solitary Man”, “Girl, You’ll Be A Woman”, “Kentucky Woman”, “I’m a Believer” and “Red, Red Wine.”

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