Karaoke Forums

Well, call this a rant, or say that I'm just whining. Being a karaoke host/singer who happens to sound like Neil Diamond (or so I'm told) I'm disappointed. I have been singing his tunes since I learned how to play the guitar 40 years ago; beginning with "Solitary Man". Since the release of Neil's album “12 Songs” , in 2005 and most recent “Home Before Dark” , I have been anxiously awaiting the release of a karaoke version of some (or all) of his cuts. Since just about everything else he wrote and/or recorded is available, I figured I'd be singing some of his new material within a year. I'm thinking this is more the action (or inaction) of the producers rather than Mr. Diamond; but I could be wrong. While I understand that the unavailability of this material in a karaoke format is not going to break their bank, I do believe that there are more people out there who would purchase the new CDs if they heard this music in other venues; such as karaoke. To that end, I also think there would be capital to be gained if they licensed the music for a reasonable fee. Again, just my rant.

I would bet there are others here who have similar unobtainable karaoke desires. What's yours???

If anyone should happen across cuts from these albums, please let me know.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

I assume that karaoke manu's do some sort of cost/demand analysis based on album sales or something along those lines. I'm sure it is a pretty straight forward formula of how many they think they can sell vs. how much it costs to produce.

And with that in mind, I would assume that the demand for new Neil Diamond just isn't out there, or else the karaoke would exist!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Most recent release of a Neil Diamond song is Pretty Amazing Grace. One of my karaoke friends sings it all of the time.

Good Point TopherM, I have no doubt that could be a contributing factor as well. I'm also keenly aware that while he still has a strong following, Neil Diamond is not necessarily the most sought after artist where karaoke is considered.

However, as other’s here may have seen elsewhere, there are some cuts which deliberately omit the lyrics (hence CD-G) just because someone in the production string will not release the rights. In this case Neil has a new producer; Rick Rubin. As such I'm thinking this possibility may exist concerning any cuts he has legal rights to. I could be wrong.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

I would be very interested in learning where I may obtain it as well.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

You are not alone in wanting unobtainable tracks! Personally, I want more Sarah Brightman tracks - specifically Fleur du Mal, The Last Words You Said, and Symphony. I've also been wanting Save Ferris tracks for years, but....they don't exist at all.

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

Is it imperitive that the music be in karaoke format? I have plenty of Neil Diamond backing tracks that I use at karaoke venues. These tracks include "Pretty Amazing Grace" and "Home Before Dark".

These tracks are backing tracks only, with no lyrics but I find that of all the hosts who are willing to play my CDs, none have been unable to do so. In fact, hosts that run a PC and have no CDG player can still play my CDs because they are just that... standard CD music format.

There are a lot more Neil Diamond songs available as backing tracks than karaoke, so if you are prepared to learn the lyrics, this may be an option for you. If so, let me know and I can let you know of the places I get my tracks.

Currently all the songs on my SS page


http://www.singersshowcase.com/profile.php?id=3236

are either ND songs or arrangements.

No, the karaoke format is not as important as having the music backing. So yes, I would be very interested in your source(s) of backing tracks for Neil's last two albums.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

My friend said that you could find PRETTY AMAZING GRACE on the SBI Karaoke website. Just a few bucks for the download he said. I hope you find it

Unfortunately the demand for such tracks probably would not give the manus the incentive to produce them. Which is pretty upsetting considering their are so many great artists that don't get produced for Karaoke. Instead we are subjected to crap like Lady Gaga.

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"Don't worry. It will feel better when it quits hurtin."

Doesn't he still sellout his concerts? I thought so, which would lead you to think there is demand for him still. I really don't know his recent stuff but my 2 favorites to do are Love on the Rocks and Heartlight.

jr, what's your favorite song of his you like to do?

It's really a toss-up. I guess I would pick "Holly Holy". But It's actually tied with "I Am, I Said" and "Brother Love's Travelin' Salvation Show". The latter of which always seems to get the crowd goin'.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

It is funny because we hadn't heard any Neil Diamond songs for quite some time at our show. Then one guy did one and next thing you know singers were running through his catalog. It took one person to remind everyone about how many good songs he has. But no one has tried "Pretty Amazing Grace" yet which we got from Selectatrack.

My own unattainable dreams would be songs by Dar Williams. I also wish that there was a market for some of the contemporary indigenous artists (Jim Boyd, etc.) so some of our singers who want to show some native pride could pick something other than "Indian Reservation" or "Half Breed."

LL: I LOVE Dar Williams. Annie DeFranco is a fave of mine, as is Loreena McKennitt (hard to find songs by her but I haven't checked Selectatrack yet). People love to hear The Mummer's Dance, especially because the chorus is pretty high - always surprises people. A real foot tapper. Adele is bringing more stuff out, and I'm on the trail to get a lot of Diana Krall now - glad she is so great about licensing. Just makes sense.

H
Ooooo....I love "Holly Holy"!!! One of my regulars sing it and "Play Me", and they are some of my favorites. I would love to hear your rendition. Do you post in the SS?

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It's called Karaoke Therapy...

H
Ooooo....I love "Holly Holy"!!! One of my regulars sing it and "Play Me", and they are some of my favorites. I would love to hear your rendition. Do you post in the SS?

BTW, I started doing "Mama Do" by Pixie Lott before it came out on karaoke by using a backing track. It worked great. Got the track from karaokeversion.com (or something like that). It's not bad for me because I rarely use the graphics anyway. I like the freedom in performance that comes from already knowing your song. If you want the graphics, you could run the backing track through Power karaoke or some other program and add them.

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It's called Karaoke Therapy...

I haven't posted in SS yet; just haven't had time. But I wil get to it eventually.

Thanks for the referrence. I'll look up karaokeversion.com (or something like that) real soon.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

"The Shanty Song (put a good buzz on)" by Jonathan Edwards

Although everyone has "Sunshine", nobody seems to have this Gem.

Certainly does sell out his concerts... in fact, his 2008 world tour was 100% sold out in EVERY concert, the only singer to do that in 2008!


jr, I purchased my "Pretty Amazing Grace" backing from www.Ameritz.co.uk

They also have "Another Day (That Time Forgot)", "Delirious Love" and "Home Before Dark"

Jeff Daniels has quite a few ND tracks that you probably won't get anywhere on karaoke. I have had Jeff create a few tracks on a custom order and I'm currently considering getting him to do "Hell Yeah" and "Man Of God", although I have a few others on the list ahead of those two. The "Brother Love's TSS" on Jeff's site is based on the live performance on "Love At The Greek".

Jeff's site is www.backingtracks.co.uk

www.Midiking.com also have a few backing tracks that I have purchased but I don't think they have any from the last two albums. They are also midi tracks and do not have backing vocals.

PS.. Saw you rant repeated on IASND!

He obviously sells out his concerts based mostly on his 60s and 70s material, not his latest album. And, of course, there is a karaoke market for songs like "Sweet Caroline." But that song was written in 1969. If he was only singing his latest album, don't know if that many peeps would show:

1. Oh Mary
2. Hell Yeah
3. Captain of a Shipwreck
4. Evermore
5. Save Me a Saturday Night
6. Delirious Love
7. I'm on to You
8. What's It Gonna Be
9. Man of God
10. Create Me
11. Face Me
12. We

I'm sure it's good, artistic stuff, but it's not his radio-friendly 60s and 70s stuff. In fact, his latest origial album has sold 540,000 copies, while his greatest hits album from 1992 sold 15,000,000 copies.

Like I tell everyone at my karaoke show when they ask for a weird deep-cut - "If it isn't a top 40 song on the radio, they probably don't make it in karaoke."

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C Mc
KJ, FL