Neil Diamond (Hearlight Tour)  6/17/1983
The Forum, Section 13, Row J

Performance Notes: Neil’s 1983 shows were more or less slightly revised editions of his performances of the previous year. While the setlist followed that earlier pattern for the most part, some changes were made. Desiree was replaced with I’m Alive, a cut from his new Heartlight album, and You Baby was added to the Jazz Singer segment of the show. Still included were the many repeats of Forever in Blue Jeans and Dancing in the Street which had become staples of Diamond’s live shows.

This was also the year that Neil first introduced a medley of tunes centered around The American Popular Song. While I’m told that this was performed only sporadically I do know that the medley included such hits as Spanish Harlem, Teach Me Tonight, Dedicated to the One that I Love, and Golden Slumbers. Neil used this time to pay tribute to these great songs which were either part of American popular music, or (in the case of the Beatles Golden Slumbers)greatly influenced by it.

By October of 1983, Neil had already written a number of new tunes which were to be included on his next album. Often during this time he performed one or two of those songs, Primitive, and Fire on the Tracks onstage. At this point, the lyrics and music to these songs deviated from the eventual album versions in varying degrees. Reportedly, audiences in Oakland, CA (among others) responded enthusiastically to these tunes.