The definitive Neil Diamond playlist

Come on. How many music fans in the 1980s thought UB40 wrote the biggest hit to the band's name? It's an easy mistake, but as we'll see on this list, Diamond was responsible for writing some of the most well-known music that earned others more success than his version. This tale of an individual's dependence on wine to ease his troubles appeared on Diamond's second album, Just for You (1967), but the popular reggae-fueled version was a No. 1 hit for UB40 in the United States. 

The importance of "Shilo" within Neil Diamond's career trajectory can't be understated. While it found a home on Diamond's Just for You album, there was a wrestling match between the artist and the executives at Bang Records, his record company at the time. Bang wanted Diamond to continue down a teen pop-rock path, while "Shilo" was an example of his growth as a writer and performer. Diamond left Bang in 1968, and after some lean commercial years, Diamond became one of the biggest entertainers in the world.

Longtime Diamond collaborator Richard Bennett played the prominent acoustic guitar on this hit from 1972's Moods album. "Play Me" peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was lauded for its overall composition. However, it's also one Diamond tune that's elicited various responses and reactions. Some critics panned it for superficial tendencies, while some Diamond fans couldn't get enough of the track over the years, especially in a live setting.

Truth be told, "Yesterday's Songs," from 1981's On the Way to the Sky album, might be a tad overrated in Diamond's catalog. The tune spent six weeks atop Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart and No. 11 on the Hot 100. No doubt it was a staple of adult contemporary songs and well worthy of a spot on this list, but let's keep the over-the-top love in check.

We've reached The Jazz Singer portion of this list. While Diamond's acting performance in this 1980 film was widely panned, the soundtrack — essentially his solo studio project — went five-times Platinum in the United States. "Love on the Rocks" made it to  No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song can best be described as "lavish." Typical for the time and place of Diamond's career. He was popular enough to take chances with his stardom. 

While "America" might not be the best song on The Jazz Singer, it is one of Diamond's most popular tunes regarding pop culture acceptance and mainstream notoriety. It reached No. 8 on Billboard's Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart. A song about the opportunity of immigration, "America" became a popular rallying number in the wake of the September 11 attacks. It was also a popular choice among politicians.

Another top-10 hit from The Jazz Singer (reaching No. 6). Arguably, "Hello Again" might be the best song from the movie. Slow, tender, and perfect for fans of 1980s soft rock and adult contemporary fare. Diamond was strong enough as a songwriter, composer, and vocalist to be successful with just about anything he put out. However, there aren't many better ones when it comes to being a balladeer.

Diamond teamed up with a couple of songwriting heavyweights in the then-husband-and-wife duo of Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager for another top-10 hit (peaking at No. 5 on the Hot 100). Talk about some serious star power. As the legend goes, the massively popular E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, also from 1982, provided at least partial inspiration for the song. It's also the title cut from his 15th studio album and another example of Diamond's professional light shining brightly into the 1980s.

Digging into his gospel inspiration, Diamond parlayed this spiritually poppy number to even more success during the late 1960s. Released as a single in 1969 and eventually included on his Touching Me, Touching You (1969) album, "Holly Holy" peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100. It also proved that Diamond could find success while experimenting with his music, as his star quality had regained prominence and allowed him to show off a different inspirational side. 

The title track to Diamond's 13th studio from 1979 has the distinction of being his 30th Top 40 hit during his stellar career. The ballad reached No. 17 on Billboard's Hot 100 and was also popular outside the United States. During the late 1970s, Diamond was one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, and it seemed everything he put out hit gold. "September Morn" was another example of the exceptional Neil Diamond listening experience.

From 1974's Serenade album, "I've Been This Way Before" was another No. 1 hit for Diamond on Billboard's Easy Listening Chart. However, the song failed to crack the top 30 on the Hot 100. Regardless, the tune highlights Diamond's excellence as a lyricist. Perhaps that is not celebrated enough when dissecting Neil Diamond's ability as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. 

Produced by Robbie Robertson (yes, that Robbie Robertson), "If You Know What I Mean" packs a powerful punch for a ballad. From 1974's Beautiful Noise album, the tune topped the Easy Listening chart in the U.S. and hit No. 11 on the Hot 100. For casual fans of Neil Diamond, "If You Know What I Mean" is a good starting point to dig deeper into the legend's expansively stellar catalog.

"Longfellow Serenade," from the Serenade record, was an international hit for Diamond. The tune was a top-five hit on the Hot 100, topped Billboard's Easy Listening Chart, and was also No. 1 in Canada, Switzerland, and South Africa. Is it an actual pop song or just a ballad with a little extra tempo? "Longfellow Serenade" is an easy listen known to get audiences standing and clapping in the aisles. 

By the early 1970s, Diamond was churning out hit after hit. "I Am... I Said" was another in a long line, released as a single from his 1971 Stones record. What sets this beautifully put-together track apart is the emotion Diamond displays in perhaps his most personal song. Talking about life in Los Angeles, but seemingly longing for those days in New York and trying to handle the stardom and glitz. It's an exceptionally impactful piece of music.

From the catchy beat to Diamond's detailed lyrics about becoming a man with some help from an older woman he never forgot, "Desirée" was a top-20 hit on Billboard's Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.  From 1977's I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight, "Desirée" is an example of the pop/adult contempo bombast that Diamond delivered toward the end of the 1970s. There was no sign of slowing down.

Released as a single in 1979, "Forever in Blue Jeans" resided in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually found a home on Diamond's You Don't Bring Me Flowers album. A popular song with the ladies, "Forever in Blue Jeans" reportedly inspired many to purchase plenty of denim during the late 1970s. 

One of Diamond's most creatively detailed story songs. It's the title track from his fourth studio album, which came out in 1969. The tale of a traveling evangelist and his carnival-barker ways kicked off a record that returned Diamond to pop prominence following a commercial downturn in his career. We especially like Diamond, in "Brother Love " fashion, delivering his sermon during the middle of the track. The song made it to No. 22 on the U.S. Pop Singles chart.

Diamond's first single as a performer. Written in 1966 and released on Diamond's debut, The Feel of Neil Diamond, and follow-up Just for You album, "Solitary Man" is another song that helped make other artists famous at Diamond's behest. Big-time entertainers like B.J. Thomas, Johnny Cash, and Chris Isaak delivered solid versions of "Solitary Man," but we're willing to put Diamond's original against any others. In 1966, the song never cracked the Top 40, but when re-released in 1970, it reached No. 21 on the Hot 100.

This legendary 1970s ballad has quite the history. It started as the theme to a Norman Lear television series (All That Glitters) which was never made. Then, Diamond released it on I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight, and one year later, in 1978, Barbara Streisand covered the song. Radio stations then sliced the Diamond and Streisand versions together, which led to the two recordings of an official duet of the track about lovers going through the motions of their relationship. It hit No. 1 on the Hot 100.

"I'm a Believer" is most associated with The Monkees, whose popular version spent seven weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1966 and '67. A well-deserved honor. Hey, even Smash Mouth enjoyed some Top-40 success with its 2001 cover. But the greatness of Diamond's version should not be discounted. It appeared on Just for You, then again in a strange version from 1979's September Morn. 

Like "Solitary Man," "Cherry, Cherry" was released on Diamond's first and second studio albums, The Feel of Neil Diamond and Just for You, respectively. The peppy, upbeat tune was Diamond's first true hit as a recording artist after enjoying success as a songwriter during the early-to-mid 1960s. "Cherry, Cherry" peaked at No. 6 on Billboard's Hot 100. Years later, a new generation became fans of the song, thanks to its inclusion in Will Ferrell's hilarious Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy in 2004.

"Song Sung Blue" was the second No. 1 hit for Diamond on Billboard's Hot 100. From Diamond's 1972 Moods album, the straightforward simplicity of this adult contemporary staple is perhaps what listeners found most appealing about the Grammy-nominated tune. Even the easiest songs to write tend to have the most lasting effect on fans.

From Neil Diamond's second No. 1 hit in America to the first that received such honor. From 1970's Tap Root Manuscript, "Cracklin' Rosie" helped solidify Diamond as a successful adult contemporary pop star. When we talk about iconic Neil Diamond songs, "Cracklin' Rosie" is near the top of the list and should be considered one of the best Diamond tunes of all time.

There's plenty of bravado in Diamond's voice and attitude when it comes to this classic coming-of-age track from his second album, Just for You. If one could "feel" a song, it would be this one. It reached No. 10 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States. While Diamond's original recording is second to none, alt-rockers Urge Overkill delivered an above-serviceable cover, which revived the tune's popularity due to its inclusion in the Pulp Fiction soundtrack.

Released as a standalone single in 1969 under the title "Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)," Neil Diamond's most beloved tune was later added to later pressings of the Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show album. "Sweet Caroline" reached No. 4 on Billboard's Hot 100. Over the years, it has become a piece of musical and pop culture iconography. The proof is in its inclusion in various films and television shows and presence at sporting events, "Sweet Caroline" has transcended Diamond and become a phenomenon for everyone to enjoy.