Neil Diamond will unveil Wild At Heart, his third – and final – entry in the acclaimed collaboration album series with producer Rick Rubin (Tom Petty), on May 8 via Capitol/UMe.
The songs were initially done at sessions for Diamond’s chart-topping Home Before Dark in '08. Before that, the pair teamed up with Rubin on 2005’s 12 Songs. Home Before Dark was Diamond's first #1 album on the Billboard charts.
“My work with Rick was a labor of love,” Neil says, “and I’m so gratified that these songs will finally be set free into the world to complete our trilogy of work.”
Recently revisiting this material, Diamond spent time fleshing out nine new songs to be released for the first time and closed the set with an alternate take of “Forgotten,” which appeared on Home Before Dark.
Wild At Heart formats include CD, vinyl, and digital platforms; limited edition colored vinyl and 2CD versions will also be available. Preorder and Listen to the title track to Wild At Heart
HERE.
In anticipation of Wild At Heart’s release, digital Deluxe Editions of 12 Songs and Home Before Dark are now available and include the debut of bonus tracks previously available on limited physical releases.
Listen to 12 Songs HERE and Home Before Dark
HERE.
Among those on the Home Before Dark sessions: keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell (both from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers), along with session guitarist Smokey Hormel (beck) and guitarist Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Will Oldham).
“Working with these guys and having Rick’s ear made it a great deal of fun,” Diamond told Billboard in 2008. “It was magic.”
Diamond, who starred in the 1980 film The Jazz Singer, has seen his life and music turned into the hit Broadway musical A Beautiful Noise. The show debuted in New York City in 2022, and with over 650 performances and was one of the longest-running new musicals on Broadway since the pandemic. Beautiful Noise launched its first tour in 2024 and continues to tour across America with performances set to open in Australia in August, 2026. Listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical,
HERE.
In addition, Focus Features released
Song Sung Blue on December 25, a musical drama starring
Hugh Jackman and
Kate Hudson. Directed by
Craig Brewer and based on a true story, the film follows two down-on-their-luck musicians who form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band. The movie has been a huge success, with Hudson receiving Oscar, SAG Actor Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations, and will be released via international streaming in late Spring.
Track listing:
Wild At Heart
You Can’t Have It All
Talking It To Death
Shine On
The Secret You
You Never Know
You’re Getting To Me
You Still Look Good To Me
You’re My Favorite Song
Forgotten
George Paul
