A legendary singer fighting an incurable disease is set to release his first new album in 12 years.
Neil Diamond will release “Wild at Heart” on May 8, he announced on social media Friday. The 10-track album will mark Diamond’s first full-length release of original music since 2014’s “Melody Road.”
“I was living with these songs for about a year. They were like part of my everyday life,” Diamond, 85, explained in an Instagram video posted March 20. “I went in to have a sandwich at a delicatessen, and I was writing songs. That’s how each one came.”
According to a press release, Diamond initially recorded the songs in 2007 during sessions with producer Rick Rubin for what became the 2008 album “Home Before Dark,” Diamond’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. “Wild at Heart” will be his third collaboration with Rubin, who also produced the acclaimed 2005 album “12 Songs.”
“My work with Rick was a labor of love,” Diamond said. “I’m so gratified that these songs will finally be set free into the world to complete our trilogy of work.”
“Wild at Heart” features nine previously unheard songs and an alternate take of “Forgotten,” which initially appeared on “Home Before Dark.” The tracks feature Diamond’s “signature passionate vocals and powerfully incisive lyrics surrounded by urgent yet stripped-down arrangements,” the press release states.
The songs were recorded with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench, plus session guitarist Smokey Hormel, and Chavez guitarist Matt Sweeney. Diamond also plays guitar on the recordings alongside “his soul-baring lyrics and commanding yet vulnerable vocals,” according to the release.
Fans can pre-order “Wild at Heart” on vinyl and on CD via Amazon.com. The lead single “Wild at Heart” is now available on all major digital platforms.
“Wild at Heart” track list
“You Can’t Have It All”
“Talking It to Death”
“You’re Getting to Me”
“You Still Look Good to Me”
“You’re My Favorite Song”
Diamond is a Grammy Award-winning singer who’s been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. One of the best-selling music artists of all time, Diamond has 10 chart-topping singles the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. They are “Song Sung Blue,” “I’ve Been This Way Before,” “Longfellow Serenade,” “If You Know What I Mean,” “Desirée,” “America,” “Yesterday’s Songs,” “Heartlight,” “Cracklin’ Rosie” and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.” Diamond is also known for the iconic anthem “Sweet Caroline.”
In addition, Diamond is known his work in movies and musicals, including the 1980 film “The Jazz Singer,” 2001’s “Saving Silverman,” the 2010 documentary “Solitary Man,” and Broadway’s “A Beautiful Noise.” His songs were also recently brought to life in the musical drama “Song Sung Blue,” starring Hugh Jackman, which earned an Oscar nomination for Kate Hudson.
Diamond announced his retirement from performing in 2018 after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The condition has led the singer to reduce public appearances. However, Diamond has returned to the stage twice in 2025.
In July 2025, he surprise sang “Sweet Caroline” at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles as the venue was showing a production of “The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise.” Three months later, Diamond performed the hit again, alongside Broadway star Nick Fradiani, while Diamond was honored with the Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award at the 39th Annual Carousel Ball on Oct. 11, 2025.
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