A legendary singer fighting an incurable disease is set to release his first new album in 12 years.<\/p>\n
Neil Diamond will release \u201cWild at Heart\u201d on May 8, he announced on social media Friday. The 10-track album will mark Diamond\u2019s first full-length release of original music since 2014\u2019s \u201cMelody Road.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was living with these songs for about a year. They were like part of my everyday life,\u201d Diamond, 85, explained in an Instagram video<\/a> posted March 20. \u201cI went in to have a sandwich at a delicatessen, and I was writing songs. That\u2019s how each one came.\u201d<\/p>\n According to a press release<\/a>, Diamond initially recorded the songs in 2007 during sessions with producer Rick Rubin for what became the 2008 album \u201cHome Before Dark,\u201d Diamond\u2019s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. \u201cWild at Heart\u201d will be his third collaboration with Rubin, who also produced the acclaimed 2005 album \u201c12 Songs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy work with Rick was a labor of love,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cI\u2019m so gratified that these songs will finally be set free into the world to complete our trilogy of work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWild at Heart\u201d features nine previously unheard songs and an alternate take of \u201cForgotten,\u201d which initially appeared on \u201cHome Before Dark.\u201d The tracks feature Diamond\u2019s \u201csignature passionate vocals and powerfully incisive lyrics surrounded by urgent yet stripped-down arrangements,\u201d the press release states.<\/p>\n 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 \u201chis soul-baring lyrics and commanding yet vulnerable vocals,\u201d according to the release.<\/p>\n Fans can pre-order \u201cWild at Heart\u201d on vinyl<\/a> and on CD via Amazon.com<\/a>. The lead single \u201cWild at Heart\u201d is now available on all major digital platforms.<\/p>\n \u201cWild at Heart\u201d track list<\/p>\n \u201cYou Can\u2019t Have It All\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTalking It to Death\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re Getting to Me\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou Still Look Good to Me\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re My Favorite Song\u201d<\/p>\n Diamond is a Grammy Award-winning singer who\u2019s been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame<\/a> and the Songwriters Hall of Fame<\/a>. 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 \u201cSong Sung Blue,\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve Been This Way Before,\u201d \u201cLongfellow Serenade,\u201d \u201cIf You Know What I Mean,\u201d \u201cDesir\u00e9e,\u201d \u201cAmerica,\u201d \u201cYesterday\u2019s Songs,\u201d \u201cHeartlight,\u201d \u201cCracklin\u2019 Rosie\u201d and \u201cYou Don\u2019t Bring Me Flowers.\u201d Diamond is also known for the iconic anthem \u201cSweet Caroline.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, Diamond is known his work in movies and musicals, including the 1980 film \u201cThe Jazz Singer,\u201d 2001\u2019s \u201cSaving Silverman,\u201d the 2010 documentary \u201cSolitary Man,\u201d and Broadway\u2019s \u201cA Beautiful Noise.\u201d His songs were also recently brought to life in the musical drama \u201cSong Sung Blue,\u201d starring Hugh Jackman, which earned an Oscar nomination for Kate Hudson.<\/p>\n Diamond announced his retirement from performing in 2018<\/a> after he was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s Disease<\/a>. The condition has led the singer to reduce public appearances. However, Diamond has returned to the stage twice in 2025.<\/p>\n In July 2025<\/a>, he surprise sang \u201cSweet Caroline\u201d at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles as the venue was showing a production of \u201cThe Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise.\u201d<\/a> Three months later, Diamond performed<\/a> the hit again, alongside Broadway star Nick Fradiani, while Diamond was honored with the Inspirational Lifetime Achievement Award at the 39th Annual Carousel Ball<\/a> on Oct. 11, 2025.<\/p>\n More music content<\/p>\n Read the original article on NJ.com<\/a>. Add NJ.com<\/a> as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n