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Neil Diamond: "In My Lifetime"

Columbia, 7463 65013 (3 CDs, 4 hours approx)

Dial-a-track code: 1201

I know, there must be a million people who will crack up if they hear Crackling Rosie one more time - especially since there already seem to be at least seven thousand Neil Diamond Greatest Hits collections on the market. But, Diamond collectors, get ready to dip into your pockets again because this really is the one; 73 sparklers from the man who really should be considered for the lead role if they ever do a remake of the movie, Captain Hook. Why? Because there are so many bloody great hooks in the songs on this compilation that you'll come out of the experience torn to shreds. But singing like a drunken fool, probably Scotch On The Rocks, to cull a title from the original, previously unreleased version of what later became, of course, Love On The Rocks.

Okay, sometimes there is little more to a song like Song Sung Blue than the hook. Who on earth doesn't hear at least a melodic rise or fall at even the mention of titles like I'm A Believer, Red Red Wine, Thank The Lord For The Night Time, Cherry Cherey, The Boat That I Row, Shilo? And it is these early classics that show us just how well Mr D learned his lessons while working at the legendary Brill Building hit writing factory in New York. And what's really cute, for completeists, is that this collection contains at least six "diamonds in the rough", to quote the sleeve notes' description of early demos. Sadly, for the rest of us, most are probably a good excuse for frantically reaching for the skip button on your CD remote.

Previously unreleased songs like Angel Above My Head from an album Columbia apparently wouldn't release, really are a revelation. Detailing Diamond's response to the death of his father, it is at least as moving as Sinatra's interpretation of Diamond's magnificent post death anthem, Dry Your Eyes. But then Neil Diamond is always at his best when he slides into a minor mode and taps into any echo of his Jewish background, whether that is in early songs like Brooklyn Roads, I Am, I Said or If You Know What I Mean. Worst of all, on the other hand, are those moments where he over emotes as though every simple syllable from his mouth was poetry. Or as if he was God - or, at least, Al Jolson. Even so, this anthology is ample evidence of a life well spent, a treasury of more timeless pop songs than most pop songwriters could ever dream of writing. And a great Christmas present. And each CD runs to its limit, so no one is shortchanged.

Smokey Joe's Cafe: "The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller"

Atlantic, 7567-82765. (2CDs, 98 mins) - Dial a track code: 1311

If Leiber and Stoller had also other performers they'd have been the Lennon and McCartney of the 1950s. More than this - and sensitive Beatles fans had better skip over to the Vision page at this stage - in many ways the songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller were better than The Beatles. Largely because their songs were often multicharacter playlets that perfectly captured the essence of street life, workingclass aspirations, romantic longing and pop culture in a mix that has yet to be matched by any set of pop songwriters.

As such, it's not surprising that this original soundtrack of the Broadway Cast album hooks into the neighbourhood motif, as it moves through hits like Dance With Me, Ruby Baby and Poison Ivy plus, of course, On Brnadway. Even better, someone dug out that long forgotten Coasters B Side Rollin', which moves like, well, a freight train rolling down the track. Through Memphis, of course. Because the first CD is firmly rooted in Leiber and Stoller's love of rhythm'n'blues and gospel, ending with a new take of the great La Vern Baker hit, Saved.

The second CD kicks off with Baby, That Is That Rock n roll and closes' with Stand By Me, taking in along the way a brace of songs that were hits for the Coasters, the Drifters and Elvis Presley, who recorded at least 20 Leiber and Stoller compositions, including Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Treat Me Nice and Loving You, all of which are featured here as sung by the largely unknown cast. But it don't matter; the songs still sound sublime, even if a compilation by the original artists would be even better.