For anyone who has read my blog, they’ve heard me mention the couple whose kids I used to babysit in my early-mid teens. The mom was a hairdresser, and the dad worked third shift in a factory. While the kids were outside playing and the dad was sleeping upstairs, I had free use of the dad’s excellent record collection, kickass stereo system, and headphones. Looking back on it now, I feel sure it was a God Thing. My own home life was very troubled and stressful, but this babysitting gig gave me a chance for a peaceful setting and a chance to listen to a first class record collection. Taking the albums out of the sleeves, dropping the needle, and poring over the album cover art, liner notes, lyrics, and disappearing into the music was a healing experience that may have saved me.
One of the dad’s albums was Neil Diamond’s 1972 live double album, Hot August Night. The album is a recording of a Diamond concert on August 24, 1972, one of ten sold-out concerts that Diamond performed that month at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show” is the very last song on the album and is paired with “Soolaimon.”
Critics, regarding the Hot August Night album:
a “fine presentation of the entire spectrum” of Diamond’s work and praised its music as “great, pretentious, goofy pop” with a melodramatic, “hymn-like feeling”. – Lester Bangs (Rolling Stone)
“the ultimate Neil Diamond record … [which] shows Diamond the icon in full glory. – Thomas Erlewine (Allmusic)
“the triumph of Neilness” and said that its music is slightly more “lax” than his studio recordings, but “festive”. – Rob Sheffield (Rolling Stone Album Guide 2004
The whole album is excellent, and anyone who listened to AM radio back then will recognize these hits:
Solitary Man
Cherry, Cherry
Sweet Caroline
Red Red Wine
Shiloh
Play Me
Song Sung Blue
Cracklin’ Rosie
Holly Holy
…and hopefully my August song choice. There is so much to love about it. Neil’s gravelly voice, how he gets into evangelist mode, and how the lyrics and the music build to all-out holy roller ecstasy. My heart rises with it.
Where it was the last song on the live double album, it was first on “Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show,” Neil’s fourth studio album, released in 1969. Four months after it became a #22 hit, Diamond recorded and released a new single, “Sweet Caroline”, which reached #4. Because of its popularity, this song was added to the end of later pressings of the album, which was also given a new sleeve with the album shown as Sweet Caroline/Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show although the title was still written as Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show on the label.
Source: wiki
The first YouTube is the studio version:
Brother Love’s Travelling Salvation Show
Hot August night
And the leaves hanging down
And the grass on the ground smelling sweet
Move up the road
To the outside of town
And the sound of that good gospel beat
Sits a ragged tent
Where there ain't no trees
And that gospel group
Telling you and me
It's love, Brother Love say
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes
'Cause everyone knows
Brother Love's show
Room gets suddenly still
And when you'd almost bet
You could hear yourself sweat, he walks in
Eyes black as coal
And when he lifts his face
Every ear in the place is on him
Starting soft and slow
Like a small earthquake
And when he lets go
Half the valley shakes
It's love, Brother Love say
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes
'Cause everyone knows
'Bout Brother Love's show
Hallelujah, brothers
Halle-hallelujah
I said brothers
(Hallelujah) Now you got yourself two good hands
(Halle-hallelujah) And when your brother is troubled,
You gotta reach out your one hand for him
(Hallelujah) 'Cause that's what it's there for
(Halle-hallelujah) And when your heart is troubled,
You gotta reach out your other hand
(Hallelujah) Reach it out to the man up there
(Halle-hallelujah) 'Cause that's what he's there for
Take my hand in yours
Walk with me this day
In my heart I know
I will never stray
Halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle, halle
Love, Brother Love say
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes
I say love, Brother Love say
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
(Halle, halle)
Pack up the babies
And grab the old ladies
And everyone goes
Love, Brother Love say
Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show
Writer/s: NEIL DIAMOND
From the live album. If you want to skip over the first song (I hope you don’t, but I know time constraints) it begins at 5:15.
Glyn Wilton is the host of Mixed Music Bag. Glyn wants us: to find a song with the word August in the title or lyrics.
Tao Talk 
Nice song! :D xo
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Yes, it is :)
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It’s one of my favourite Diamond songs too, I like it when he goes a bit gospel and screams.
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Same here, Graham, on the gospel and screaming aspects.
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Nice music, Lisa.
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Glad you like it, Jim. I see he’s still touring!
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There’s no one quite like Neil Diamond and this album could very well be his best. Excellent choice, Lisa.
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Nancy, I agree, it could be his best album. Thank you :)
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GREAT song!!!!
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Keith, so glad you like it. He sings it just right doesn’t he. Would like to know who his background singers were. They make him sound even better.
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It’s one of my favorites from him! I can’t find who the singers are …. I’ve looked before. lol
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I bet they would be on the actual LP jacket, or did you look there?
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I actually don’t have the album …. I wish I did
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I just went to discogs and looked at the extensive credits on there and not one backup vocalist but a couple dozen strings credits. Disgusting!
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Too many people dismiss Neil as lightweight. So many great songs. (K)
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That’s a shame too. He has brought a lot of listening pleasure to a lot of people. I love that song of his Stones also.
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Agreed.
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While I’ve become well aware Neil Diamond wasn’t just some crooner but a legitimate songwriter, I only know a handful of his songs, based on what I’ve heard on the radio. Essentially, it comes down to big hits like “Sweet Caroline”, “Cracklin’ Rosie”, “Song Sung Blue” and “Forever in Blue Jeans.” For the longest time, I didn’t know Diamond wrote “I’m a Believer,” one of my favorites by The Monkees and frankly the ’60s overall.
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Wow, I didn’t know he wrote I’m a Believer!!!!! Now that you mention it it does sound like something he’d write. Surprised he didn’t keep it and record it.
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I understand Neil Diamond started out as a songwriter before he recorded himself and performed.
Diamond recorded his own version of “I’m a Believer” a year after The Monkees and included it on his second album. Not bad, though I prefer The Monkees’ version. :-)
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Sounds pretty danged good. Thanks for the info, Christian :)
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Neil Diamond’s records were a staple in my childhood home. Someone in the family owned that live album; I remember the cover art so well. That voice… incredible.
I loved reading about your experience as a couple’s babysitter and how that brought you access to music and a great stereo to enjoy it on. It sounds like that really made a difference to you, and so it’s not surprising to know how well versed you are in music, with eclectic tastes that you are generous in sharing on your blog.
Great song choice; really showcases his voice and arrangements.
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Steve, I appreciate your always thoughtful comments. Thank you very much..
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You’re very welcome, Lisa!
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My sister and her husband saw Neil Diamond on his last tour in London
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Awesome, Glyn. Did they enjoy the concert?
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They did indeed Lisa
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Glyn, WP is having a hissy again. I just tried to go to your blog to see if anyone else linked up with songs, and it gave me this message:
“glyn40wilton.wordpress.com is no longer available.”
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It’s okay Lisa, I’m back now
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