Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show

Infobox Album |
Name = Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
Type = Album
Artist = Neil Diamond


Released = 1969
Genre = pop/rock
Length = 38:41
Label = UNI
Producer = Tom Catalano
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3ifrxqr5ldse link]
Last album = "Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits"
(1968)
This album = "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show"
(1969)
Next album = "Touching You, Touching Me"
(1969)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate Cover
Type = Album


Lower caption = Reissued as Sweet Caroline

"Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" is the name of Neil Diamond's fourth studio album. Four months after the title cut 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.

Lyrical Interpretation

The song tells the story of Brother Love, an evangelist who travels from town to town preaching. In the middle of the song, Diamond gives a sermon in typical evangelical style.

Single mix

The original 45 mix of the title cut differs from the album version. One difference is that it is in mono. Also, during the second verse, background vocalists have been overdubbed onto the lead vocal, creating a harmony. Immediately after "take my hand in yours", bells have been added to the piano part. Extra reverb is used thoughout the song to create the feeling of the "small earthquake" of Brother Love's voice. Finally, the fade is longer, includes a rattling tambourine and, most prominently, a catchy, driving horn section -- which does appear on the album version but is there mixed down to an almost inaudible level. All versions on the many Diamond CD compilations have used the album mix, which, though it is in stereo, cheats those who loved the original hit out of the exciting, vibrant mix that drove them into the record stores to buy this song in the first place.

References

Album Track listing

"All songs written by Neil Diamond."
#"Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" – 3:27
#"Dig In" – 2:41
#"River Runs, New Grown Plums" – 1:58
#"Juliet" – 2:51
#"Long Gone" – 3:18
#"And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind" – 3:33
#"Glory Road" – 3:19
#"Deep In The Morning" –3:04
#"If I Never Knew Your Name – 3:17
#"Memphis Streets" – 2:40
#"You're So Sweet, Horseflies Keep Hangin' 'Round Your Face" – 3:13
#"Hurtin' You Don't Come Easy" – 2:30
#"Sweet Caroline" – 2:50