Neil Diamond has been in the business for 4 decades now (and counting!). I have compiled his general setlist from tours. It would be impossible to document exactly which songs were performed on each specific night, so I chose to list a typical, representative setlist for the general time period, and have listed one-off, uncommon, rotating or setlist transitional songs in the "alternate songs" column.

In the 70's, Neil had toured continuously, so it can be hard to differentiate when one tour ended and the next one began. In particular, the transition between the end of the Beautiful Noise tour and the beginning of the IGYHWMT tour was almost seamless, with the song selection and sequencing slowly altering all throughout the BN tour, until it transformed into the IGYHWMT tour by winter, 1977.

Based on observation and analysis, The Jazz Singer (1980) was the last album that made a permanent change (by addition) to Neil's setlist. "Heartlight" (1982)  was technically a hit, but never became a permanent part of the set, as it has made appearances and disappearances for 2 decades. A "hit" does not always translate to "permanent part of the set", as the "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" medley had shown amazing durability- it stayed for over 10 years (and Neil's most active touring years, at that!), and none of the JLS songs could even remotely be considered a "hit". JLS is still being occasionally mined for songs to re-introduce to the set, something Neil had done in 1998 and 2001.

By 1982, Neil's setlists had settled on a winning "formula"...  a core of hits (and popular album tracks) from the years 1966-1980 and a few songs from the "current" album. By the next tour, these "second-to-most-current-album" songs would be dropped, to be replaced by about 4-5 songs from the newest "current" album. This formula is still in place today, as Neil had not retained songs from his 80's or 90's albums for any length of time.

Note: Songs listed in red are songs from the then-latest album or unique songs, recently introduced into the setlist.
 
 

1967 "The Bitter End" River Deep, Mountain High Cherry Cherry I'm a Believer A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You The Boat That I Row Solitary Man Shilo Thank the Lord For the Night Time Kentucky Woman

 

1970 (spring) - 1971 (Summer) "Tap Root Manuscript" Lordy Sweet Caroline Solitary Man Cherry Cherry Both Sides Now You're So Sweet, Horseflies Keep Hangin' Round Your Face Thank The Lord For the Night Time Cracklin'  Rosie Holly Holy A Modern Day Version of Love He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother Kentucky Woman Done Too Soon I Am...I Said  Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show Alternate songs in set include: Brooklyn Roads And the Singer Sings His Song

 

1971 (Fall) "Stones" Missa  Soolaimon  Done Too Soon  Solitary Man  Cherry Cherry  Brooklyn Roads  Sweet Caroline  The Ballad of the Super Stud  Measles  Black n' Blue From Kickin' Myself  A Modern Day Version of Love Chelsea Morning  Cracklin' Rosie  Holly Holy  I Am...I Said Kentucky Woman  He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother  Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show

 

1972 (Fall) "Moods" Prologue Crunchy Granola Suite Done Too Soon Kentucky Woman Solitary Man Cherry Cherry Sweet Caroline Porcupine Pie You're So Sweet  Soggy Pretzels Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon Red Red Wine Shilo Stones And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind Walk on Water Play Me Canta Libre Morningside Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie Holly Holy I Am...I Said Soolaimon Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show Soolaimon (ending) Alternate songs in set include: Black n' Blue From Kickin' Myself  The Ballad of the Super Stud Gitchy Goomy A Modern Day Version of Love The Last Thing on my Mind Chelsea Morning I Think It's Going to Rain Again Today Suzanne

 

1976 (Spring) "Hiatus' End" Missa  Soolaimon  Play Me Solitary Man  Cherry Cherry  Sweet Caroline Longfellow Serenade The Last Picasso  Morningside Rosemary's Wine Beautiful Noise Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie  Holly Holy I Am...I Said  Be  Dear Father Skybird  Lonely Looking Sky  Sanctus Be  Brother Love I've Been This Way Before Alternate songs in set include: Porcupine Pie Kentucky Woman Red Red Wine Shilo

 

1976 (Fall)- 1977 (summer) "Beautiful Noise" Street Life Beautiful Noise Stargazer Surviving The Life Lady Oh If You Know What I Mean Kentucky Woman Solitary Man Cherry Cherry Sweet Caroline The Last Picasso Longfellow Serenade Morningside Play Me Glory Road Rosemary's Wine Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie Holly Holy I Am...I Said Be Dear Father Lonely Looking Sky Sanctus Skybird Be (reprise) Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show I've Been This Way Before Alternate songs in set include: Home is a Wounded Heart Lady Magdelene (rare) The Last Thing on My Mind (rare) I Think It's Going to Rain Again Today (rare) Chelsea Morning (rare) He Ain’t Heavy, He's My Brother (rare)

 

1977 (winter) "I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight" Dance of the Sabres Soolaimon  Solitary Man Kentucky Woman  Cherry Cherry  Sweet Caroline  The Last Picasso  Morningside  Beautiful Noise Stargazer  Signs  If You Know What I Mean Surviving the Life Desiree  Let Me Take You In My Arms Again  I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight  God Only Knows Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie  Holly Holy  I Am...I Said Be Dear Father Lonely Looking Sky Sanctus Skybird Be (reprise) Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show I've Been This Way Before Alternate songs in set include: Play Me You Got to Me Reggae Strut  Red Red Wine Longfellow Serenade  Lady Oh

 

1978 (summer) "The American Popular Song" Dancing Bumblebee  Lay Lady Lay Kentucky Woman  Sweet Caroline  Cherry Cherry  Morningside  Beautiful Noise  Stargazer  Surviving The Life If You Know What I Mean Rocket Man Teach Me Tonight Song Sung Blue  Cracklin' Rosie  Holly Holy I Am...I Said  Sanctus  Be  Dear Father Lonely Looking Sky  Sanctus  Skybird Be Soolaimon Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show I've Been This Way Before Alternate songs in set include: Desiree Solitary  Man Longfellow Serenade I'm Glad You're Here WIth Me Tonight Dancing in the Streets I'm A Believer Play Me Dance of the Sabres Shilo (rare) Glory Road (rare) Chelsea Morning (rare) You Don't Bring Me Flowers

 

1978 (winter) - 1979 (winter) "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" Dance of the Sabres Desiree  I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight  Kentucky Woman Cherry Cherry  Sweet Caroline  Morningside  Shilo  Play Me  Beautiful Noise  If You Know What I Mean  American Popular Song  Say Maybe Dancing Bumblebee  You Don't Bring Me Flowers Forever In Blue Jeans  Teach Me Tonight  Spanish Harlem  Song Sung Blue  Cracklin' Rosie  Holly Holy I Am...I Said  Sanctus  Skybird Lonely Looking Sky  Sanctus Be  Soolaimon Brother Love He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother Alternate songs in set include: Street Life Surviving the Life Dancing in the Streets

 

1981(winter)- 1982(winter) "On the Way to The Sky" America Love On the Rocks Desiree I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight Kentucky Woman Cherry Cherry Sweet Caroline Hello Again On The Robert E. Lee Amazed and Confused Summerlove Acapulco Songs of Life Beautiful Noise Surviving The Life If You Know What I Mean Dancing In The Street September Morn Forever In Blue Jeans  You Don't Bring Me Flowers The Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie Holly Holy I Am...I Said JLS intro Skybird Lonely Looking Sky Dear Father Sanctus Be Soolaimon Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show America Alternate songs in set include: Yesterday's Songs (early dates of tour) On the Way to the Sky (early dates of tour) Rainy Day Song (early dates of tour) Solitary Man Play Me Girl, You'll be a Woman Soon Morningside Heartlight I'm Alive ( tail end of tour)

 

1983 (spring) - 1984 (Jan) "Heartlight" America Love On the Rocks I'm Alive I'm Glad You're Here With Me Tonight Kentucky Woman Cherry Cherry Sweet Caroline Morningside Shilo If You Know What I Mean Hello Again On The Robert E. Lee You Baby Songs of Life Dancing In The Street Forever In Blue Jeans  You Don't Bring Me Flowers Heartlight The American Popular Song Teach Me Tonight Spanish Harlem Dedicated to the One I Love Golden Slumbers Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie I Am...I Said JLS intro Skybird Lonely Looking Sky Dear Father Sanctus Be Soolaimon Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show America Alternate songs in set include: Solitary Man Play Me Beautiful Noise Surviving the Life September Morn The Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie Primitive (tail end of tour)

 

1984 (summer)- 1985 (spring) "Primitive" Fanfare America Love On the Rocks I'm Alive Play Me Thank the Lord for the Night Time Cherry Cherry Sweet Caroline Red Red Wine Beautiful Noise Surviving The Life If You Know What I Mean Hello Again On The Robert E. Lee You Baby Songs of Life Primitive September Morn Forever In Blue Jeans  You Don't Bring Me Flowers Heartlight The Dancing Bumble Bee/Bumble Boogie Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie Holly Holy I Am...I Said Sanctus Skybird Dear Father Sanctus Be Soolaimon Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show Alternate songs in set include: Fire on the Tracks Brooklyn on a Saturday Night Turn Around

 

1985 (winter)-1987(summer) "Headed For the Future" Fanfare  Headed For the Future  I'm Alive  September Morn Thank The Lord For The Night Time  Solitary Man  Cherry Cherry  Sweet Caroline  Brooklyn Roads  Beautiful Noise Jungletime  If You Know What I Mean  Hello Again  Love On the Rocks  America  Forever In Blue Jeans  You Don't Bring Me Flowers  Holly Holy  Song Sung Blue  Cracklin' Rosie  I Am...I Said Sanctus  Skybird Dear Father  Sanctus  Be Soolaimon Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show  Heartlight Alternate songs in set include: I've Been This Way Before Teach Me Tonight Golden Slumbers I Dreamed a Dream Holly Holy Red, Red Wine Stand up for love The story of my life  The man you need

 

1988-1989 "The Best Years  of Our Lives" Skybird Desiree Hello Again  September Morn Everything's Gonna Be Fine This Time Solitary Man  Kentucky Woman Red Red Wine I'm a Believer Sweet Caroline Soolaimon Beautiful Noise  Home is a Wounded Heart If You Know What I Mean  The Best Years of Our Lives Baby Can I Hold You Forever In Blue Jeans  You Don't Bring Me Flowers  Heartlight Headed For the Future Love On the Rocks  Song Sung Blue  Cracklin' Rosie  I Am...I Said Cherry Cherry  Holly Holy Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show  America

 

1991(winter)- 1993 (June) "Lovescape" Mountains Of Love Hello Again Solitary Man Cherry Cherry Sweet Caroline Hear Them Bells Beautiful Noise Jungletime Brooklyn Roads Soolaimon Play Me September Morn Red Red Wine I'm A Believer Forever In Blue Jeans Love On The Rocks America Be If There Were No Dreams Hooked On A Memory Of You Lonely Lady 17 All I Really Need Is You Song Sung Blue Headed For The Future You Don't Bring Me Flowers Morningside Shilo Holly Holy Cracklin' Rosie I Am...I Said Crunchy Granola Suite Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show Alternate songs in set include: If You Know What I Mean Longfellow Serenade (rare) Desiree (rare) Fortune of the night One hand, one heart Sweet LA days Don’t turn around

 

1993 (fall)- 1993(winter) "The Christmas Album/Brill Buildingl" America Hello Again You Got to Me Cherry Cherry Thank the Lord For the Nighttime I'm A Believer Sweet Caroline Love on the Rocks Lady-Oh Beautiful Noise Up on the Roof River Deep Mountain High I (Who Have Nothing) You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling Save the Last Dance For Me Christmas Medley:       --Silent Night       --O Come, O Come Emmanuel       --Little Drummer Boy       --White Christmas       --Morning Has Broken       --Santa Claus is Coming to Town You Make It Feel Like Christmas O Holy Night  Jonathan Livingston Seagull Medley:       --Sanctus       --Skybird       --Dear Father       --Lonely Looking Sky Missa Soolaimon Holly Holy And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind You Don't Bring Me Flowers Havah Nagilah Song Sung Blue Forever in Blue Jeans Heartlight Cracklin' Rosie I Am... I Said Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show Alternate songs in set include: Will you still love me tomorrow Do you know the way to San Jose

 

1996 "Tennessee Moon" Introduction  Crunchy Granola Suite A Matter of Love Hello Again Solitary Man Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon Cherry Cherry Desiree Play Me Beautiful Noise Jungletime Love on the Rocks Can Anybody  Hear Me Talking Optimist Blues (Good Day Today) One Good Love No Limit Everybody Marry Me Forever in Blue Jeans (twice) The Last Picasso (Introduces the Band to this song) Song Sung Blue Sooliamon Shilo You Don't Bring Me Flowers Holly Holy I am...I said America Sweet Caroline Cracklin Rosie Brother Loves Travelling Salvation Show. Alternate songs in set include: Kentucky Woman In My Lifetime

 

1998-1999 "The Movie Album" Beautiful Noise Can Anybody Hear Me Hello Again If You Know What I Mean Thank The Lord For The Nighttime Cherry Cherry Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon Solitary Man Shilo Play Me Brooklyn Roads Forever In Blue Jeans I'm A Believer Be Lonely Looking Sky Sanctus Skybird America Love On the Rocks Lament in D Minor Dance Of The Sabres As Time Goes By Unchained Melody I've Got You Under My Skin One For My Baby I Can't Help Falling In Love With You Song Sung Blue Cracklin' Rosie Sweet Caroline You Don't Bring Me Flowers I Am...I Said Holly Holy Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show I've  Been This Way Before (early dates of 1998 tour) Alternate songs in set include: Amazed and Confused Longfellow Serenade I Got The Feelin' (Oh No No)  Heartlight (1999, UK dates)

 

2001/2002 "Three Chord Opera" Fanfare  America  Mission of Love  Solitary Man Cherry, Cherry  Red, Red Wine  I'm A Believer  Soolaimon If You Know What I Mean  Beautiful Noise Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon  I Haven't Played This Song In Years You Are The Best Part Of Me At The Movies  I Believe In Happy Endings Forever In Blue Jeans Star Flight  Captain Sunshine  Holly Holy Sweet Caroline  You Don't Bring Me Flowers Yes I Will/Lady Magdelene (medley)  Shilo He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother  I Am, I Said Cracklin' Rosie Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show Alternate songs in set include: Love on the Rocks (2001, East Coast dates and 2002, UK dates) Skybird (2001, East Coast dates) Hello Again  (2002, UK dates) September Morn (2002, UK dates) You Got to Me (2002, UK dates) The Boat That I Row (2002, UK dates)

Questions, information, comments or additions to Neil setlists can be sent to me at:
ZMOQ

A hearty "thank you" to the following people. I couldn't have done this without your help:
Coral (UK)
Regina Litman

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