{"id":2338838,"date":"2026-03-20T16:46:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T16:46:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2338838"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:46:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T16:46:55","slug":"neil-diamond-to-release-new-album-in-2026-featuring-unheard-songs-from-his-2000s-collaborations-with-rick-rubin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/neil-diamond-to-release-new-album-in-2026-featuring-unheard-songs-from-his-2000s-collaborations-with-rick-rubin\/","title":{"rendered":"Neil Diamond To Release New Album in 2026, Featuring Unheard Songs From His 2000s Collaborations With Rick Rubin"},"content":{"rendered":"

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During the 2000s, Neil Diamond<\/a> collaborated with acclaimed producer Rick Rubin on two well-received and commercially successful studio albums. 12 Songs<\/em> was released in 2005, and was followed in 2008 by Home Before Dark<\/em>. The latter album became Diamond\u2019s only album to top the Billboard<\/em> 200 chart.<\/p>\n

Now, Diamond is set to release an album featuring mostly previously unheard songs from the 2007 Home Before Dark<\/em> sessions. Wild At Heart<\/em>, which is due out on May 8, is a 10-track collection featuring nine unreleased tunes that Neil recently fleshed out, plus an alternate take of \u201cForgotten,\u201d a song that first appeared on Home Before Dark<\/em>.<\/p>\n

[RELATED: Watch Neil Diamond Give a Rare Performance of \u201cSweet Caroline\u201d While Receiving a Special Award at a Denver Charity Gala]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy work with Rick was a labor of love,\u201d the 85-year-old singer-songwriter said in a statement. \u201cI\u2019m so gratified that these songs will finally be set free into the world to complete our trilogy of work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album\u2019s country-influenced title track has been made available as an advance digital single. A music video for the tune, featuring archival footage of Diamond playing the song in the studio, has debuted at his official YouTube channel.<\/p>\n

Wild At Heart<\/em> can be pre-ordered now<\/a> and will be released on CD, vinyl, and via digital formats and platforms. Limited-edition colored-vinyl and two-CD versions of the album also will be released.<\/p>\n

For the Home Before Dark<\/em> sessions, Rubin assembled a group of talented musicians to accompany Dimaiond. They included Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell, lauded session guitarist Smokey Hormel, and guitarist Matt Sweeney. Sweeney co-founded the respected New York City indie-rock band Chavez and played in Billy Corgan\u2019s short-lived side project Zwan.<\/p>\n

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Watch a Trailer for the \u2018Wild At Heart\u2019 Album<\/h3>\n

A trailer for Wild At Heart<\/em>, featuring 2024 footage of Diamond and Rubin discussing their collaborations, also can be viewed on YouTube. The video also includes 2007 footage of Diamond in the studio during the Home Before Dark<\/em> sessions.<\/p>\n

Early in the trailer, Rick recalled how he pursued Neil and convinced him to collaborate with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tracked down Neil over a period of years,\u201d Rubin said. \u201cI hounded him and stalked him as a fan. \u2026 There was a side of [Neil] that I loved that I hadn\u2019t heard in a while, and I knew we could capture it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond then commented about working with Rubin, \u201c[It\u2019s] great to know that you\u2019re walking on the wire, and somebody\u2019s going to catch you if you slip. So, I appreciate that, Rick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rubin then recalled how prolific Diamond was during the making of Home Before Dark<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t stop myself,\u201d Neil shared. \u201cIt was a good feeling. \u2026 I was living with these songs for about a year. They were like part of my everyday life. I went to have a sandwich at a delicatessen, and I was writing songs. That\u2019s how each one came.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rubin then asked Diamond if those songs had \u201ca diary-like feeling\u201d for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey really do,\u201d Neil replied. \u201cThey feel like they were born to be written. It was all very natural and enlightening for me. It doesn\u2019t exist, and then it does exist.\u201d<\/p>\n

Near the end of the clip, Rubin told Diamond, \u201cThe fact that people are listening to your music today all over the world is a testament to the power of the songs and the power of your voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond responded, \u201cAny kind of power is good right now.\u201d Neil retired from touring in 2018 after revealing he\u2019d been diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Wild At Heart\u2019 Track List:<\/h3>\n
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  1. \u201cWild At Heart\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. \u201cYou Can\u2019t Have It All\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. \u201cTalking It To Death\u201d<\/li>\n
  4. \u201cShine On\u201d<\/li>\n
  5. \u201cThe Secret You\u201d<\/li>\n
  6. \u201cYou Never Know\u201d<\/li>\n
  7. \u201cYou\u2019re Getting To Me\u201d<\/li>\n
  8. \u201cYou Still Look Good To Me\u201d<\/li>\n
  9. \u201cYou\u2019re My Favorite Song\u201d<\/li>\n
  10. \u201cForgotten\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    (Photo by Jesse Diamond)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n