Undoubtedly, for me, this is Neil Diamond's best album of all time. For first time listeners who maybe cued into Diamond after hearing a track on the radio (sadly, is there any station out there that plays Diamond anymore?), this is the place to start. A singer who can evoke moods within the listener like virtually no other artist of the 1970's, and who never sounds better than on Stones. The Diamond-penned title track is one of his absolute best, demonstrating a style that is clearly all his own. I Am...I Said is the showpiece tune, a light that could not even be extinguished by it's overplay on the radio at the time. And does anyone else agree that no one covers a song quite like Diamond, making it all his own? Perhaps surprisingly, this album has many examples of that, given Diamond's proliferance as a song-writer. I Think It's Gonna Rain Today demonstrates that nicely, as do Diamond's versions of Joni Mitchell's Chelsea Morning, Tom Paxton's The Last Thing on My Mind, and Leonard Cohen's Suzanne. (If you like those cover tunes, check out his take of Everybody's Talkin' (Harry Nilsson), and a beautiful rendition of Both Sides Now, on other albums). These covers are harder to come by, as they don't show up as readily on his greatest hits packages, probably due to royalty issues. So you have to dig with Diamond, and you'll be glad you did! The real gold is not to be found with all his catchy pop tunes, but on the supposed filler between them.

Neil Diamond put out one of his finest works in 1971 with this album. Some of the songs feature a somewhat moody persona (The Last Thing On My Mind, Suzanne, I Think It's Gonna Rain Today) that'll leave you feeling maybe a little melancholy. The up-tempo "Crunchy Granola Suite" will have you singing and humming the lyrics, and perhaps dancing. Joni Mitchell penned a song titled "Chelsea Morning", which shows up on this CD. Roger Miller even contributed to this collection as well, with the unforgivingly interpersonal "Husbands And Wives." The CD's title track is a classic in it's own right. The signature track here is the autobiagraphical "I Am...I Said- a song Neil Diamond stated that it's been his hardest song to write to date, which took him four months to compose. It was well worth the wait, for I Am...I Said is one of Neil's most memorable songs. Lee Holdridge's musical arrangements really shine here as well. This title is a must-have for all Neil Diamond fans to add to their collection.

All the tracks on this album I had on other albums, but there was one track I didn't have and had never listened to. It was the "I Am..I Said" Reprise. When I finally did hear it, it was at a particularly difficult time in my life. It released so much emotion in me like no emotional laxative could.

I have to say, this is Neil singing with all of his honesty. The anger, despair and frustration in his voice as he cries at the top of his lungs, "I Am..I Cried!", whilst the same string arrangement and phrashing that is heard within "I Am..I Said" continues as the rest of the arrangement disappears, is enough to sense and know that he is asserting his existence to the face of self-doubt. It's wonderful and overwhelming. To those who have heard it, you know what I mean.

All the tracks on "Stones" shine, but the "I Am.. I Said" Reprise is the real gem.

My parents bought this album when it first came out back in 1971 or so and played it so often on our old 'hi-fi' that the songs (and the order of them) have taken permanent residence in my mind as part of the soundtrack of my childhood.

However I had not listened to "Stones" until recently when I 'rediscovered' the album when browsing through Napster. Just a WONDERFUL album. Even though most of the songs are covers, Neil Diamond covers them eloquently; "Chelsea Morning" evokes images of lazy summer mornings in a butter-yellow kitchen watching the early rising sun.

I actually prefer the 'reprise' version of "I Am...I Said" over the hit version.

Stones is a great album just to kick back and listen to or during a long road trip. 35 years later, it still sounds crisp and fresh. Great effort, ND!

This album was recorded when Diamond was switching over from the bubblegum swingers of Bang days to a mature artist who wanted to be accepted for more meaningful songs. This album contains some soul-searching tracks from I Am..I Said to Stones which are his own compositions coupled with songs by Leonard Cohen's masterpiece Suzanne and Tom Paxtons 'Last Thing on My Mind'. This album contains indeed some awesome tracks from an young man with a voice that has beautiful seductive edge most unparalled during the 70/s. If you are looking for songs that can stir your soul, this is a must. And the cover shows Neil looking like a greek god with his long hair and poetic aura !