Neil Diamond tends to evoke a strong emotional reaction in most people. He is loved and loathed in equal measure. For those who loathe him, he is a purveyor of overly sentimental schmaltz with banal lyrics. For those who love him, he touches raw emotional nerves with the honesty and lyricism of his composition and his total commitment to his craft.

There is one thing that is undeniable, Neil Diamond is at his very best when he is performing in a live setting. His fans adore him and he is utterly committted to them.

Stages is, as a consequence, the epitome of what it is that makes Neil Diamond the phenomenon he has been since the mid 1960's. Five audio discs of live performances, including one comprising Christmas songs, and one DVD containing highlights from his 2002 Irish concerts and a look at backstage life on tour.

This box set is, in short, a masterpiece. Discs 1 and 2 comprise the complete 2002 tour concert set recorded in December in Las Vegas. Diamond is in fine voice throughout. The show is well paced and contains many of his classic hits together with some new songs from his last studio album, Three Chord Opera. Highlights include Lady Magdalene/Yes I Will, Captain Sunshine, The Boat That I Row, Starflight, I Haven't Played this Song in Years and If You Know What I Mean. These songs will be well known to fans but not to the casual listener. They are worth attention because, particularly in the live setting, they give some insight to the non-believer why Neil Diamond has such a devoted and passionate following.

Discs 3 and 4 contain many really wonderful live performances of lesser known Diamond songs and some covers. Primitive, Home is a Wounded Heart, Fire on the Tracks, Rainy Day Song, Glory Road, The Story of My Life and Mountains of Love are magnificent. Covers such as Teach me Tonight, Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/ The End, God Only Knows, Lay Lady Lay and Rocket Man demonstrate the ability of Diamond to take a song written by somebody else and, with that astonishing voice, turn it into something uniquely his own.

Disc 5 comprises Christmas Songs. Not everybody's cup of tea and really only for seasonal listening.

The DVD is divided into two parts. One part shows highlights from Diamond's sold out Irish concerts in Dublin in 2002. The set comprises the usual suspects: Cracklin Rosie, Sweet Caroline, Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show, I Am...I Said, I'm a Believer and more. Diamond is in great voice, the audience is wildly enthusiastic and the whole thing leaves you wanting more. You just know that, as good as it is watching a DVD of the show, it must have been amazing to be there. I was...and it was!

The backstage portion of the DVD is a revelation. You gain insight into life on the road. You get to know the band and the crew. You see how close knit this community have become over more than 25 years together. You see the strain of a long tour. You understand the decency and the humanity of a very down to earth band of inter dependent people. You see the genuine humility of the "lead vocalist" and the respect and love that he and his troupe share.

This box set is an essential purchase for all Neil Diamond fans. If you are not a fan of the Neil Diamond you think you know (as one other reviewer described himself), you could do worse than spend a few hours with this collection. You may be surprised by what you will find

This is the best box set I've ever purchased. Neil Diamond has put all his time and talent into one beautiful package. From his early songs to his most recent you can truly feel Neil Diamond's music career on each and every cd. The DVD brought tears to my eyes because it makes you feel like you're really at his Dublin Concert. You get to meet each and every one of Neil's band and can feel the love that is Diamondville!! If you truly want to see what Neil Diamond is all about, this is the best purchase you will ever make. Thank you Neil for putting so much time and talent into this box set. This will be a collector's item!!

Here is an extraordinary thing - I have always thought that I hate Neil Diamond and his music. Surely this is a guy who sings sentimental tosh like You Don't Bring Me Fowers and others of that ilk? All the critics have said he is rubbish and they must know.

My wife bought this Set and forced me to sit and watch the DVD with her. I got a shock. Here was this 62 year old man, in concert, wowing 35,000 people with electric stage presence, dynamic performance and...shock, horror...some fantastic songs! Songs I knew... but didn't know...if you catch my drift. I'm A Believer, I Am..I Said, Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show, Solitary Man, Cracklin' Rosie..hell Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon (featured in Pulp Fiction by Urge Overkill).

I was stunned. I decided to listen to the other discs. I found an extraordinarily eclectic writer of songs, an extraordinarily powerful performer, an extraordinarily successful career lasting 37 years for God's sake and still as good as ever.

This man is, despite my long held ignorant, ill informed prejudice, a modern musical giant. I would rate him alongside U2 and Tom Waits, which, in my book makes him pretty damned good.

Listen to him sing the Beatles' Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/The End, Dylan's Lay Lady Lay, Elton John's Rocket Man, the Beach Boys' God Only Knows, his own Lordy, Home is a Wounded Heart, Primitive, You Got to Me, Soolaimon, Kentucky Woman, Holly Holy, Cherry Cherry, the unbelievably powerful I haven't Played This Song in Years and many more.

Do yourself a favour...ignore the received wisdom about Neil Diamond and buy this set. It contains live performances of exceptional quality spanning 32 years at the top. You will not be disappointed. In the words of Diamond himself...I'm a Believer

Much cheaper at Best Buy also free shipping. Only 29.99

This is a career defining set. Neil Diamond, for all his faults in the studio, is the consummate live performer. This showcase of that aspect of his life is absolutely wonderful.

The first two discs, being his entire 2002 set, show that Diamond, at the age of 61, is still, incredibly, at the zenith of his powers. His voice remains a unique, rich and powerful instrument. The show contains some rare gems, including, in particular, Yes I will/Lady Magdalene, Captain Sunshine and the Boat that I Row. The pacing of the show is exactly what you would expect from an entertainer from the old school: carefully constructed to elicit, by turn emotions filled with joy, sadness, elation, poignancy, excitement and melancholia.

Discs 3 and 4 are a revelation. These are records of performances spanning thirty years. The choices of songs are, in many cases, tracks from past albums and would not be terribly familiar to people who have only a passing interest in Neil Diamond. I sense that the cuts were chosen, not because they are the best renditions in a live setting of the particular song, but because they reflect where Diamond was in his life and music at that particular point in time. They are all the better for this approach. Songs like Home is A Wounded Heart carry an immense emotional impact.

These discs also contain covers of songs by Dylan, John, the Beatles and others. The only one that did not work for me was Elton John's Rocketman.

Disc 5 is somewhat redundant at this point, covering, as it does, live performances of Christmas songs. The performances are, nevertheless, entertaining.

Disc 6, the DVD, contains highlights of his Irish shows in 2002. A daylight gig is a little disconcerting at first, but the excellence of the performance and the enthusiasm of the fans soon dispel any misgivings. In fact, in the end this disc is a highlight of the set and the pity of it is that the whole concert is not featured.

Disc 6 also contains a documentary style look at Backstage on tour. It is entertaining and informative. Most interestingly, you see Diamond, his band and the entourage, as 'real people'; and people that are genuine, grounded and likeable. How refreshing!