MCA releases “The Last Thing On My Mind” and “Canta Libre” single.

MCA releases “Rainbow” album.

Columbia releases “Be” and “Flight of the Gull” single, the same day that “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” premieres in New York City at the Sutton Theater.

“Jonathan Livingston Seagull” album is certified gold, the same day that “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” premieres in Los Angeles at Mann’s Village Theater.

Columbia releases “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” album.
Neil receives a Grammy for Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special, at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony, for his work on “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” (Initial chart run–30 weeks.)(Re-enters charts on 7/31/1976 for 4 weeks.)

Court orders revisions to “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” Five minutes was allegedly cut from Neil’s background score. Complete versions of “Anthem,” “Prologue,” and “Dear Father” are restored to soundtrack. Music credits wording is changed to: “Music and songs by Neil Diamond. Background score composed and adapted by Neil Diamond and Lee Holdridge. Musical supervision by Tom Catalano.”

Neil is awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for his work on “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” at the 32nd Annual Golden Globes ceremonies in Los Angeles, California. “Lonely Looking Sky,” from the “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” album, is recognized with a nomination for Best Original Song.

Neil wins his first grammy for “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” in the “Album Of Best Original Score Written For Motion Picture Or Television Special” category.

Columbia releases “Skybird” and “Lonely Looking Sky” single.

MCA releases “His 12 Greatest Hits” album.

“His 12 Greatest Hits” album is certified gold.

Columbia releases “Longfellow Serenade” and “Rosemary’s Wine” single.

Columbia releases “Serenade” album.

“Serenade” album is certified gold.

Neil briefly tours Europe (England, Germany, and Spain) to promote the “Serenade” album, appearing as a guest on various television and interview shows.

Neil appears on “The Star Parade” for German television, singing “Song Sung Blue,” “The Last Picasso,” and “Longfellow Serenade.”

Neil appears on BBC-TV’s “Shirley Bassey’s Christmas Special.” Neil sings “Sweet Caroline,” and “Longfellow Serenade,” and is then joined by host Shirley Bassey for a duet performance of “Play Me.”

The Creative Company, as part of the “Rock ‘N Pop Stars” series publishes “Neil Diamond,” a book written by Susan K. O’Regan.

Neil begins work on the concept album, “Beautiful Noise,” engaging Robbie Robertson, of The Band, to produce.

Columbia releases “I’ve Been This Way Before” and “Reggae Strut” single.

Columbia releases “The Last Picasso” and “The Gift of Song” single.

Neil collaborates with The Band member, Robbie Robertson, to compose “Dry Your Eyes.” This collaboration begins what was to become a long and successful history of collaborations by Neil with many songwriters, among whom Gilbert Becaud, Richard Bennett, Carole Bayer Sager and Alan and Marilyn Bergman are just a few.

Neil records special 12-inch single for son Jesse’s schoolmates in a special recording session in which the class members participated. The recording is entitled, “We Wrote A Song Together,” and each of the children in attendance receives an autographed copy of the record. Included on the record is an alternate version of “Beautiful Noise.” The disc was never released to the public.

Ending his three-year sabbatical, Neil decides to tour once again, and begins preparation for a six-week tour of Australia and New Zealand by performing three shows in Sacramento and three shows in Utah. New band members are added for this tour: Reinie Press (bassist), Tom Hensley (pianist), King Errisson (percussionist), Doug Rhone (guitarist) and Linda Press (background vocalist).

Neil tours down under beginning at Western Springs in Auckland, New Zealand, and ending in Sydney, Australia.
This was to become the most successful tour in Neil’s career to date. At the Auckland show, held at The Western Springs Rugby Field, the attendance is a record 35,000. The attendance at the Queen Elizabeth II Park in Christchurch, is 25,000. The Australia shows were equally successful. Neil celebrates his final appearance of the Australia tour by performing live, on Australian national television, in a special show at the Sydney Sports Grounds, aptly named “Thank You Australia.”

Family Weekly Magazine publishes feature article, “Neil Diamond: ‘Songs Are Life In 80 Words or Less.'”

Neil returns to North America where he continues touring through October, playing 32 cities beginning with Las Cruces, New Mexico, and ending in Oakland, California.

Neil leaves BNB Management, the firm which coordinated his highly successful Australia/New Zealand tour earlier in year, and signs with Jerry Weintraub’s Management III.

Columbia releases “If You Know What I Mean” and “Street Life” single.

“Beautiful Noise” album is certified gold.

Neil’s home in Holmby Hills is raided by the Los Angeles police and sheriff’s departments, who receive an anonymous (and erroneous) tip that cocaine can be found on the property.

Neil opens the new $10 million 7,000-seat Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts, in Las Vegas, Nevada, playing five sold-out shows.