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making him a top draw on the
concert circuit as well.
But as if to illustrate that
country has always been in his
system, he re-recorded his 1967
hit "Kentucky Woman" for the
new album.
"That song on the album
shows how far I haven't come as
a writer; "-Diamond chuckles.
"I could've written that song
last week and it wouldn't have
been much different. Maybe it's
that I'm going full cycle and com-
ing back to my beginnings
again."
Making Tennessee Moon also
gave Diamond a chance to work
with more friends and idols. He
describes Jennings, who duets
on the song "One Good Love," as
"a soul brother of the road, in a
way."
Diamond's favorite moment
by far, however, was recording
with country guitar great Chet
Atkins on the album-closing
"Blue Highway."
"I still remember reading
Gretsch guitar catalogs when I
was 16, looking through all the
Chet Atkins model of guitars and
dreaming that someday I would
play like Chet and have one of
his guitars," Diamond remem-
bers.
"The last time I was in town,
he actually gave me one and
signed it to me ... I try to emu-
late him and copy him. I even
begged him to teach me a few
licks today— I'll steal from him
any time."
Tennessee Moon includes
some of country's younger stars,
such as fiddler Mark O'Connor,
Beth Nielsen Chapman, Hal
Ketchum and Raul Malo of the
Mavericks — though Diamond
isn't a big fan of Young Country.
"I'm still kind of old-fashioned,"
he says. "I love Waylon and
Johnny Cash."
As to whether his own fans
will be as enamored with his for-
ay into country, Diamond is op-
timistic. But there's a more
important fan whose judgment
matters even more — a year-old
grandson who lives with Dia-
mond's oldest daughter in New
York.
"That's the best, truly the
best," he gushes. "You truly had
nothing to do with it, but people
congratulate you, send you cig-
ars ... I'm afraid he's a ham, just
like his grandfather. What can I
tell you, I've become a doting
grandfather." El

O'Neil Diamond performs in
the round at 8 p.m. Monday
and Tuesday, July 1-2, at the
Palace of Auburn Hills. Tick-
ets are $17.50, $27 and $35.
Call Ticketmaster at (810)
645-6666.

GREAT
RIBS

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OPEN EVENINGS TUES.-SUN.

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(Just East of Novi Road)
(810) 305-5856

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June 7-1 6 AT Oakland Mall

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Tickets from $10 to $25 on sale at all
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