On December 13, 1988, “Columbia” label released “The Best Years of Our Lives”, the eighteenth Neil Diamond studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “Chartmaker Studios”, “Lion Share Recording Studios”, “Village Recorders”, “Ocean Way Recording” in Los Angeles, “A&M Studios” in Hollywood, “Omnisound Recording Studios” in Nashville, “Seacost Sound” in Victoria, British Columbia, and was produced by David Foster.

Personnel:

• Neil Diamond – lead vocals
• Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin, Renée Geyer, Richard Page – backing vocals
• Richard Bennett – acoustic guitar
• Dean Parks – acoustic and electric guitar
• Michael Landau, Steve Lukather – electric guitar
• Michael Boddicker, Robbie Buchanan, David Foster, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren, Michael Omartian, David Paich – keyboards
• Mike Brignardello, Reinie Press – bass guitar
• Tris Imboden, Paul Leim, Carlos Vega – drums
• Rick Bowen, Rhett Lawrence, Kevin Maloney – synthesizer programming
• Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Dan Higgins, Bill Reichenbach Jr., Larry Williams – horns
• David Foster, Jerry Hey – horn arrangements
• Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangements
• David Foster – arranger
• Jeffrey Woodruff – engineer
• Jesse Kanner, Ray Pyle, Dave Reitzas – engineer assistant
• Humberto Gatica – mixing
• Mauricio Guerrero, Laura Livingston – mixing assistant
• George Marino – mastering
• David Kirschner – art direction, design
• Beverley Lazor-Bahr – additional design
• Matthew Rolston – photography
• Sam Cole, Chris Earthy – production coordination
• Ned Brown, Barry Cardinale, Larry E. Williams, Alison Zanetos – production assistant

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Diamond, except where noted.

1. The Best Years of Our Lives
2. Hard Times for Lovers
3. This Time – Neil Diamond, David Foster, Jeremy Lubbock
4. Everything’s Gonna Be Fine – Neil Diamond, Weldon Dean Parks
5. Hooked on the Memory of You
6. Take Care of Me – Neil Diamond, David Foster
7. Baby Can I Hold You – Tracy Chapman
8. Carmelita’s Eyes – Neil Diamond, David Foster
9. Courtin’ Disaster – Neil Diamond, David Foster
10. If I Couldn’t See You Again
11. Long Hard Climb – Neil Diamond, Tom Hensley, Alan Lindgren