It may now be hard to believe but there once was a time when Neil Diamond was considered not only big enough to open a movie but to get Sir Laurence Olivier to co-star in said movie. While the movie itself was less than a rousing success, the soundtrack was a smash--though, contrary to the title, it does not find the Elvis of soft-rock taking up jazz. Playing the part of a young Jewish cantor who follows his heart to play, well, a Neil Diamond-esque blend of R&B and rock, Diamond finds excuses to throw in some soulful singles ("Love on the Rocks" and "Hello Again"), a fluffy, uptempo slice of Stephen Foster-Americana ("On the Robert E Lee") and a topical song ("America"); padding out the soundtrack are the film-specific Jewish hymns "Adon Olam" and "Kol Nidre". Eternally consigned to a limbo between being remembered for his better moments (Live at the Greek, writing some of the Monkees' biggest hits) and for the tawdry ones ("Turn on Your Heartlight", inspired by E.T.), The Jazz Singer remains one of Diamond's best albums. --Randy Silver