The odd couple, Rick Rubin and Neil Diamond, recently got together and decided on January 12, 2009 as the date they would begin working on Neil's follow up to the Rubin produced "Home Before Dark".    Diamond says that he told Rubin that he would like to begin the writing process on the 12th, however, Rubin suggested that they meet on that date to discuss the album's concept and map out their plan of attack. 

The Jazz Singer says that they have already spoken about an idea, but says it's too early to talk about.  Neil went on to say that it will be a different concept and approach than what was heard on the two previous releases (both produced by Rubin).


There's material left from both albums including a few songs Diamond considers "really wonderful recordings," but says he and Rubin still plan to "start fresh. We're going to make believe there's no such thing as songs in the can. We don't know if the songs we've recorded are going to be meaningful or even usable on this next album."

In the meantime, Diamond is expecting to release a live DVD from his latest tour, which is expected to surface in early 2009, along with a tv special airing the concert.  "I'm very pleased with it," Diamond says. "I've always felt you could never really replicate the experience of being at a concert, but this film comes as close to replicating it as anything I've ever seen."