Selling out Grand Casino Hinckley's 5,700-seat amphitheater in a matter of days is no small feat. But compared with Neil Diamond, who has almost sold out two nights at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, Willie Nelson might be seen as the second-biggest American music icon performing in Minnesota this weekend.
But anyone who believes that must be smoking some of Willie's favorite herb. The country legend turned 75 in April and shows no signs of slowing down, with at least three new albums over the past year compared with the three that Diamond has put out in the past decade. Here are five more reasons for Neil fans to give it up for Willie:
1 Two names: Patsy Cline and the Monkees. Both Willie and Neil made it as songwriters early in their careers, and their biggest hits were for a legend and a punch line, respectively: Cline with Willie's "Crazy," the Pre-Fab Four with Neil's "I'm a Believer." To be fair, there are no Willie songs in "Shrek."
2 Two more names: Snoop Dogg and Wynton Marsalis. Those are the latest in a long line of unlikely collaborators who've recorded with Willie. He sings on Snoop's "My Medicine" and just issued a charming live album with Marsalis, "Two Men With the Blues." OK, so Neil also has an interesting pairing with Natalie Maines on his new record. But the Texas chick would shine Willie's boots -- or, rather, wash his New Balance sneakers -- if he asked.
3Tale of two TV tapings. This spring Neil made a much-ballyhooed appearance on "American Idol" to (what else?) promote his new CD. This fall Willie will once again make a mostly ignored appearance on his umpteenth televised Farm Aid concert (Sept. 20 near Boston, details to be announced) to promote the plight of noncorporate American farms. His Family Farm Disaster Fund has already distributed $40,000 to flood-affected Midwest farmers this summer.
4By the numbers. Grammy Awards: eight for Willie, one for Neil. Singles on the Billboard charts: 119 for Willie, 105 for Neil. Total albums (excluding hits packages): 107 for Willie, 39 for Neil (per Allmusic.com). Never mind who's sold more.
5Loose is better in concert. Both singers could better vary their set lists. However, amid the predictable tunes, Willie is often unpredictable, changing up the tempo of one song or completely improvising through another. Neil wouldn't know improvisation if it bit him on his hair plugs.
Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658
