I don't want to hear any "Rhinestone Cowboy" complaints. Neil Diamond is more of a folk troubadour than most of the singer-songwriters that hide behind the purist "folk" label. He built a successful career writing traditionally structured contemporary American folk songs. With him, it's always been about presenting the clearly sung lyrics of a well crafted song. Sure, he's gone a little haywire with production from time to time, but so have a lot of the folkies, (when they could scrape enough cash together for orchestra musicians and extended studio time).
What's more ...... Even at his worst, Neil Diamond's schlocky 60s orchestral arrangements have held up a whole lot better than most folkie schlocky 60s orchestral arrangements, for sure!   It baffles me that he and some other worthy people have been kept out of the club.
OK, there was indeed that horrific song about ET :), but "Solitary Man" is a folk driven singer-songwriter gem if there ever was one!