The Best Years of Our Lives is the eighteenth
studio album by
Neil Diamond. It was released by
Columbia Records in 1988 and reached number 46 on the
Billboard 200 chart, number 42 on the
UK album chart, and number 92 on the
Australian chart.[2]
The album was certified gold by the
RIAA on February 16, 1989.[3] In his review of The Best Years of Our Lives music critic Bryan Buss referred to it as "a strong entry in Diamond's oeuvre" and as "an album that is romantic and sentimental without being manipulative".[4]
Three singles from the album, the title track, "This Time", and "Baby Can I Hold You" reached numbers 7, 9, and 28, respectively on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[4] "This Time" also reached #17 on the
Irish Singles Chart.[5]Cash Box said of the title track that it was "not a terribly inspired tune, but served up with predictable skill by Mr. D."[6]