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UNCASVILLE, Conn. - There are few musicians who can switch from soft pop to rock as smoothly as Neil Diamond.

Diamond, 67, entertained Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena, complete with an 11-member band and three female backup singers on six platforms that moved on the stage.

Having his start in the 1960s, Diamond showed why he continues to be one of the most enduring and successful singer/songwriters.

Diamond has a new album, "Home Before Dark," and he sang that title song - a ballad, along with other numbers from that second collaboration with renowned producer Rick Rubin. The drum-less album, which Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and lead guitarist Mike Campbell played on, debuted at No. 1 - Diamond's first chart-topping debut.

Opening with "Holly Holy," and "Beautiful Noise" from a 1976 album produced by The Band's Robbie Robertson, Diamond was full of energy and strong voice from the start. Laying down his black guitar, Diamond sang "Love on the Rocks," one of his three Top 10 hits from the 1980 movie "The Jazz Singer" he not only did the soundtrack for, but acted in with Laurence Olivier.

The tempo kicked into gear after the easy listening "Play Me," with Diamond's rocking "Cherry, Cherry," considered one of the greatest three-chord songs from the 60s. The latter sure set the fans to dancing and clapping, and his band members took turns soloing on the extended piece.

After "Home Before Dark," were two other new ones, "Don't Go There," and "Pretty Amazing Grace," which the bass player strummed a large, red floor bass on and which was an interesting mix of a slow and fast tune.

"Crunchy Granola Suite" from Diamond's classic 1973 live album celebrating its 35th year, "Hot August Night," was a crowd pleaser.

Diamond took a seat to sing another ballad, "Brooklyn Road," a tribute to his growing up in that New York borough that was strong on the horns.

"I Am, I Said," a Top 5 song, and the folkish "Solitary Man," Diamond's first solo hit from 1966 and which Chris Isaak covered, preceded the country-sounding "Forever Blue Jeans" from 1979.

The obvious highlight for the fan faithful was "Sweet Caroline," Diamond's sing-along anthem from 1969 and another Top 5.

The vocalist sat at a small dinner table with a bottle of wine for "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." One of his backup singers took the place of Barbra Streisand for the song that hit No. 1 in 1978.

Diamond has written songs for a variety of musicians, but his most famous is "I'm a Believer" that The Monkees took to the top of the charts in 1967. After singing that number, "Man of God" and "Hell Yeah" wrapped the set up.

The encore started off with 1970's "Cracklin' Rosie" - Diamond's first U.S. No. 1, the immigrant salute "America," and "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show." Missing were the smashes "Song Song Blue" and "Kentucky Woman." Diamond played Fenway Park in August. Born Noah Kaminsky, Diamond was more of a rocker early in his career before focusing on more mellow songs, but he continued to be considered America's top male vocalist. Influenced by Dylan and Elvis, Diamond helped inspire James Taylor, Jim Croce and Barry Manilow, and has sold more than 125 million records worldwide, has had 36 Top 40 hits, and won a Grammy.

STEPHEN PETERSON can be reached at 508-236-0377 or at speterson@thesunchronicle.com.