SAN JOSE, Calif.--Neil Diamond [ tickets ] has still got it. That much was perfectly clear from the start of his packed-house show on Sunday night (12/9) at San Jose's Compaq Center.

It’s just that “it” doesn’t happen to be his voice.

The “Solitary Man” will turn 62 next year, and his voice shows his age. He croaks these days as much as he croons.

But that’s OK, because we never followed Diamond for his crystal-clear vocals. It’s always been more about charisma, stage presence and the ability to work a crowd.

In those areas, he’s still the man.

Diamond reminds me of a veteran athlete. He’s the basketball player that will call out his shot to his defender and then make it right over his head. He’s the boxer that tells you that a left is coming and still connects. He knows that sometimes telegraphing his next move, and then making good on his promise, can be even more powerful than surprising a crowd with the unexpected.

Everybody who walked into this hockey arena immediately knew what song Diamond was going to open with. Heck, they probably knew before walking in, but the American flag hanging from the front of the stage made it obvious. The flag was huge, roughly the size of a basketball court. Diamond knows that size really does matter.

When Diamond finally appeared, his rabid crowd was ready to pledge their allegiance as the patriotic singer rumbled through his classic “America.” A small group of fans at the front of the stage brought out small flags to wave and, in case the point had yet to hammered home, three more flags unfurled from the top of the stage. It was a blatant attempt to tie into the emotions of Sept. 11, but it wasn’t exploitative. It was just the real Neil.

"Uh-oh, I got a feeling that things might get out of control tonight," Diamond said early on.

But Diamond is a master of control, and the evening went exactly as he wanted it. The adoring crowd rose and danced at the appropriate times, then sat and listened attentively when the material called for it. In return, this ultimate professional made the San Jose crowd feel special and different from the other crowds he plays to. He made the people feel good to be from San Jose, and that’s no easy task--just ask the redevelopment agency or the downtown association.

"We are happy to be back in San Jose. It’s one of our favorite places in the whole world, especially now with all our country is going through,” he said. “But if it is true that music has the power to heal, then let the healing begin.”

The healing was at its best with the fast songs, where the muscle of the 17-piece band could better hide Diamond’s voice. “Cherry, Cherry,” a Top 10 hit in 1966, was a blast--Diamond strummed the acoustic guitar and people danced and sang with the joy that only comes from hearing an old-time favorite song played live. “I’m a Believer,” a Diamond-penned track that the Monkees took to the top of the charts, was also a groovy good time.

Of course, Diamond has so much material to chose from that when the hits start coming, it turns into a regular musical avalanche. Toward the end of his 26-song main set, the singer treated his loyal following to such big ones as “I Am ... I Said,” “Forever in Blue Jeans” and “Sweet Caroline.” Unfortunately, we also got such painful tunes as “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.”

By the time he got to the encores, like the fantastic “Cracklin’ Rose,” no one in the building could doubt that Diamond still has it.