Veteran singer Neil Diamond [ tickets ] has begun lining up shows to support his first new album in four years, "12 Songs."

So far, Diamond's schedule features a handful of December concerts that are scattered throughout the U.S., tickets for most of which will hit the box office next Monday (12/7). Details are included in the itinerary below.

On Tuesday, Diamond offers up "12 Songs," his first new studio album since 2001's "Three Chord Opera." Diamond teamed with famed producer Rick Rubin, whose production credits include works by L.L. Cool J., Beastie Boys, Slayer and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Rubin also helmed the late Johnny Cash's 2002 set, "American Recordings," the first of a series of collaborations that revived Cash's record sales and introduced him to a new generation.

Rubin recently told Rolling Stone that he had been pursuing Diamond for the past 10 years.

"After the first few meetings, I realized [Rick] loved music in the same way I did," Diamond wrote in the liner notes for "12 Songs." "For both of us it was visceral, passionate and could even be an elevating experience. It turned out that we served the same mistress--music, and that was to become our first real connection.

"I locked myself in the recording studio with a whole box of No. 2 pencils, a big stack of my trusty yellow legal pads and a funky old three-quarter size Martin Guitar with an E minor chord that could break your heart," Diamond continued. "Rick was determined not to rush the process, but to wait until we got to the essence of the songs I was working on. I loved the sheer freedom of creating music for its own sake."

Rubin enlisted a formidable cast of players to back Diamond in the studio. The core group comprised guitarist Mike Campbell and pianist Benmont Tench from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, and guitarist Smokey Hormel, who is known for his work with Beck and Tom Waits. Other musicians included pianist Larry Knechtel and organist Billy Preston.

Diamond recently wrapped up an extensive summer/fall arena tour.