Ember Years Vol.2, The (16 John Barry Themes) - Annie Ross

Advantages: The Rock-Funk classic, Mirror, Mirror
Disadvantages: Few of the tracks are just mediocre

...In 1981 soul music legend Diana Ross hit the headlines when it was announced that after twenty successful years she was fleeing Motown Records for a whopping $20,000,000 deal with RCA Records. Ross had signed to Motown records at the tender age of 16 and gradually became the labels biggest selling artist. Motown was the pioneering record label in black music and Ross and the companys boss Berry Gordy had helped change and shape the whole face of black music in the twentieth century. Ross went to Berry Gordy to see if he could match RCA Records' deal for $20,000,000 but he simply told her he could not afford such an extravagent deal and pointed out to her that she would not be afforded the same lavish care and attention her career had always received elsewhere. When Ross' contract expired in early 1981 she was adament that she was not... Read review

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Advantages: Some of Diana Ross' most beautiful ballads
Disadvantages: None!

...In early 1981 it was announced that Diana Ross was leaving Motown Records after twenty years for a reported $20,000,000 deal with RCA Records. After riding high on the success of the dynamic diana (1980) album, Diana Ross was certainly in a position to pick and choose. Following the news of her departure, Motown issued one last album, To Love Again which featured new-at-the-time-of-release songs as well as some old hits and tracks directly plucked from various albums. If anything it was a celebratory exercise to mark her dynamic combination with songwriter Michael Masser who later went on to produce Whitney Houston. To Love Again (1981) was deleted from Motown's catologue some years ago but re-surfaced in January 2003 with the bonus adding of some rare material and 1 unreleased track. Motown has finally recognised the potential in... Read review

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Advantages: These are three of Diana Ross' best albums
Disadvantages: NONE!

...at No.2. Diana had apparantly asked for a song that her children could sing along to and with Upside Down she certainly got it. The musical arrangements are totally jamming and Diana's surprising and impressive razor sharp performance was remarkably efective and its fair to say that no one could have done Upside Down quite like Diana Ross who has always been in a class of her own. The projects second release was the even stronger and triumphant I'm Coming Out.The song would be something of a declaration of her newly found independence (and she was also preparing too leave Motown Records for a $20,000,000 deal with RCA/Capitol Records). I'm Coming Out has also since become a renowned gay anthem and supported her confirmed status even greater as an icon amongst gay males. This recording captures one of her strongest and most dynamic... Read review

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