Lady Sings The Blues premiered to an eager, anticipating audience in October 1972. The public flocked in droves to the cinemas to see this much-hyped film, whilst critics watched intensley and eagerly sharpened their pencils.
Soul singer and Motown legend, Diana Ross controversially took ... Read review
Advantages: The wonderful tracks My Man, Don't Explain etc Disadvantages: The dialogue interupts musical flow
Lady Sings The Blues premiered to an eager, anticipating audience in October 1972. The public flocked in droves to the cinemas to see this much-hyped film, whilst critics watched intensley and eagerly sharpened their pencils.
Soul singer and Motown legend, Diana Ross controversially took the role of the tortured Jazz legend, Billie Holiday and deservedly won wide critical acclaim for her harrowing and riviting performance in the film ... .../>
Other highlights on the Lady Sings The Blues soundtrack (1972)range from the sassy Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer, an almost frivoulous song, seemingly screaming out about fun and rebellion, to the playful tone of Love Is Here To Stay, to the restrained anguish in her voice on You're Mean To Me and to her more bubbly presentation of What A Little Moonlight Can Do.
Diana displays such yearning naievity which was so true to ... more
Lady Sings The Blues premiered to an eager, anticipating audience in October 1972. The public flocked in droves to the cinemas to see this much-hyped film, whilst critics watched intensley and eagerly sharpened their pencils.
Soul singer and Motown legend, Diana Ross controversially took the role of the tortured Jazz legend, Billie Holiday and deservedly won wide critical acclaim for her harrowing and riviting performance in the film which subsequently gained her an oscar nomination (though Diana sadly lost out to Liza Minnelli for Cabaret - people claimed this was down to Berry Gordy's over-kill campaign to get her to win where Berry sent various extravagent gifts to members of the comittee which was merely perceived as a ploy to get her to win).
Critics were instantly silenced on hearing the movies quintessential and divine soundtrack (after doubting Diana Ross' vocal abilities). True there were many differences between Diana Ross' rather angelic, yet soulful and anguish-filled vocal style to the more stark, husky, hoarse-sounding style of Billie Holiday.
To Dianas credit, she never once resorts to mimmicking Billie Holiday or as some predicted, putting in a Supremes-like performance. She digs deeply away at the material and surprisingly makes the songs uniquely her own which was certainly not an easy task to accomplish.
The soundtrack shrewdly captures the often dark mood and spirit of the original recordings. The stark effect of Strange Fruit (a song by Billie Holiday describing how she had seen a black man hanged from a tree following a vicious racist attack which explained the descriptive notion of Strange Fruit) is delivered with an icy, but magnificently compelling performance from Diana. The song is hauntingly atmospheric in its tone and Diana stretches herself vocally becoming totally immeresed in the dark, inventive and atmospheric musical arrangements with her voice exquisitely dripping with such genuine, raw emotion.
Diana shrewdly captures the flavour and feel of the breath-taking, exhilirating Good Morning Heartache, immpecably well. Good Morning Heartache was lifted a single in the U.S in 1972 as a trailer for the album though it stalled at a disappointing No.34 on the main U.S Hot 100.
One of the outstanding highlights of the album is the stirring, gutsy, gospel undertones on God Bless The Child. Diana loses that occasionally angelic sound, delivering a strikingly husky, lower-throat register performance.
Don't Explain is just magical and Diana's performance is heavenly! This is one of those haunting songs that sends cold shivers down the spine.
My Man is just triumphant! The real beauty, essence of soul in Dianas own unique sound really pours out on this exalting number. Her diction and lyrical phrasing are so precise and her prenounciations on the more complex material are impressivley mastered to perfection.
Other highlights on the Lady Sings The Blues soundtrack (1972)range from the sassy Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer, an almost frivoulous song, seemingly screaming out about fun and rebellion, to the playful tone of Love Is Here To Stay, to the restrained anguish in her voice on You're Mean To Me and to her more bubbly presentation of What A Little Moonlight Can Do.
Diana displays such yearning naievity which was so true to Billies style on I cried For You whilst absolutely mesmerising is the hauntingly atmospheric, Lover Man (Oh Where can You Be) which is blusey and deep in its rather sombre tone.
Lady Sings The Blues (1972) was re-recorded by Diana Ross under the close supervision and guidance of Gil Askey (who worked with Diana Ross extensivley throughout her solo career) and her then boss, Berry Gordy.
On the whole, the entire project is given noble justice by the wise vocal approach of Diana Ross who excells on these recordings which are such a vast step away from that of her more contemporary R&B style and capture some of her strongest and most passionate vocal performances.
Lady Sings The Blues Original Motion Picture Soundtrack sold well over 300,000 copies within its first eight days of release, quickly catapulting up to the top of the album charts, becoming an effective trailer for the forthcoming release of the movie. A triumph all-round!
Advantages: These are three of Diana Ross' best albums Disadvantages: NONE!
LadySings The Blues premiered to an eager, anticipating audience in October 1972. The public flocked in droves to the cinemas to see this much-hyped film, whilst critics watched intensley and eagerly sharpened their pencils.
Soul singer and Motown legend, DianaRoss controversially took the role of the tortured Jazz legend, Billie Holiday and deservedly won wide critical acclaim for her harrowing and riviting performance in the film which subsequently gained her an oscar nomination (though Diana sadly lost out to Liza Minnelli for Cabaret - people claimed this was down to Berry Gordy's over-kill campaign to get her to win where Berry sent various extravagent gifts to members of the comittee which was merely perceived as a ploy to get her to win).
Critics were instantly silenced on hearing the movies quintessential and divine ...
Advantages: All eight tracks are masterpieces Disadvantages: None
diana - The Landmark Album Of DianaRoss Solo Career
Nov 03 '06
Author's Product Rating
Pros
All eight recordings are pure R&B/Pop masterpieces and Ross is in superb voice throughout!
Cons
Would have been nice to have had more tracks but I guess less is more!
The Bottom Line
diana is a riotously funky masterpiece and arguably DianaRoss' most exciting, consistent studio projects.
Full Review
Legendary soul diva DianaRoss had not fully been recognised by critics as an important albums act at the point when the excellent diana had been released. Her studio albums had always drawn a mixed critical response though some met wide acclaim such as her magnificent and totally stunning debut DianaRoss (1970), LadySings The Blues Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1972), the absolutley superb, divine DianaRoss (1976 ...
Advantages: Every track is a WINNER! Disadvantages: None!
crown. The Boss was certified Gold by the RIAA. One of the major highlights of her long-standing and illustrious career.
Soul diva, DianaRoss had not fully been recognised by critics as an important albums act at the point when diana had been released. Her studio albums had always drawn a mixed critical response though some met wide acclaim such as her magnificent and totally stunning debut, DianaRoss (1970), LadySings The Blues (1972), the absolutley superb and divine DianaRoss (1976) and The Boss (1979). Though The Boss was a critical and commercial success, her studio albums before that, Ross (1978) and Baby Its Me (1977) were not big sellers and both bombed in the U.K, failing to chart altogether.
What Diana felt she needed to bring her flagging career up to date was a change of direction. She immediatley turned to ...
Product Information for "Lady Sings The Blues - Diana Ross" »
Product details
Title
Lady Sings The Blues
Performer
Diana Ross
Genre
Soundtracks
Sub Genre
Film
Release Date
01/1993
Original Release Year
1972
Label / Distributor
Motown / Universal Music
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Format
Performer
EAN
731453013520
Catalogue Number
5301352
Titles on disc 1
1.
Lady Sings The Blues
2.
Baltimore Brothel
3.
Billie Sneaks Into Dean And Dean's
4.
Swinging Uptown
5.
T'ain't Nobody's Business If I Do
6.
Big Ben
7.
CC Rider
8.
All Of Me
9.
Man I Love
10.
Them There Eyes
11.
Gardenias From Louis
12.
Cafe Manhattan
13.
Had You Been Around
14.
Love Theme
15.
Country Tune
16.
I Cried For You
17.
Billy And Harry
18.
Mean To Me
19.
Fine And Mellow
20.
What A Little Moonlight Can Do
21.
Louis Visits Billie On Tour
22.
Persuasion
23.
Agent's Office
24.
Love Is Here To Stay
25.
Lover Man
26.
You've Changed
27.
Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer
28.
Good Morning Heartache
29.
My Man (Mon Homme)
30.
Don't Explain
31.
Strange Fruit
32.
God Bless The Child
33.
Closing Theme
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
09/04/2006
Additional notes
Album Notes
Personnel includes: Diana Ross (vocals); John Collins (guitar, banjo); Plas Johnson, Marshall Royal, Ernie Watts (saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison, Albert Aamons (trumpet); George Bohanon (trombone); Gerald Wiggins (piano); Red Callender (bass); Earl Palmer (drums). Diana Ross delivered a devastating portrayal of Billie Holliday in her film debut, although jazz purists were mixed on her singing. Some felt she captured the essence of Lady Day, if not the exact sound, while others were less charitable. Still, both the film and the resulting soundtrack album were huge hits, and it's safe to say that they introduced Holliday's work to a new audience, clearly a good thing. LADY SINGS THE BLUES features Ross performing songs either associated with Holliday ("Good Morning Heartache"), or written by her ("Fine and Mellow"). There are also snippets of dialogue, and excerpts from Michel Legrand's evocative orchestral score.
Compare Lady Sings The Blues - Diana Ross to other similar Soundtracks & Musicals »
Similar products and search queries by other users »
Lady Ross, Lady Sings Ross, Lady The Ross, Lady Blues Ross, Lady Diana Ross, Lady Sings The Ross, Lady Sings Blues Ross, Lady Sings Diana Ross, Lady The Blues Ross, Lady The Diana Ross, Lady Blues Diana Ross, Lady Sings The Blues Ross, Lady Sings The Diana Ross, Lady Sings Blues Diana Ross, Lady The Blues Diana Ross
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Lady Sings The Blues - Diana Ross? Click here
![Diana Ross Live: The Lady Sings... Jazz&Blues - Stolen Moments [DVD] [1992] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/81496612.jpg "Diana Ross Live: The Lady Sings... Jazz&Blues - Stolen Moments [DVD] [1992] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]")
![Merlin (Original Television Soundtrack) [Digipak] - Various Artists](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/409/prod_small-7033409.jpg)
