Original version of Diana Ross "Diana" album...

[keefelc]

Originally Posted by Jeff H

Wow, happy birthday to me!!! :P :P :P

Let me be one of the first to wish you a fab birthday, Jeff!

[Jeff H]

Well, thanks, Keefe. I wasn't fishing for birthday greetings, but my birthday is July 30, so I'd say a deluxe re-release of Bad Girls is the perfect way to celebrate!

[keefelc]

Wow! This 2 CD set is much better than I hoped! Wonderful packaging (it should be for the $30 price tag - although I heard Fry's Electronics has it on sale for about $18.00) with pictures of the boxes with the master tapes for the "Diana" album), along with some extensive liner notes. Who knew there were plans for Diana and Rick James to work together? Plus, who ever thought that Trip Ringwald (SF DJ and remixer) and Bill Motley (Moby Dick Records) names would ever be mentioned in a Diana Ross project???

As for the music, I think that Motown did the right thing by having the Rodgers and Edwards sessions remixed by Russ Terrana for the commercial release of the "Diana" album. The tracks just seem so much brighter and clearer than the original Chic sessions. What do you think?

I love Disc Two (Diana - Dance). Listening to this disc reminded me why I used to anxiously await a new album from Miss Ross! The remastering of the the alternate version of "Love Hangover" sounds SOOOO good, especially after years of listening to the tinny and distorted bootlegged copy. Plus, so many great cuts (twelve inch versions yet) from the pretty much overlooked "Ross" album. This disc proves the woman can make good music if she would let the pros (Ashford & Simpson, Richard Perry, Hal Davis) tell her what to do and not vice versa.

[NickNack]

Ordered my copy yesterday. Really want to see what 'CHIC' had envisioned for her. Plus, the "newly corrected, augmented and ammended" :) version of "Love Hangover". YES!

[keefelc]

I really really think you're going to be impressed with the set, Nicky! I had forgotten how much fun the twelve inch remixes of stuff like What You Gave Me and Your Love Is So Good For Me were. They also included "Top Of The World" from her Richard Perry produced album, "Baby, It's Me". I love that song - I only wish they found an extended version for this set.

There's a brochure included with the Diana and Donna sets that show other titles in the Deluxe Edition series. Let's cross our fingers that, if sales do well for Diana and Donna, we'll see more of their catalog added to the series!

[NickNack]

Originally Posted by keefelc

I really really think you're going to be impressed with the set, Nicky! I had forgotten how much fun the twelve inch remixes of stuff like What You Gave Me and Your Love Is So Good For Me were.

One of the reasons I fell in love with (Gregg Diamond's) Starcruiser's "This Side of Midnight" was the similarity in the chorus to Diana's "Your Love..."

YOUR LOVE, MEANS SO MUCH TO ME
vs.
YOUR LOVE, IS SO GOOD FOR ME

I was probably the only one that felt this way but it was enough to get me to play the hell out of that song. :D

[keefelc]

Now I need to rush home from work so I can check out the comparison! Thanks for pointing out this song from Starcruiser - I admit I kind of overlooked that album.

[NickNack]

Gotta tell ya, I'm loving Disc 2. Most of those album cuts escaped me first time around. Sounding pretty good right now. I smile when the "Supreme's Medley" comes up in the midst of all this stuff. Diana sounds like a little girl saying, BABY, BABY I'M AWARE OF WHERE YOU GO...

"Love Hangover": Although they cleaned it up nicely, I'm still hearing a lot of flaws, especially with volume shifts. And even though it's longer than the Disconet version, I'm 99% sure it doesn't match the bootleg I have. Have to check tomorrow but I would swear the second break on my copy is longer, where as on the CD they just looped back to it and repeat everything again until the fade.

Still, it's a great package with great liner notes. The last line where they thanked Bobby "DJ" Guttadaro, David Rodriguez, "Capt." Mike Wilkinson, Bill Motely and Trip Ringwald sort of choked me up. Finally... recognition.

[keefelc]

Hey Nicky, glad to hear you received your copy and that you're enjoying it! I played Disc Two to death this past weekend.

So, what'd you think of the original mixes of the "Diana" album???

[Twirlessence]

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago. The Chic versions of the songs sounded like they had all the energy sucked out of them. The Motown versions of the songs - the drums are crisper (?) and more up front. Diana's vocals are pushed more up front too - the Chic versions had her pushed so far in the background you couldn't tell it was Diana.

The second disk is why I bought the reissue anyway - love the extended versions "I Ain't Been Licked" is a new favorite - hadn't heard it in years. Also loved the Supremes medley - it was one of those quirky selections that we danced to alot whenever it was played on a Saturday night back in the late 70's. Perhaps it was the camp quotient. Although I must say the transition into "Baby Love" is kinda clunky sounding.

I've got the old "love hangover" remix on a Disconet medley but the CD version sounds much better and is longer. This version is definately funkier sounding than the released version. I had heard a rumour for years that Diana was loaded to the t!ts when this take was recorded. She sounds kinda drunk on this cut.

[markydefad]

Yeah, I read in her bio that the producer got her liquored up before they cut "Love Hangover" cause Miss Ross was rather put off to be recording "DISCO". I think they plied her with Courvoisier or something like that.

As Jack Nicholson said to Shirley MacLaine in "Terms Of Endearment".." We're gonna have to get drunk....to kill the BUG up your ass".

She ended up turning in one of her loosest, funkiest, sexiest performances. She was Grammy nominated--but did not win. She's NEVER won a Grammy. Shame on them.

[SandraDee]

Sorry I'm coming to this late but I only just got hold of this fabby 2 CD package of Ms.Ross. I so agree with Twirlessence & Keefelc about the original Chic version being lifeless & inferior to the one that was eventually released in 1980. I think that Chic's original version has a similar feel to the Sheila B.LP 'King of the World' in that the emphasis is moved away from orchestration & more towards guitars & a more 'raw' feel. Thank goodness Motown gave it the brighter, glossier sound that the songs deserved. It struck me also that Diana almost 'growled' the lyrics on the original version which was a bit at odds with her glam, swishy image at the time methinks. :-?

[Sami M]

"I had heard a rumour for years that Diana was loaded to the t!ts when this take was recorded. She sounds kinda drunk on this cut."

:lol: Oohhoh! I just love the thought!

Well maybe reading this forum turns out to be expensive to me! Jus ordered the Ross deluxe release. I have to get those extended versions on it!

I remember reading in a ladies magazine in the 80's when the "Ross" was releasesd that lady herself had gone to the studio at nightime and bettered the sounds....

Shouldn't I belive everything that sound great [/quote]

[ol'skinflint]

Originally Posted by markydefad

Yikes!!! I have always been sooooooooooo curious to hear how the original Rodgers-Edwards mixes compared to the version Miss Ross deigned to release.

Now, 20+ years later, we shall hear for ourselves. Was Miss Ross right or wrong???? :roll:

speaking of Miss Ross and her producers...am I the only one salivating at the thought of Miss Ross reuniting with the production team Holland/Dozier/Holland? I saw them sitting together when they were recently inducted at some awards ceremony.....and I've always admired H/D/H for having the good sense not to follow Motown when they made the disastrous move from Detroit to Los Angeles.