Your "Woman" Marky!

[paul]

Hey Marky. I couldn't help but notice that in today's San Diego Union-Tribune, they mentioned Diana Ross will be here in San Diego. Soon as I saw this I thought of you :D
I don't know if you got the chance to see her when you mentioned her several weeks back so I figured I'd give you a holler. If you didn't catch her, the 120 mile trip is worth it for your woman :lol:

[markydefad]

Hey Paul,

Thanks for thinking of me!!! I have a date with Miss Ross tonight at 8!!! In fact, I'm just about to leave the office to prepare myself to view the Queen!!! :P

I'll review later...if there's any good dirt.

[paul]

I want a review even if it's bad dirt

[markydefad]

OK, I saw the Diva last night and I thought she was very good. Looked terrific from my seats in the Mezzanine :o :o :o :o :o and sang very well.

Berry Gordy, Brian Holland, Smokey Robinson, all the Ross chilluns--except one, and, I'm told, Mary Wilson (!) were there. Guess who didn't get mentioned by Miss Ross? Just guess.

I'll list the songs later. She did an across the board career "Greatest Hits" tour...including full renditions of Supremes songs--not the Vegasy medleys of 3 Supremes songs she used to throw away like used Kleenex. :roll:

She did nearly ALL the songs that the disco-lover on this board would want to hear. MY personal fave-- her slow, sensuous, slinky version of "Reach Out--I'll Be There" that I'd never heard her sing "live" before.

More later. I left my list at home. :oops:

But, IF ya dig Miss Ross, I'd highly recommend this concert.

[paul]

Did she do Aint No Mountain High Enough with her eyes passionately looking at Berry?

[markydefad]

No, Paul.

During the "Lady Sings the Blues" segment...she came out into the audience... and said "If I had won the Academy Award...I was gonna say...'This is for you Berry' ".....so instead....

Berry got "My Man." :D :D :D :D

"Oh, my man I love him so..."

And yes, she sang the intro with the "He beats me too/what can I do?" much to the delight of the audience. :lol:

"Two or three girls has he" became "2-3-4-5-6-7 girls has he that he likes as well as me".

[NickNack]

MY personal fave-- her slow, sensuous, slinky version of "Reach Out--I'll Be There" that I'd never heard her sing "live" before.

:x Now why haven't they put this album out on CD? This one I'd buy in a heartbeat because of "Reach Out..." (I love this version) and "Surrender".

[markydefad]

Hey Nicky,

Maybe Stayinalivegirl or snfeverfan or whatever they're called will launch an investigation into why Universal won't release the "Surrender" LP by Miss Ross or the Denise LaSalle tunes like "I'm So Hot/Try My Love" on cd. It's their property. This we need...not more repackagings of old stuff that's been available forever with a different cover!!!!

Are you listening you....you....you Universal INTERNS!!!???? :roll: :P :o

Well, are ya?

[markydefad]

There was only ONE Ross solo-career classic that she DIDN'T sing last night.

I was more than a little surprised this one was left out. :-?

Anyone wanna guess what it was?

[paul]

The Boss

[judydoggie]

To Marky and all the Diana fans out there:

My good friend, singer Kelly Mittleman, has a record in the can, produced by none other than Nile Rodgers, in which she sings the backup part of one of the Supremes, behind "Miz Ross." The record's a real, live, unadulterated Supremes retrospective with, I hear, teriffic production values.

Because Sony's behind 'em, I couldn't even get a single lick outta Ms. Mittleman, because (get this) Nile and Sony won't let so much as a single note go out of the studio (not even rough backups for Kelly to rehearse to). As soon as I get my hands on the album, I'll let you all know.

Sony's also dragging their asses on releasing the Ms. Mittleman's first album, also produced by Rodgers, who heard her voice on NBC's "Today" show when she was a contestant in their talent search segment a year back. Although the listeners didn't vote Ms. Mittleman first place, Nile thought enough of her voice that he signed her to Sony.

Not bad for a Connecticut Soccer-mom (who can sing like Chaka Khan crossed with Ella Fitzgerald)!

Paul - a.k.a. Judydoggie
paul@asianfusion.net

[keefelc]

There was only ONE Ross solo-career classic that she DIDN'T sing last night.

I was more than a little surprised this one was left out. :-?

Anyone wanna guess what it was?

Mark, please please please tell me it was "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)"!!!

[markydefad]

There was only ONE Ross solo-career classic that she DIDN'T sing last night.

I was more than a little surprised this one was left out. :-?

Anyone wanna guess what it was?

Mark, please please please tell me it was "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)"!!!

And the winner is..................

(drumroll)

Keefelc!!!!

Miss Ross did NOT sing "Reach Out and Touch" much to my amazement!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D


The LA Times reviewed her show very favorably today and she was on ET last night in some clips from the show and an interview. ET revealed that Miss Ross is currently without a record label. Motown dropped her!!! :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: She's most humbled.


When asked about Michael Jackson, she said..."Oh no, I won't go there." :P

I'll post more about the show later. I be busy. :oops:

[keefelc]

Miracles do happen, Mark!!! :D

I wonder who finally told Miss Ross that segment of her show was hated by so many people (well, at least almost everyone I know!)??? It came across as so pretentious and such a waste of time. :x Oh no, I'm not bitter! :o

Perhaps Diana has learned her wicked ways and is trying to make amends before her career dwindles any further???

As for Motown, I thought she was was one of the current owners. So, I'm surprised she was dropped from Motown, but I guess ET knows all!

Now Mark, get back to work casting the people you rep on my favorite new show, Desperate Housewives! :D

[markydefad]

OK, here's the Diana Ross program.

Pantages Theater on Hollywood Blvd. One night only. Sold Out. :D :D :D :D :D :D

Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland) and Mary Wilson (so I heard later) in attendance. (Steve Kmetko (formerly of "E!") & male "friend" were seated in front of me. "And his hair was perfect" to quote Warren Zevon. But he was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and it was hot as hell in there!!!) :o

8 piece orchestra; 3 backup singers (1 male & 2 females); very excellent one and all.



Miss Ross appears at the top of staircase swaddled in red satin cape.

Take Me Higher (drops the cape and it becomes a skirt)
I'm Coming Out (drops the skirt and it's a red miniskirt--she looks like a Christmas tree ornament!) :D
Chain Reaction

My World Is Empty Without You (tells the band to keep playing the opening vamp, while she searches for Brian Holland in the audience)
Where Did Our Love Go
Baby Love (finds Brian H. and sings this to him in the audience)
Stop! In the Name Of Love

Touch Me In the Morning (she sings a lovely countermelody to the backup singers in certain parts on this one; nice new arrangement.)

Love Hangover (a truncated version...wherein she sang the verse and the chorus and then left the stage to change while the band jammed. But there were no dancers or screen with images to watch...so it was kinda boring. The costume change interludes, that is.) :roll:


Costume change: White gown.

I Ain't Been Licked ("I know you're wondrin' about my Re-cov-er-eeeee!!!")
Reach Out I'll Be There (my fave number and the LA Times singled this one out also; Ashford & Simpson crafted this as a followup to her "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"; great arrangement and interplay with her 3 backup singers: "you can always depend on me" etc.)
It's My House (another personal fave)
Ease On Down the Road (no Michael Jackson guest appearance here--so I took a pee break!!) :oops:

Costume change: Yellow gown

some ballad unknown to me dedicated to her kids (yawn)
(My companion, Miss Livvy, says she's one of Miss Ross's chilluns. and I asked her "then why didn't you get better seats?" :roll:
The Boss
Upside Down (without the synth hook-- it sounded sorta like "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" )
Reflections
Love Child (they extended this and the backup singers and the orchestra made this real special)

Oops!! forgot "Mirror, Mirror" was in here too. I think this was everything. Maybe I'm missin' something or changed the order around--but it's 95% accurate, I think.

DIVA MOMENT: Somewhere in here, Miss Ross asked someone to bring her water: "QUICK, QUICK, QUICK, QUICK!!!! They never come QUICK!! she says. :oops: An assistant came with a bottle of water in one hand and a second drink in the other; my companion Miss Livvy says "Oh yeah, a little water and a little wine"..and our section cracked up!!) :lol:

costume change: white with gardenias in her wig, of course.

Lady Sings the Blues:
Fine & Mellow
Don't Explain (the yahoos kept screaming at her during this; she was tryin' her best to channel Miss Holiday) :evil:
My Man (to Berry Gordy in the audience)
one more I can't recall..."You've Changed", maybe? (Not "Good Morning Heartache")
Why Do Fools Fall In Love?

(OK, the show is starting to seem long) No intermission. She's onstage for 2 and 1/4 hours.

costume change: Lime green gown

Do You Know Where You're Going To?
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Endless Love (no Lionel Richie guest appearance) :evil:

costume change: white satin pants outfit

I Will Survive (brings all her kids onstage. Miss Livvy didn't get an invite. :lol: She pissed.)
The Best Years Of My Life ("you've given me the best years of my life")........

and it was over. (No "Reach Out & Touch" b.s!!!)

Spotted producer Craig Zadan ("Chicago") walking on the street after; we went next door ot the Frolic Room (bar used in lotsa movies like "L.A. Confidential" in scene with Danny DeVito & Kevin Spacey). There a black woman (think Weezy Jefferson) at the bar was tellin' folks that Mary Wilson was there..."off to the side in the green." Somone asked why Miss Ross didn't acknowledge Mary. The black lady, dressed all in white, groovin' to "Son of a Preacher Man" on the juke box, shot back: "Mary's a troublemaker...and she CAN'T SING!!!" OUCH!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

We cracked up!!! Took the words outta my mouth!!!

[judydoggie]

"Weezie Jefferson," actress Isabel Sanford, died in July of this year at 86 -- she was brilliant -- and would never have said that Mary Wilson "can't sing."

ET doesn't know what they're talking about vis-a-vis her being "without" a label -- as soon as Universal decided to distance themselves from her, Sony picked her up.

More soon.

[nrgbeat]

I think Marky meant the woman resembled Mrs. Jefferson not that it was actually Isabel Sanford.

[markydefad]

Yes nrgbeat, I meant "think" as in, looked like, not was. I do know that Isabel Sanford died.

[judydoggie]

Please accept my heartfelt apology, Marky, for taking you too seriously. I underestimated you and I'm sorry.

do ya still luv me?

Paul - a.k.a. JudyDoggie

[markydefad]

No need to apologize jd. I was just clarifying what I meant.

I'm not understanding your post. Miss Ross has re-recorded old Supremes hits for Sony? Is that what you mean?

[paul]

Marky, I'm impressed by Miss Ross. That was a lot of singing she did that night :) Add to that, she came with a nice supporting cast. Now that's what i call entertainment!

[markydefad]

Come to think of it, Miss Ross did meet Weezie Jefferson. Anyone recall when? :o :o :o

[judydoggie]

Gentlemen:

Please forgive me. ET did, indeed, know what they were talking about. My friend Kelly Mittleman sent the following email to me regarding her opus with Ms. Ross:

Paul....

Diana does not have a label. She put this record out
by herself with Nile producing and me singing all of
the background vocals. She is probably going to start
distributing it soon...and she is creating her own buzz
about it more than likely.

kelly

So get on Diana's official website and send her an email prompting her to release this important record!

Warmly,

Paul - a.k.a. Judydoggie

[Videoskooter]

Diana Ross doesn't have a label?

Is it a personal choice, Prince-wise?

Or is it because da companies are not interested in her anymore?

If that's the reason, I'm going to be very, very mad :evil:

[judydoggie]

Dear Videoskooter:

Who's to know. Ostensibly, there's no reason on earth, given Universal's sales of her product under the Motown label, that they wouldn't be the first to jump on the bandwagon if she wanted to release a new record. That being said, the record companies have been known to be far less forgiving than Hollywood when it comes to producing product for a star whose reputation is tarnished with controversy.

Take the example of Liza Minelli, who once commanded big bucks to turn out an album or make an appearance. Now, there's so much intoxication, accusation and litigation going on that only European labels have re-released her material since 2002. She hasn't recorded anything new since long before that.

Ms. Ross, for all her talent, has a ****-storm of controversy swirling around her, much of which is of her own making. And the public is unforgiving; they relish the downfall of a diva. (There're plenty more divas to go around who have pristine reputations.)

For what it's worth, my friend Ms. Mittleman told me a few months ago that Ms. Ross was upbeat and sober during their recording session together. Now it's up to Nile Rodgers to shop it to an appropriate label/distributor.