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Post by ClassicSoul on Mar 22, 2006 10:16:52 GMT -5
'Lost' Diana Ross jazz album due in JuneNEW YORK -- An album of jazz standards Diana Ross recorded more than 30 years ago will see the light of day for the first time this summer. Due June 20 via Motown/UME, "Blue" was intended as a companion to the hit 1972 soundtrack to "Lady Sings the Blues," in which Ross portrayed jazz legend Billie Holiday. However, Ross instead followed up the project with the pop album "Touch Me in the Morning," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. In its wake, "Blue" was shelved; the master tapes were only recently discovered in Motown's vault, according to the label. "Blue" was produced and arranged by longtime Ross collaborator Gil Askey. It features such selections as Cole Porter's "Let's Do It," Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen's "But Beautiful," the Gershwin Brothers' "I Loves Ya Porgy" and the Motown original "Had You Been Around," which was performed in "Lady Sings the Blues" by Michelle Allar. Several other tracks appeared in alternate form on the "Lady Sings the Blues" soundtrack, while different takes of "Little Blue Girl" and "Smile" wound up on "Touch Me in the Morning" and Ross' 1976 self-titled album, respectively. "Blue" is rounded out by three bonus tracks ("Easy Living," "He's Funny That Way" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude") that were recorded during the "Lady Sings the Blues" sessions but never released. Ross has not released a new studio album since 1999's "Every Day Is a New Day." LINK
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Post by fantagurl on Mar 22, 2006 14:02:26 GMT -5
Hmmmm!!  |
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Post by Diamond Girl on Mar 22, 2006 19:36:30 GMT -5
Who found them
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Post by rainymourning on Mar 22, 2006 20:15:14 GMT -5
'Lost' Diana Ross jazz album due in JuneNEW YORK -- An album of jazz standards Diana Ross recorded more than 30 years ago will see the light of day for the first time this summer. Due June 20 via Motown/UME, "Blue" was intended as a companion to the hit 1972 soundtrack to "Lady Sings the Blues," in which Ross portrayed jazz legend Billie Holiday. However, Ross instead followed up the project with the pop album "Touch Me in the Morning," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. In its wake, "Blue" was shelved; the master tapes were only recently discovered in Motown's vault, according to the label. "Blue" was produced and arranged by longtime Ross collaborator Gil Askey. It features such selections as Cole Porter's "Let's Do It," Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen's "But Beautiful," the Gershwin Brothers' "I Loves Ya Porgy" and the Motown original "Had You Been Around," which was performed in "Lady Sings the Blues" by Michelle Allar. Several other tracks appeared in alternate form on the "Lady Sings the Blues" soundtrack, while different takes of "Little Blue Girl" and "Smile" wound up on "Touch Me in the Morning" and Ross' 1976 self-titled album, respectively. "Blue" is rounded out by three bonus tracks ("Easy Living," "He's Funny That Way" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude") that were recorded during the "Lady Sings the Blues" sessions but never released. Ross has not released a new studio album since 1999's "Every Day Is a New Day." LINK I guess anything can happen when it comes to Motown because considering her output during the solo years, I would never have thought there would be a shelved project. I will not be purchasing it anyway because I never really liked her singing Billie's songs but I'm sure her fans will love it  |
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Post by fantagurl on Mar 23, 2006 14:26:25 GMT -5
'Lost' Diana Ross jazz album due in JuneNEW YORK -- An album of jazz standards Diana Ross recorded more than 30 years ago will see the light of day for the first time this summer. Due June 20 via Motown/UME, "Blue" was intended as a companion to the hit 1972 soundtrack to "Lady Sings the Blues," in which Ross portrayed jazz legend Billie Holiday. However, Ross instead followed up the project with the pop album "Touch Me in the Morning," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. In its wake, "Blue" was shelved; the master tapes were only recently discovered in Motown's vault, according to the label. "Blue" was produced and arranged by longtime Ross collaborator Gil Askey. It features such selections as Cole Porter's "Let's Do It," Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen's "But Beautiful," the Gershwin Brothers' "I Loves Ya Porgy" and the Motown original "Had You Been Around," which was performed in "Lady Sings the Blues" by Michelle Allar. Several other tracks appeared in alternate form on the "Lady Sings the Blues" soundtrack, while different takes of "Little Blue Girl" and "Smile" wound up on "Touch Me in the Morning" and Ross' 1976 self-titled album, respectively. "Blue" is rounded out by three bonus tracks ("Easy Living," "He's Funny That Way" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude") that were recorded during the "Lady Sings the Blues" sessions but never released. Ross has not released a new studio album since 1999's "Every Day Is a New Day." LINK I guess anything can happen when it comes to Motown because considering her output during the solo years, I would never have thought there would be a shelved project. I will not be purchasing it anyway because I never really liked her singing Billie's songs but I'm sure her fans will love it Same here. |
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Kay
Star
*~*Floever A Star*~*
Posts: 1,326
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Post by Kay on Apr 6, 2006 17:55:42 GMT -5
Doesn't matter who, it's just too bad they didn't stay lost  There are more important releases to be seen! :frustration: |
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Post by fantagurl on Apr 10, 2006 17:52:16 GMT -5
Doesn't matter who, it's just too bad they didn't stay lost There are more important releases to be seen!  :lol: |
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Kay
Star
*~*Floever A Star*~*
Posts: 1,326
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Post by Kay on Apr 22, 2006 18:36:41 GMT -5
Doesn't matter who, it's just too bad they didn't stay lost There are more important releases to be seen!  Girl you know I ain't lying! :smug: |
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Post by HitsvilleSoul on Jun 14, 2006 19:27:57 GMT -5
A review of Blue ... something tells me ((Kay)) will like this :teehee: Diana Ross: old wine in'Blue' bottles
By Robyn-Denise Yourse
May 19, 2006
Motown is touting "Blue," a collection of standards from Diana Ross, as a "new" album. But the only thing new here is the news that the legendary label opted against releasing these tracks when they were originally recorded nearly 35 years ago by their biggest female star of the time. That move, we're told, reflected a calculated decision to promote the diva's already successful pop music career (Motown released Miss Ross' "Touch Me in the Morning" instead) rather than risk a detour into jazz.
As for the songs, well, we've already heard Miss Ross perform many of them — first in the 1972 film "Lady Sings the Blues," her Oscar-nominated (though painfully contrived) portrayal of jazz great Billie Holiday, and later in "Diana Ross Live! The Lady Sings ... Jazz & Blues: Stolen Moments," a pay-per-view concert showcase from 1992.
True Ross fans probably already have those albums, which raises questions about the need for "Blue," a 12-song disc (with three "bonus" tracks included) that went on sale exclusively through Starbucks on Tuesday and arrives in record stores June 20. Originally envisioned as a companion album to Miss Ross' "Lady Sings the Blues" soundtrack, "Blue" features the then-twentysomething pop star navigating her way through material that feels light-years beyond her grasp both vocally and emotionally.
Not all of "Blue" is bad. Miss Ross has her moments on Cole Porter's "Let's Do It," Ira Gershwin's "Can't Get Started With You," Richard Whiting's "He's Funny That Way" and several cuts from the "Lady Sings the Blues" soundtrack, including "My Man (Mon Homme)" and "You've Changed."
Miss Ross' reed thin voice is helped by the spectacular arrangements of Gil Askey (one of the architects of the legendary Motown sound) and such stellar musicians as trumpeters Harry "Sweets" Edison and Teddy Buckner, plus tenor sax man Ernie Watts.
Yet no amount of muted horns or surging strings — gimmicks used far too frequently on "Blue" — can mask Miss Ross' lack of range. "[Our] Love Is Here to Stay," one of her better numbers from "Lady Sings the Blues," employs the same arrangement as the film soundtrack but suffers here when her voice cracks on a sustained note in the second verse. After 35 years, and given the wizardry of today's recording studios, you wonder why it simply wasn't edited out.
Earlier, an egregious up-tempo reading of George Gershwin's "I Loves Ya Porgy" is almost laughable ... until you remember that we're being asked to pay to hear her sing it.
Back when Motown originally chose to shelve this project, the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae were still performing, so Miss Ross' renditions of these standards would surely have invited cruel comparisons. Today, some 35 years later, other aging pop stars such as Rod Stewart and Carly Simon are offering their own unique — and often better — spin on the Great American Songbook.
In retrospect, it appears Motown had it right the first time.
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Post by Diamond Girl on Jun 14, 2006 19:49:04 GMT -5
Wow, and I was on my way to purchase this one.
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Post by timmy84 on Jun 14, 2006 20:48:45 GMT -5
DAMN!
I guess Motown WAS right for shelving SOME stuff. :lol:
They actually salvaged us from this project. This must bruise Diane's ego even more.
I heard her new album will be something of the same thing too. Diane's the queen of Boresville. (((YAWN)))
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Post by Emerald City on Jun 15, 2006 18:05:04 GMT -5
((Cleo)) you know you were not buying a thing ... you need to quit!! :lol:
and ((Quick)) ... Queen of Boresville?! .. That is cold! :lol:
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Post by timmy84 on Jun 15, 2006 18:27:26 GMT -5
((Quick)) ... Queen of Boresville?! .. That is cold!  Well she sho ain't the Queen of Hitsville (Mary Wells takes that title).  The truth is cold sometimes. :cheezy: |
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Kay
Star
*~*Floever A Star*~*
Posts: 1,326
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Post by Kay on Jun 17, 2006 18:32:45 GMT -5
One of the best reviews I have read in years!! ;D ;D ;D
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