A surprisingly nice album – even if you're not a fan of Diana Ross! Given that Marvin and Diana are standing back to back on the front cover, we kind of get the idea that there wasn't as much sympathy in the session as on some of Marvin's classic duet sides from the 60s with Tammi Terrell – but the record's actually not that bad, though – thanks to a sweet smooth soulful style that's very much in the style of Marvin's Let's Get It On album. Of course, the overall project isn't nearly as sublime – but the record does feature arrangements by Paul Riser, James Carmichael, Dave Blumberg, and Gene Page that have a seductive quality that moves well past the vocal mismatch. Titles include "Stop, Look, Listen", "Just Say, Just Say", "I'm Falling In Love With You", "Include Me In Your Life", "You Are Everything", "Love Twins", and "My Mistake". CD

An overlooked gem from Diana Ross – a set that's got a great mix of smooth grooves and tight soul numbers – all handled by 70s superproducer Richard Perry – and set to arrangements from Gene Page! Ross has this confident way of serving up the vocals, but an approach that's not nearly as diva-centric as some of her other work of the period – this almost relaxed style at times, which is even more captivating than usual, and some of her most compelling material on record from the time. The title track "Baby It's Me" actually is a pretty funky number – almost in the funky Pointer Sisters mode – with heavy bass popping a break on the intro, and some nice Hotel Sheet work by Jack Ashford – and other titles include "Too Shy To Say", "You Got It", "Getting Ready For Love", "Top Of The World", "All Night Lover", and "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh". LP, Vinyl record album

The title track to Diana Ross' classic album with Ashford & Simpson. The single's backed by a track produced by Hal Davis, lifted from the Thank God It's Friday soundtrack. 12-inch, Vinyl record

A record so big they dropped the "Ross" from Diana's name – just to show how large the lady was living at the end of the 70s! The album was a key set in the solo years of Diana's career – a back to basics dancefloor effort done with impeccable production by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rogers – often in that tightly snapping mode that made Chic so great, a sound that really breathed new life into Ross' sound at the time! Roger's fast-riffing guitar touches cook the album up beautifully – pushing a catchy pop groove into the massive hits "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out" – both numbers that have aged surprisingly well over the years. Other tracks include "Tenderness", "My Old Piano", "Now That You're Gone", "Friend To Friend", and "Give Up". LP, Vinyl record album

A great early solo set from Diana Ross – a record that still has some great echoes of her work with The Supremes, but an even bolder frontline approach on vocals! Most tracks here still have other female voices backing Ross up – some un-credited Supremes-esque vocals that really help sweeten up the record, and make for a great transition from the earlier years. Production is by Hal Davis and Deke Richards of The Corporation – both of whom start pushing in some more sophisticated elements to the sound – lilting rhythms and soaring strings, but always used in moderation – so that most of the tunes still have that sweetly stepping groove that was associated with Ross' best work of the late 60s. There's some really great songs on the set – including the excellent title track "Everything Is Everything", which has a bouncing little hook, and the wonderful "Doobedood'ndoobe", an original by Deke Richards with a nice set of changes! Other titles include "I Love You", "How About You", "My Place", "Ain't No Sad Song", and "Baby It's Love". CD

On the one hand, our jazz snob side wonders why Diana Ross would be picked to star as Billie Holiday, but on the other, it makes perfect sense, as this soundtrack to the film was made during the early 70s, when she was at the top of her career, and one of the highest profile female soul singers. And she acquits herself quite well, with a solid performance that's more than respectable, helped along the way by sympathetic orchestral arrangements from Benny Golson and Oliver Nelson. While we may not turn to this recording over any of Billie's originals, it's a pretty remarkable turning point for Diana, establishing her "diva" status and helping to launch her solo career to new heights. 34 numbers in all, though many of them are dialogue or musical bits lifted from the film. Includes "All Of Me", "the Man I Love", "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do", "Fine & Mellow", "You've Changed", "My Man", "Strange Fruit" and "God Bless The Child". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most well-crafted Diana Ross records of the 80s – thanks to heavy production work from Gary Katz, who's best known for his classic run with Steely Dan! The music has a depth that goes past some of the more crossover modes of Diana's earlier records – warmer touches of jazz on keyboards at a few points, and a way of hitting a musical flow that really makes Ross sound even more sophisticated and mature! Ray Parker Jr also adds in a few poppier moments, but we can really hear Katz's touch on the album overall – smooth, but never slick – on a run of tracks that includes "Pieces Of Ice", "You Do It", "Love Will Make It Right", "Up Front", "Let's Go Up", "That's How You Start Over", and "Girls". LP, Vinyl record album

The first new record in many many years from the legendary Diana Ross – and the first to feature all new music since the 20th Century! Yet despite the passage of years, it's clear that Ross is very much at the top of her game – maybe even more so than some of her aging contemporaries, as she's going for a style here that nicely doesn't try to rehash her classic work – and also doesn't try to fit her into some "grand dame" mode either. The approach is a bit hard to describe in words, but it's fresh, upbeat, and positive – music that was supposedly put together during the pandemic, but has none of the sadder undercurrents of so many other musical projects of that nature. The title cut is a stunner – the wonderful "Thank You" – and other tunes include "Just In Case", "The Answer's Always Love", "All Is Well", "In Your Heart", "I Still Believe", "Count On Me", and "Beautiful Love" – all songs that convey their positivity with their titles! CD

One of the more righteous albums from the early years of Diana Ross' solo career – a set that really has her moving past the familiar Motown groove of previous years, into a vibe that really shows the label's new California influence! The tracks here often feature expansive arrangements that mix soul and larger orchestrations – arranged by Gene Page, James Carmichael, Gil Askey, and Michael Randall – all of whom preserve the class that Diana's always had in her music, while still also opening things up to some of the more thoughtful elements of 70s soul. The album includes a nice medley of Oscar Brown Jr's "Brown Baby" and Marvin Gaye's "Save The Children", plus a version of "Imagine", and the tracks "Leave A Little Room", "I Won't Last A Day Without You", "All Of My Life", and "Touch Me In The Morning". LP, Vinyl record album

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... 7-inch, Vinyl record

The final live performance of Diana Ross with The Supremes – with titles that include "TCB", "It's Alright With Me", "The Impossible Dream", "Someday We'll Be Together", and "Love Child" – as well as some spoken bits from Diana, and a few nice medley tracks too! LP, Vinyl record album

A great little album from Diana Ross – maybe one of her lesser-known efforts with The Supremes, and a set that really points the way towards the solo years to come! One of the reasons for that is that the set really just features Diana out in the lead, with different backing singers behind – all the great songs from the show, but recast with these sophisticated soul arrangements by Gil Askey – very groovy, very Motown, but also with a lot stronger focus on Ross upfront than usual! In a way, the shift is a fantastic nod to Diana's growing role as a star – really claiming her as the black Streisand, a position that she's clearly confident with, and maybe even beats Barbara on the vocal tip too. Titles include "Funny Girl", "The Music That Makes Me Dance", "Don't Rain On My Parade", "People", "Cornet Man", "His Love Makes Me Beautiful", "Sadie Sadie", and "I'm The Greatest Star" – the last of which would make a nice theme song for Diana's 70s years! This expanded version not only marks the first time the record has been on CD – it also features both the stereo and the mono mixes of the record – plus the original recording of the album, with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong – the real Supremes recording of the set! There's also five more bonus tracks – "Cornet Man (alt)", "His Love Makes Me Beautiful (alt)", "Sadie Sadie (alt)", "I'm The Greatest Star (live TCB outtake)", and "My Man (live)". CD

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... 7-inch, Vinyl record

A surprisingly nice album – even if you're not a fan of Diana Ross! Given that Marvin and Diana are standing back to back on the front cover, we kind of get the idea that there wasn't as much sympathy in the session as on some of Marvin's classic duet sides from the 60s with Tammi Terrell – but the record's actually not that bad, though – thanks to a sweet smooth soulful style that's very much in the style of Marvin's Let's Get It On album. Of course, the overall project isn't nearly as sublime – but the record does feature arrangements by Paul Riser, James Carmichael, Dave Blumberg, and Gene Page that have a seductive quality that moves well past the vocal mismatch. Titles include "Stop, Look, Listen", "Just Say, Just Say", "I'm Falling In Love With You", "Include Me In Your Life", "You Are Everything", "Love Twins", and "My Mistake". LP, Vinyl record album

A landmark record for Diana – her first solo effort after leaving the Supremes, and a well-conceived batch of tracks produced by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson! The album's got a warm, mature approach that really separates the work from Diana's earlier girl group past – as Ashford & Simpson take her into territory that hints at many of the musical changes to come, but which still has a freshness that breathes new life into Ross' vocal approach. Includes the super-bit hit version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", plus the tunes "Reach Out & Touch Somebody's Hand", "Now That There's You", "You're All I Need To Get By", "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You", "Dark Side Of The World", and "Where There Was Darkness". LP, Vinyl record album

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

Fully mature work from Diana Ross – a set that really breaks free from the styles of her roots, and which has her emerging as a full-formed solo act on her own! There's a range of modes here that's quite surprising – strong, sophisticated ballads at the core, but also echoes of jazz, country, and even a bit of rock influences as well – showing Diana's increasing desire to broaden her musical reach, and coming off surprisingly well, without any of the mis-steps you might expect. Backings are often full, but usually focused too – arranged by Bob Gaudio, Gene Page, Tom Baird, Michael O'Martian, and others. Tracks include the funky favorite "I Heard A Love Song", plus "Stone Liberty", "No One's Gonna Be A Fool Forever", "Sleepin", "You", "Turn Around", and "Love Me". LP, Vinyl record album

Diana Ross makes a big break with Motown for this debut set on RCA – a set that also has the singer making a nice stylistic break as well! The set's got Diana reinventing herself in so many different modes for the 80s – as Ross herself is sitting at the production helm for the record, and does a surprisingly good job of leading the way through a nicely different blend of styles! The set begins with a reworking of the old Frankie Lymon hit "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" – maybe going more retro than Ross ever did in the past – but things quickly step back into the 80s with a range of mellow groovers and ballads that still show that Diana's at the top of her game, vocally – and album to find ways of moving past any of her older, more familiar modes. Arrangements are by Ray Chew, Leon Pendarvis, Rob Mounsey, and Ron frangipane – and titles include "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", "Endless Love", "It's Never Too Late", "Sweet Nothings", "Two Can Make It", "Work That Body", "Mirror Mirror", and "Sweet Surrender". LP, Vinyl record album

Mid 60s classics from The Supremes – and the girls are in prime hit mode on this tasty CD that features two classic albums back to back! The records both feature Diana Ross and the girls performing tunes not normally associated with them – including many soul hits of the 60s, plus other pop numbers given a Motown soul approach. Titles include "You've Been So Wonderful To Me", "Love Child", "Keep An Eye", "How Long Has The Evening Train Been Gone", "Does Your Mama Know About Me", "He's My Sunny Boy", "You Can't Hurry Love", "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart", "This Old Heart Of Mine", and "I Can't Help Myself". CD

A fantastic tribute to the ongoing genius of Mary Wilson – that famous member of The Supremes who was sometimes eclipsed by Diana Ross! Unlike Ross, Wilson stayed with the group as the years went on, and only cut some solo work after their breakup – and this package charts all the many stops in Mary's journey, along with some great unreleased material too! The set begins with a very early track by The Primettes with Wilson, titled "Pretty Baby" – then goes through a number of Supremes tracks, including the unissued tunes "Send Him To Me", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You (live)", "If You Let Me Baby", "Son Of A Preacher Man", "Touch", "Falling In Love With Love (live)", and a really great version of "Witchi Tai To". The set also features the unreleased Mary Wilson cut "Anytime At All" – which starts off a section that includes her self-titled Motown album from 1977 – a set that features top-shelf help Hal Davis on production, Art Wright on arrangements, and a set of original material by Frank Busey and John Duarte – all of which keeps the record from being just a disco filler kind of set. But the real strength here is Wilson's vocals – which are strongly soulful, and never overwhelmed by the backings. Titles include "Midnight Dancer", "Red Hot", "You Make Me Feel So Good", "Pick Up The Pieces", and "I've Got What You Need" – and the package also includes more solo Mary Wilson on "Green River", "You Danced My Heart Around The Stars", "Why Can't We All Get Along", and "Red Hot (Eric Kupper rmx)". Lots more too – and a detailed set of notes and accolades for Wilson! CD

A really great set of rare Detroit numbers – all pulled from the catalog of the LuPine label, a company who cut some great little records in the shadow of Motown! The work on the set includes a lot of early 60s numbers – including a few tracks by The Primettes, an early incarnation of Diana Ross & The Supremes! 18 tracks in all, with titles that include "He's My Guy" and "I Love You So" by The Kittens, "Tears Of Sorrow" and "Pretty Baby" by The Primettes, "Baby Sitting" and "He's So Fine" by The Corvells, "Touch Of Love" by Clara Hardy, "Dutchess Conquers Duke" by The Conquerors, "I'll Be Back" by The LA Dolls, "It's Been A Long Time" by Ruby & Her Swinging Rocks, and "My Heart Went Zing" by Taylor Tones. CD

Includes selections by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and The Mamas & The Papas. LP, Vinyl record album

An amazing package – one that comes in a tiny replica of the original home of Motown Records in Detroit! As you'd guess from the title, the 11CD set features every single Motown track that ever hit #1 on the charts – almost 200 classic songs, running from the early 60s right up through the 90s – with work by The Temptations, Four Tops, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, The Contours, Rockwell, The Originals, Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes, Stevie Wonder, High Inergy, The Dazz Band, Rick James, Commodores, and lots more! The package also includes a photo book with classic images and notes – but man, what we dig most of all is that tiny house of hits packaging – a really amazing thing! Plus, this version of the set also features a bonus CD that wasn't in the original version – with 12 more tracks whose cover versions charted at #1! CD

We gotta admit, we kinda like this one! We were a bit suspicious at first – as the genius of Motown hardly needs any messing with – and we had fears that a remix project might just sound silly, goofy, and filled with easy tricks and gimmicks. But the choice of remixers on the set is really great – and includes enough of a range of talents to keep things interesting, but also a small enough group to unify the sound of the album, and still really respect the original vibe of the tunes. Most of the work here is very subtle – and just extends the best core elements, and expands on a few of the strongest musical references – in a way that's really different than the over-done approach of the Verve Remixed project. Titles include "ABC (Salaam Remi Krunk-a-delic party mix)" by Jackson 5, "Quiet Storm (Groove Boutique rmx)" by Smokey Robinson, "Let's Get It On (Producers MPG groove mix)" by Marvin Gaye, "Papa Was A Rollin Stone (DJ Jazzy Jeff & Pete Kuzma solefull rmx)" by The Temptations, "War (King Britt rmx)" by Edwin Starr, "Keep On Truckin (DJ Spinna rmx)" by Eddie Kendricks, "Smiling Faces Sometimes (Futureshock Main Ingredient mix)" by Undisputed Truth, "My World Is Empty Without You (Tranzition rmx)" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, and "I Just Want To Celebrate (Mocean Worker rmx)" by Rare Earth. CD

Includes selections by The Temptations, Sisters Love, The Four Tops, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Michael Jackson, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Stevie Wonder, Undisputed Truth, Valerie Simpson, Syreeta, and Diana Ross. LP, Vinyl record album

Groovy late 60s work from Diana Ross & The Supremes – a record that has them breaking the Motown mold a bit, and hooking up with a nice variety of modder soul and pop modes! Tracks on the set include a few Motown-penned numbers, but the trio also tackle hits like "Everyday People", "Hey Western Union Man", "Let The Music Play", and a great Hair-inspired medley of "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In"! But the Motown material here is almost even better – and titles include the slightly funky "No Matter What Sign You Are", which has a nice kick in the bottom – as well as "Discover Me", "The Composer", and "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best-ever albums by the Supremes – and filled with stone classics, to boot! As the title states, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard team up with Holland Dozier Holland – and they really to create the sound that would put them and Motown on the map. A couple of the biggest hits are laid down, but album also features tracks that are arguably even better to hear these days – as they spin out that quintessential Motown sound but aren't hampered by the ubiquity of the oldies radio staples! Titles include "You Keep Me Hanging On", "Love Is Here And Now You're Gone", "I Guess I'll Always Love You", "I'll Turn To Stone", "It's The Same Old Song", "Love Is In Our Hearts", 'There's No Stopping Us Now" and "Love Is Like A Heatwave". BUT WAIT – this expanded version has way more than just the usual bonus tracks! First off, the original album is presented in stereo and mono – that's 24 tracks total – then the package features 12 more alternate versions – including "You Can't Hurry Love (extended alt)", "The Happening (film version)", "You Keep Me Hangin On (extended alt)", "All I Know About You (extended mix)", "The Happening (extended hit mix)", "You're Gone But Always In My Heart (strings version)", and "Remove This Doubt (extended mix)". And then, if that's not enough, there's 15 more tracks that represent a 1967 Live At The Copa performance by the group! CD

A treasure trove of rare Motown from some of legendary label's most classic acts – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Four Tops, Brenda Holloway, Martha & The Vandellas, The Supremes, The Originals, Bobby Taylor, The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye & The Jackson 5 – prime vintage late 60s to early 70s recordings that have barely if ever seen light of day! Motown recording artists put a lot of work into the recording side of their artistry back in the day, so there was a lot classic level material that didn't come out right away, some finding release on later compilations or on box sets, some STILL just now seeing release. Half of this dozen song collection have never come out in any form until now – including "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" by The Originals and stereo mixes of "For Once In My Life" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Pretty Little Brown Skin Girl" by The Temptations and "Touched By Love" by Bobby Taylor and more – plus the rarities "You're Walking Out With My Heart" by Brenda Holloway, "Which Way Is The Sky" by the Four Tops, "Let's Have A Party" by the J5, "The Boy From Crosstown" (Version 1) by The Marvelettes and more. LP, Vinyl record album

The title's no lie – as the set brings together 20 classic tracks from the UK Northern Soul scene – all singles that were born in America, but found a much bigger place overseas – where decades of British soul fans elevated these tracks to the stuff of legend! There's a no-nonsense approach that makes the set great – with an especially strong focus on sounds from Detroit – on titles that include "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" by Frank Wilson, "Live It Up" by Dusty Springfield, "There's A Ghost In My House" by R Dean Taylor, "Can't Satisfy" by The Impressions, "Why Why Why" by Mill Evans, "I Got The Fever" by The Prophets, "Stormy" by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "It's All Up To You" by The Dells, "Soul Self Satisfaction" by Earl Jackson, "Nothing But A Heartache" by The Flirtations, "Tainted Love" by Gloria Jones, "It Really Hurts Me Girl" by The Carstairs, "I Surrender" by Eddie Holman, "Love's Gone Bad" by Chris Clark, "Let's Wade In The Water" by Marlena Shaw, "Landslide" by Tony Clarke, "Suspicion" by The Originals, "Love Runs Out" by Willie Hutch, and "The Night" by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. CD

Great second-chapter work from Lonnie Mack – brought together here with his 1963 debut as well! That album is the first – The Wham Of That Memphis Man – a killer blend of southern soul and rockabilly grit from Lonnie Mack – his first album and a really incredible effort that fuses soul, country, and rock roots in a really brilliant way! Lonnie was later known as more of a country boy-electric bluesman, but the blues on this early LP feels like a blue-eyed Bobby Bland – but maybe with a lot more guitar in the lead! The horns burst, and the organ & bass really steep the overall vibe in the two Steps From The Blues style, but the fiery guitar and vocals keep more of a early rock vibe – twang next to soul, in a really unique mode. Tracks include "Wham!", "Down And Out", "Why", "Down In The Dumps", "Memphis", "I'll Keep You Happy", "Suzie Q", "Satisfied", and "Farther On Down The Road". Glad I'm In The Band is a slow-burning charmer from the great Lonnie Mack – a set that has him in a slightly different setting than his debut, but one that's equally soul-drenched overall! The group here features some especially great work from David Byrd – who plays these organ lines that almost set the whole thing in Muscle Shoals territory – as do the strong horn arrangements from Maxwell Davis, who sounds a lot more southern here than his Cali soul norm. Lonnie's also turned into an even better singer than before – blue-eyed deep soul at its best – on titles that include "Sweat & Tears", "Let Them Talk", "Why", "Old House", "Save Your Money", "Stay Away From My Baby", and "She Don't Come Here Any More". Whatever's Right is a comeback album of sorts for Lonnie Mack, recorded for Elektra with a really down-home sound that's almost verging on southern soul at points! In a way, the set's kind of a nod to the sorts of genres in rock that Mack's music first helped unlock in earlier years – done at a time when it was a bit more acceptable to cross boundaries and reference roots that weren't actually yours in your music! The execution here is surprisingly strong and without hoke – a few notches up from Leon Russell – and Mack's guitar is in fine fine form, supported by a good deal of organ in the backings. Titles include "Gotta Be An Answer", "Untouched By Human Love", "I Found A Love", "Baby What You Want Me To Do", "Mt Healthy Blues", "What Kind Of World Is This", and "Things Have Gone To Pieces". Hills Of Indiana is a real charmer – and the last Elektra album by Lonnie Mack! We don't normally think of Indiana in such poetic terms – but leave it to Lonnie Mack to find the hidden beauty in roughness – a quality that seems to emerge more and more in his music as the 70s moved on! This Elektra album from 1971 is a real overlooked gem – quite different than anything you might have expected from Mack at the start of his career, and a record that really shows him blossoming as much as a singer as he was a guitarist – heartfelt and personal, but still with all the grit that his reputation would entail – with strong currents of both southern soul and rock, but some nice roots elements too. The set was recorded in Nashville, Muscle Shoals, and LA – and titles include "Bicycle Annie", "Asphalt Outlaw Hero", "The Man In Me", "Rings", "She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye", and "Lay It Down". CD

A beautiful book on the imagist art movement in Chicago – a late 60s burst of creativity that was one of the greatest visual moments in the city at the time – filled with striking, colorful, and cartoony images such as the one on the cover! The book was done in collaboration with the Corbett Vs Dempsey gallery and the Indianapolis Museum Of Art – and mixes history, essay, and a huge amount of full color artwork – pieces by Ray Yoshida, Art Green, Robert Lostutter, Barbara Rossi, Philip Hanson, Roger Brown, Karl Wirsum, Ed Pasche, and others – most from the original key moment of the movement, but also featuring some stunning works from later years too. The book is over 200 pages, hardcover, and full color throughout – full of all sorts of strands of history and information that really illuminate this creative moment that's been sometimes lost to folks on the coasts! Book