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The Motown Anthology

 
Album Review: The Motown Anthology

  • Artist: Diana Ross
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: March 27, 2001
  • Type: Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Up until this release, consumers had a difficult task of finding a definitive compilation highlighting the post-Supremes career of Diana Ross -- mainly because there wasn't one. This double-disc set gathers 27 of the diva's finest solo sides, plus an additional 11 tracks that are making their domestic debut. As a retrospective, The Motown Anthology succeeds in gathering all of Ross' major singles. Some are available here in a previously unissued form. Such is the case for "Remember Me," "My Mistake (Was to Love You)," and "Lovin' Livin' & Givin'" -- from the Thank God It's Friday soundtrack. Those looking for chart-toppers should note that The Motown Anthology not only delivers rare material, but also all the hits that would render most other collections superfluous. The producers have also hit upon a favorable ratio of hits to rarities. After covering all the bases on the popular and familiar material, the previously unearthed nuggets -- which are spread throughout the chronologically organized set -- are a treat for both the intense as well as the casual fan. Of particular note is the leadoff track "Time and Love" -- a Laura Nyro composition which had been scheduled, and then withdrawn, as Ross' first solo single. The sound is uniformly excellent with the caveat that some of the early recordings on disc one -- "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" for example -- never were known for their fidelity. Likewise, the sound of mid-to-late '70s tracks such as "Love Hangover" and "The Boss" are marked improvements. Clocking in at over two and a half hours, The Motown Anthology is a tremendous value. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Tracks



CD 1

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Time and Love [#] Laura Nyro Diana Ross (3:58)
Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Diana Ross (3:06)
Ain't No Mountain High Enough [Single Version] Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Diana Ross (3:31)
Remember Me [#] Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Diana Ross (3:41)
Reach Out, I'll Be There (Lyrics) Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr. Diana Ross (5:35)
Surrender (Lyrics) Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Diana Ross (2:45)
I'm Still Waiting (Lyrics) Deke Richards Diana Ross (3:46)
Doobedood'n Doobe, Doobedood'n Doobe, Doobedood'n Doo Deke Richards Diana Ross (4:54)
Good Morning Heartache (Lyrics) Ervin Drake, Dan Fisher, Irene Higginbotham Diana Ross (2:22)
Touch Me in the Morning (Lyrics) Michael Masser, Ron Miller Diana Ross (3:53)
My Mistake (Was to Love You) [#] Gloria Jones, Pam Sawyer Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross (3:00)
Last Tim I Saw Him [#] Michael Masser, Pam Sawyer Diana Ross (3:42)
Sorry Doesn't Always Make It Right [Single Version] Michael Masser Diana Ross (3:33)
Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser Diana Ross (3:24)
I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love) [Single Vers Michael Masser, Pam Sawyer Diana Ross (3:22)
Love Hangover (Lyrics) Marilyn McLeod, Pam Sawyer Diana Ross (7:49)
One Love in My Lifetime [Single Version] L. Brown, Terry McFaddin Diana Ross (4:05)
Gettin' Ready for Love (Lyrics) Tom Snow, Franne Golde Diana Ross (2:48)
Lovin', Livin' and Givin' [#] Pamela Davis, Kenny Stover Diana Ross (4:51)
Home [#] Quincy Jones, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Charlie Smalls Diana Ross (3:42)


CD 2

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
The Boss Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Diana Ross (3:55)
It's My House Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Diana Ross (4:32)
No One Gets the Prize Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Diana Ross (6:22)
Upside Down (Lyrics) Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers Diana Ross (4:05)
I'm Coming Out (Lyrics) Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers Diana Ross (5:23)
It's My Turn (Lyrics) Carole Bayer Sager, Michael Masser Diana Ross (3:58)
Stay With Me (Lyrics) Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser Diana Ross (3:43)
One More Chance (Lyrics) Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser Diana Ross (4:24)
Endless Love (Lyrics) Lionel Richie Lionel Richie, Diana Ross (4:29)
We Can Never Light That Old Flame Again [Non-LP Single] Brian Holland, Mack David, Edward Holland, Jr. Diana Ross (4:21)
Old Funky Rolls [#] Ronald Dean Miller Diana Ross (3:41)
If We Hold on Together (Lyrics) James Horner, Will Jennings Diana Ross (4:11)
Workin' Overtime [Radio Edit] Christopher Max, Nile Rodgers Diana Ross (4:21)
When You Tell Me That You Love Me (Lyrics) Albert Hammond, John Bettis Diana Ross (4:12)
The Best Years of My Life Will Jennings, Stephen Allen Davis Diana Ross (4:24)
Take Me Higher (Lyrics) Nikita Germaine, Sally Jo Dakota, Narada Michael Walden Diana Ross (4:17)
I Will Survive (Lyrics) Dino Fekaris, Freddie Perren Diana Ross (4:48)
Unitll We Meet Again [Love to Infinity Rmx] Denise Rich Diana Ross (3:43)

Credits

John Davis (Horn Arrangements), Narada Michael Walden (Producer), Bernard Edwards (Producer), Harry Weinger (Compilation Producer), Peter Asher (Producer), Nickolas Ashford (Producer), Suzanne De Passe Le Mat (Executive Producer), Richard Perry (Producer), Berry Gordy, Jr. (Executive Producer), Mathieu Bitton (Art Direction), Hal Davis (Producer), Nickolas Ashford (Vocal Arrangement), H.B. Barnum (Horn Arrangements), Ray Chew (Rhythm Arrangements), Suha Gur (Mixing), Rick Wake (Producer), Vartan (Art Direction), Lee Holdridge (String Arrangements), Valerie Simpson (Vocal Arrangement), Valerie Simpson (Rhythm Arrangements), Margaret Goldfarb (Production Coordination), Mike Mani (Associate Producer), Paul Riser (Arranger), H.B. Barnum (String Arrangements), Barry Fasman (Rhythm Arrangements), Valerie Simpson (Producer), Clay Drayton (Arranger), Gene Page (String Arrangements), Diana Ross (Executive Producer), Brian Holland (Producer), Michael Masser (Producer), Ryan Null (Photography), David Blumberg (Arranger), Lionel Richie (Producer), John Davis (String Arrangements), Nile Rodgers (Producer), Nick Martinelli (Producer), Nickolas Ashford (Rhythm Arrangements), Suha Gur (Digital Mastering), Gene Page (Arranger), Oliver Nelson (Arranger), Lawrence Brown (Producer), Michael Omartian (Arranger), Andrew Skurow (Assistant Producer), Wade Marcus (Arranger), Michael Masser (Rhythm Arrangements), Deke Richards (Producer), James Anthony Carmichael (Rhythm Arrangements), Lee Holdridge (Arranger), Mathieu Bitton (Design), Michael Masser (Arranger), Marvin Gaye (Performer)
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