Blues Deluxe

Amazon.com
New York guitar phenom walks tall in the blues tradition with this third album, jettisoning fiery riffs inspired by John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Elmore James, and Albert Collins into the future with furious playing, a hard-rock sensibility, and a grizzled voice that owes a debt to Gregg Allman. Equally inspired by the Delta blues and the mid-'60s British blues boom, the young firebrand--who titled this CD after a Rod Stewart song penned while in the Jeff Beck Group--is able to fuse those two schools together, creating edgy blues rock. --Jaan Uhelszki

Blues Deluxe,Joe Bonamassa,Premier Artists,Blues-Rock,Modern Electric Blues,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Blues Deluxe

Average customer rating: smokin' joe!!! Super Blues Deluxe Been there, done that Blues... Blues Deluxe

Blues Deluxe Joe Bonamassa Manufacturer: Premier Artists ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Had to Cry Today You & Me So, It's Like That A New Day Yesterday Live Joe Bonamassa - Live at Rockpalast ASIN: B0000AKCLS Release Date: 2003-08-26

Tracks:

1. You Upset Me Baby
2. Burning Hell
3. Blues Deluxe
4. Man of Many Words
5. Woke Up Dreaming
6. I Don't Live Anywhere
7. Wild About You Baby
8. Long Distance Blues
9. Pack It Up
10. Left Overs
11. Walking Blues
12. Mumbling Word

Amazon.com

New York guitar phenom walks tall in the blues tradition with this third album, jettisoning fiery riffs inspired by John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Elmore James, and Albert Collins into the future with furious playing, a hard-rock sensibility, and a grizzled voice that owes a debt to Gregg Allman. Equally inspired by the Delta blues and the mid-'60s British blues boom, the young firebrand--who titled this CD after a Rod Stewart song penned while in the Jeff Beck Group--is able to fuse those two schools together, creating edgy blues rock. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

smokin' joe!!!.......2007-07-03

This is my first intro to Joe Bonamassa, a recommendation I thought I'd give a try...DAMN... where have I been all this time!!! This guy rips, smokes and tears from one track to another, begining to end. Try to imagine a mixture of Joe Satriani's guitar-technique pyrotechnics meeting Buddy Guy's pure blues mastery. Too hard to imagine? You don't have to. Simply buy this cd, and you'll get the picture. Incredible talent and accomplishment for a guitarist/musicician only in his mid-twenty's. Besides the axe-work, what really sells the authenticity of a genuine bluesman is Bonamassa's smokey, aged-in-a barrell, "mature sounding" vocal quality; his voice sounds as though he has lived a much longer/much rougher life than his actual age belies. Enough talk..just buy it.

Super Blues Deluxe.......2007-06-28

This album is full of dynamic sounds and with every play you discover some new twist or turn that Joe performs. All tracks are rich and entertaining with soul ousing from every single note. This album illustrates the skill of a real blues man who can bring out the history and the feelings of the genre and make it sound brand new.

Been there, done that.......2007-06-09

This is by far one of the best blues cd, album, cassette....yes I am old enough for those...I have never heard a more soulful voice. For as old as he is his heart and soul have been places he hasn't been yet...It's now time for him to catch up to them and I hope around to hear it..

Sincerely,

Dena Cornwell

Blues..........2007-05-16

This was a very good blues cd combined with a lot of stevie ray vaughn influence. I would recomend this to others.

Blues Deluxe.......2007-04-05

A great BLUES record with sublime guitar by JOE BONAMASSA, electrical as well as acoustic at similar level of the monsters like Johnny Winter, Mike Bloomfield, Ronnie Earl,Tinsley Ellis, Elvin Bishop ( who also shared highlights in the great Paul Butterfield Blues band with the master Mike Bloomfield), Alvin Lee, Mick Taylor, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton and many others. All the record songs are very good, you can find a magnificient slow BLUES as "Long distance Blues" or the title of the record "Blues Deluxe" that gets to excite. It is of justice to point out the great work of the rhythmical section, in short a sensational record.I have not been lucky to see JOE in live but if it comes to Barcelona ,sure I'll see. A must for all guitar lovers even blues fans.

Average customer rating: Thundering Typhoons!! It's Bob again!!! Good, good stuff Dylan still lives! Bob Dylan, the best Bob Dylan - Modern Times

Modern Times (Deluxe Edition With Bonus DVD) Bob Dylan Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: The Road to Escondido Live at the Fillmore East Highway Companion Orphans [Fold-out Digipak with 24-page booklet] Living With War ASIN: B000GRTQSE Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

1. Thunder On The Mountain
2. Spirit On The Water
3. Rollin' and Tumblin'
4. When The Deal Goes Down
5. Someday Baby
6. Workingman's Blues #2
7. Beyond The Horizon
8. Nettie Moore
9. The Levee's Gonna Break
10. Ain't Talkin'

Tracks:

1. Cold Irons Bound (Unreleased live version from Masked & Anonymous)
2. Blood In My Eyes
3. Things Have Changed
4. Love Sick (From The Grammy Awards)

Amazon.com

At a time when the majority of those his age are drifting into retirement, 65-year-old Bob Dylan has put the capper on a three-record run that ranks with the best in his storied, 44-album career. Like Time Out of Mind and Love and Theft before it, Modern Times is a rootsy, blues-soaked pool of the purest form of Americana--skipping the progressive bells or whistles for an understated backing by his touring band. Dylan's voice, which cracks, rasps and moans from the pop singer's pulpit, hasn't been this rich and emotive since 1976's Desire. And while his lyrics prolong his steadfast allusions to a higher power and his own immortality, they are not without the Dylan mirth, as when he sings of tracking pop queen Alicia Keys from Hell's Kitchen to Tennessee in "Thunder on the Mountain," the album's opener, which teams with "Someday Baby" and "Rollin' and Tumblin'" (for which Dylan misguidedly claims writing credit) as the record's most fiery numbers. Still, it's the Dylan that tells of a slave-loving owner ("Nettie Moore"), brings New Orleans to the front burner ("The Levee's Gonna Break") and plays the part of an eloquent lounge singer ("Spirit on the Water," "When the Deal Goes Down" and "Beyond the Horizon") that makes Modern Times sound just like old times. --Scott Holter

Amazon.com

First new album in 5 years featuring 10 new songs. Special limited edition deluxe package includes: Book style package Expanded booklet with never-before-seen photographs Bonus DVD including videos for: "Cold Irons Bound" (Shot live on the film soundstage during the making of the film Masked and Anonymous) "Blood In My Eyes" "Things Have Changed" "Love Sick" (From The Grammy Awards).

Dylan Classics and Collections

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan	The Times They Are A-Changin'	Bringing It All Back Home
Highway 61 Revisited	Blonde on Blonde	Blood on the Tracks
No Direction Home: The Soundtrack	Biograph (Box Set)	Bootleg Series 1-3: Rare 1961-1991 (Box Set)

Customer Reviews:

Thundering Typhoons!! It's Bob again!!!.......2007-03-26

The sixth year of this century would go down as a year when all the old horses gave what they got .. and finshed with astonishing results. Stones rolled, Plant grew, Paul resurrected and Bobbie proved again that he ain't gonna leave the building quietly.

For us, who started listening to Dylan in mid to late eighties, that's a real treat.

I remember growing up in Calcutta, when listening to counter culture classics and watching Ray movies meant the coolest thing in the world ( a far cry from today's decadent mainstream behaviour, you see), and Dylan was crawling through a dark decade. Darkest were the years when we saw releases like Knocked Out Loaded and Down In The Groove. Both got issued on vinyl LPs which we promptly procured with our pocket money, little that we had, only to realize that these recordings did not stand a chance agains the earlier gems of the previous decades (way before the times of online reviews and thirty second intros on itunes, you had to buy to listen to judge .

We did not realize that as much we anticipate masterworks from the living legends everytime, it's just not possible to deliver a classic everytime you happen to be in the studio.

I, for one, had given up. Content with what I had from the sixties & seventies.

Keeping that in mind the new resurgence of Mr. Dylan appears both fantastic and spectacular. I have not had a chance to write reviews on the the earlier two studio albums: Time Out of Mind and Love & Theft, both classics and will stand the test of time much like Highway 61 or Blood on Tracks.

It would appear, at least to me, that Bob, in his sixties and reliving the sixties. Backed by a class act, second maybe only to 'The Band' in the seventies, he tears through a collection that matches with the best in class.

If the younger buckaroos are producing music half as good as this, forty years on, I will consider myself to be damn lucky.

As for the album, many many words have been spent in reviewing Modern Times (the best that I have read was on Uncut, a British magazine). I don't have any intention to rehash the same .. it's a great album, Dylsn's third classic in a row and consider yourself fortunate that you are sharing your mortal time with Dylan, and that he has not stopped amusing you.

Keep on rolling, Abraham!! Modern Times, whatever may that be, both for you and me .. this is our time!!

Good, good stuff.......2007-03-26

Bob Dylan has taken a decidedly different turn in his August years. His past three albums have all been excellent, including this one. He has been constantly touring, and documentaries, television specials, and new biographies and introspective books, including one by himself, have all reminded of us of his greatness. Bob used to be one to shy away from the media, but we have seen him on 60 Minutes, read Chronicles, and watched Scorsese's documentary. All applauding Bob. Even this new album is getting rave reviews, often referred to as the best album of the year. I find it frustrating that this could be the best thing offered for the year. For one thing is totally lacks creativity and fresh ideas. Instead, we are treated to a re-hash of old stuff. Nonetheless, it is well done, and it gives us a chance to see Dylan again. Personally, I'd like to see him take a chance, do something that might bare a little Bob. It is good stuff, though.

Dylan still lives!.......2007-03-24

excellent work of Bob, I saw him in Munich 2005 he is still one of the great musicians of our time, a real pro

Bob Dylan, the best.......2007-03-24

As a forty year fan of Bob Dylan I cherish anything and everything that has been written by or about him. If you are a Bob Dylan fan you just can't keep yourself from buying his oldest and his latest CD's or books, or whatever comes along.

Bob Dylan - Modern Times.......2007-02-22

This is a great product and Dylan at his best. I was a little disappointed that the song "Things Have Changed" was on the DVD and not the CD.

Average customer rating: 461 ReVisited Laid back EC at his best This Deluxe Edition disc is a sonic treasure Songwriter's Clapton A must for Eric Clapton collectors

461 Ocean Blvd. [Deluxe Edition] Eric Clapton , and Eric Clapton Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Guitar Gods | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Eric Clapton Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert Just One Night Sessions For Robert J. (CD + DVD) Eat a Peach ASIN: B00065VTU4 Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

1. Motherless Children
2. Give Me Strength
3. Willie And The Hand Jive
4. Get Ready
5. I Shot The Sheriff
6. I Can't Hold Out
7. Please Be With Me
8. Let It Grow
9. Steady Rollin' Man
10. Mainline Florida
11. Walkin' Down The Road
12. Ain't That Lovin You
13. Meet Me (Down At The Bottom)
14. Eric After Hours Blues
15. B Minor Jam

Tracks:

1. Smile
2. Let It Grow
3. Can't Find My Way Home
4. I Shot The Sheriff
5. Tell The Truth
6. The Sky Is Crying / Have You Ever Loved A Woman / Rambling On My Mind
7. Little Wing
8. Singin' The Blues
9. .Badge
10. Layla
11. Let It Rain

Customer Reviews:

461 ReVisited.......2006-12-05

461 OCEAN BOULEVARD an album that was originally released in 1974 revamped the career of Eric Clapton after a few years hiatus, an interlude from a fatal heroin addiction recovery, and the year when Patti Boyd finally left George Harrison for his best buddy Clapton - who in respect to the album with ALLMAN BROS. BAND producer Tom Dowd decided to start from scratch resulting to an album that repolished Clapton's career within the foregrounds of Rock history, laying down his rep as a guitar virtuoso against the decision for centering more on songcrafting panache - the album is one that had become the favourite of many (including mine) and one of the most sought after LP's, that fortunately enough - for those who hadn't scored the album on the CD format - would find a great treat for this DELUXE Edition release (along with TEARS FOR FEARS' Songs From The Big Chair, and GIN BLOSSOMS undisputed classic New Miserable Experience).

Featuring as bonus tracks on the first disc which follows the `461...' album are the sessions for what might have been the initial landscape for what would become supposedly of the record, which are covers and little sessions of the blues based kind - that might come as some quite fine pieces somehow at certain respects, but are yet formidably levelling on the sub-par passé kind, and on what could be ultimately boring - and I guess Clapton might agree in that regard as outlined in the booklet provided along with the sleeve fold-out container of the two discs, with extra pictures, and the full length album cover that pictures a fine fx rendition of a double-shot of Clapton on both ends of the picture where he sits playing the guitar, while on the other side which serves as the formal front cover - Clapton stands by the peculiarly gaunted tree, as shot on the famed mansion (for which the album title's culled from of its address) at Beverly Hills, that was owned by certain celebrities way back from the so-called big-bang era of the "roaring" nineteen-twenties and was actually alleged to be as haunted by spooks - peculiarly the veranda window in the middle of its foreground (that the bush which originally had the `RSO' records logo where it was originally released, where on this edition being solely issued by PolyGram was deleted), where in the album cover, if one would look closely, on its left upper corner a certain cross shaped spark manifested that considerably could may well be referred to as a mere reflection of the sun, but it was actually believed to be a specimen of sorts for spirit photography by some. Clapton himself owned the mansion at the time - and among those that owned the house is the famed comedian Charlie Chaplin, whose song "Smile" (a track where Clapton goofed on a line) is also included with the second disc, that features the final pair of legs from the 1974 tour of the album, which then also included the backup vocalist Marcy Levy who've become regular to Clapton's line-up, succeeding Yvonne Eliman, who've come around fresh from the movie rendition of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR where she stars as Mary Magdalene - to serve as the back-up vocalist for the line-up in the album, that kind of paved the way for STING's concept of coming up an assemblage of particular sessionists to consist his first solo project that's been filmed as BRING ON THE NIGHT (issued as a two-disc + DVD package). Her take on singing the monumental track "Can't Find My Way Home" by the Clapton/Steve Winwood act BLIND FATE - nearly seems to come as a Déjà vu of sorts for relieving the theme "Could We Start Again Please" from the said Rock Opera where Elliman sang, and another notable turn from the supplementary live disc (culled from the 1974's last two shows of December 4 and 5), is the outro for the track "Badge" - where it segued to the intro of "Motherless Children". Elliman also co-wrote a track "Get Ready" with Clapton - who in turn only have a pair of tracks written for the album himself (Clapton's classic "Let It Grow" and "Give Me Strength"), amidst a bunch of covers and tracks written by those of another. And come to think of it - the album is best listened at by the following track sequence: 1. Motherless Children; 3. Willy And The Hand Jive; 5. I Shot The Sheriff; 6. I Can't Hold Back; 7. Please Be With Me; 2. Give Me Stregth; 4. Get Ready; 8. Let It Grow; 9. Steady Rolling Man; 10. Mainline Florida
- that kind of gives the album a stance which could stand for a storyline = there goes Willy who's mother'd just died is wanted for murdering the sheriff, and is in deep trouble (tracks 6, 7, 2), in cahoots for being a heartbreaker (track 4), but is full of idealistically hopeful uncertainty amidst the storms of life, and yet was such a steady rolling man around mainline Florida.

The album embodies to represent a work where Clapton's music still holds a great impact that truly captures the listeners interest and it was back in the days where he could really come up with worthwhile songs, which he may have still accomplished to flash time and time again later on with his career that unfortunately bogged down ultimately - 461 bOCEAN BOULEVARD stands supreme among the many accomplished solo albums ever released.

RATE: 9 out of 10

Laid back EC at his best.......2006-03-16

I put this off for a long time because I always heard during these sessions Clapton wanted to move away from the guitar 'God' image. I knew the hits and liked them but didn't think the overall vibe would be that great. Well, I was wrong. This deluxe set shows EC working through some nice gutiar parts. He starts off the first song (Motherless Children) creating a little guitar havoc with some electric slide. Then he moves over to slide on a dobro guitar. In fact, there is plenty of slide guitar all over these tracks. Since this was recorded not too terribly long after Clapton's comeback from herion addiction I wasn't sure if it EC playing but I checked the notes and sure enough it's him. This is a true guitar treasure with great songs. No, it isn't anything he did with Cream and it doesn't have the wall of guitar sound he and Duane laid down on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs but 461 Ocean Blvd rocks nicely.
The expanded tracks on disc 1 are all good.

The live disc is a real treat. Eric seems grateful to be back and playing in front of a hometown audience.

And to think it had not been that long ago Clapton was having herion delivered to his door so he wouldn't have to ever leave his house. The real difference maker is in the photos on the cover of this disc and in the notes. Compare them to Clapton on the cover of the Rainbow concert album (when he was still a user). They look like the photos of two different people. Needless to say he's looking healthy during the 461 sessions.

True, there are 3 tracks that can be found on the Crossroads 2 box set. But that should not be enough to keep the true fan away. And if you're a casual fan who will never buy the box set then this double cd is a perfect purchase.

This Deluxe Edition disc is a sonic treasure .......2006-03-11

I never gave this album much of a chance when it first came out. Maybe I thought it was a little to laid back at the time. After buying this 461 Ocean Blvd. [Deluxe Edition] disc I now feel it is one of Clapton's finest efforts and one of the finest albums of the 70's. When you add the many bonus tracks it is an irresistible must have. That said I will let other reviewers deal with the artistic content of this disc. I am cursed with an obsession for the quality of the recording and digital transfer. In other words how it sounds on expensive esoteric stereo equipment. This year I have been bitten by the SACD bug yet every time I play this CD I am shocked at how amazingly great it sounds. I do not understand how but this disc matches my SACD's when it comes to natural, warm, detailed, and dynamic sound reproduction. When you add the extra bonus disc of great 70's rock how can one resist. "JUST BUY IT" and thank me later.

Songwriter's Clapton .......2006-01-01

There really isn't much more one needs to say about the guitar work of Eric Clapton, every album is going to have some stellar axe work regardless. So every now and then Mr. Clapton has to break out of his shell and come out with a great song album, and this is it. 461 is the pinnacle of Clapton's solo career and will probably never be equalled. Most of this album is subdued and melancholic, with a rocker thrown in for good measure. However, songs like the brilliant "Please be with me" dominate this mellow and resonant album. There are no real hits on this ablum with the exception of motherless children. So in a way, it may the least familiar sounding of Clapton's work.
Mr. Clapton has always wanted to be a singer/songwriter of sorts, even with his considerable guitar work. In this particular case, he pulls the singer-part off quite well.

A must for Eric Clapton collectors.......2005-10-28

461 Ocean Blvd is one of Claptons best of his career.
Motherless Children opens the album with some great slide guitar.
Better make it through today originally appeared on There's One In Every Crowd. It is an outstanding song
Willie and the Hand Jive is a remake of the old Johnny Otis song from the 50's.
Get Ready shows a funky side of Clapton with Yvonne Elliman joining him on vocals.
I Shot The Sheriff to this day is Claptons' only #1 song of his career
I Cant Hold out is another song with some slide on it. It is very laid back.
Please Be With Me is a country song he has covered.
Let it Grow is next and in my mind one of the best songs he has ever done.
Steady Rollin Man is another great song with some great guitar.
Mainline Florida is a rocker written by George Terry who was his rythm player at the time.
Give Me Strength is one of Claptons best blues songs of his career.
I saw Eric Clapton on his 1974 tour and saw him do these recordings live.
I was surprised to see him open with "Smile" the old Charley Chaplin song, and a long time favorite of mine.
I also remember hearing Let it Grow live. They way it sounds on this CD is the way I remember hearing it back then. Clapton at this point had just come off a 3 year layoff and his guitar playing has suffered and he is good but not in top form.
Now collectors like myself have it on record. As I said this is strictly for Collectors like me........................

Average customer rating: good music AWESOME!! Sassy Saffire -The uppity blues women Saffire the Uppity Blues Women Strike again

Deluxe Edition Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women Manufacturer: Alligator Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Alligator Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ain't Gonna Hush Live and Uppity Cleaning House Old, New, Borrowed & Blue The Uppity Blues Women ASIN: B000CZ0POE Release Date: 2006-01-31

Tracks:

1. Middle Aged Blues Boogie
2. Sloppy Drunk
3. It Takes A Mighty Good Man
4. Ain't Gonna Hush
5. Bitch With A Bad Attitude
6. There's Lightning In These Thunder Thighs
7. Tom Cat Blues
8. (No Need) Pissin' On A Skunk
9. Don't Treat Your Man Like A Dog
10. Because Of You
11. T'aint Nobody's Business
12. Silver Beaver
13. Elevator Man
14. How Can I Say I Miss You?
15. In My Girlish Days
16. School Teacher's Blues
17. Is You Or Is You Ain't My Baby?
18. Falling Back In Love With You
19. Wild Women Don't Have The Blues
20. The Equalizer

Album Description

Over the course of six studio albums and one foot-stomping live release, Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women have earned legions of fans off all ages, genders and races all across the country. Deluxe Edition captures the best moments from these releases, featuring over an hour of material hand-selected by the band themselves. Included are sassy fan favorites like "Middle Aged Blues Boogie," "There's Lightning In These Thunder Thighs" and "Silver Beaver."

This Deluxe Edition release includes music that has been DIGITALLY REMASTERED IN 24-BIT AUDIO, includes NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED PHOTOS and a special MINI-POSTER INSERT in addition to a fully annotated booklet.

Customer Reviews:

good music.......2007-04-10

Best music I have heard in a long time. Every woman 30+ will appreciate this group, every man involved with a woman 30+ will appreciate this group:) Jazzy, bluesy, comical, great voices, great lyrics. You can't ask for more.

I throw it into a mix with the more famous groups and when one of Saffire's tunes come on I am always asked who the group is. I have purchased 15 of these CD's for gift-giving, mostly to my fun female friends but have also received great reviews from men I gifted to - more for the music and some of the more humorous tunes. Highly recommended. I am giving one to my 68 year old mother for mother's day-she will love it!

AWESOME!!.......2007-01-15

I knew a few of their songs from compilation albums, and am thrilled that my husband gave this album to me. It is fun, full of attitude, and keeps me dancing!

Sassy Saffire -The uppity blues women.......2007-01-04

I first saw saffire at the NY State Blues Fest in Syracuse, N.Y. I've loved them since then. This disc is one of their best. Combination of folsky blues, jazz, and creole type rhythems belnd perfedctly with their incredible lyrics. This disc has turned a lot of non-blues people in Saffire fans includsing one group of women who calls themselves "THe Silver Beaver Club"

Saffire the Uppity Blues Women Strike again.......2006-04-11

Man!!!!! What fantastic album. Even if it is a compilation album, it rates right up there with their previous ones. They need to keep on going with some more in the future

There is only one thing wrong with this ablum. It does not have the song "Cold Pizza and Warm Beer" on it. This one of their classic songs. That is why I gave a four star rating instead of the top five.

Average customer rating: RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "I AIN'T DRUNK" "I'M JUST LISTENING TO CLASSIC ALBERT COLLINS" A mediocre overview of Collins's Alligator years Never "Too Tired" for Albert Collins Capo'd Telecaster Wails Passion & Blues! MASTER OF THE TELECASTER

Deluxe Edition Albert Collins Manufacturer: Alligator Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Alligator Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Texas Blues | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Showdown! Collins Mix: The Best Live '92/'93 Frostbite Cold Snap ASIN: B000000A1Y Release Date: 1997-10-28

Tracks:

1. I Ain't Drunk
2. If You Love Me Like You Say
3. Blue Monday Hangover
4. Melt Down
5. Master Charge
6. Too Tired
7. If Trouble Was Money
8. T-Bone Shuffle
9. Get To Gettin'
10. ...But I Was Cool!
11. Cold Cuts
12. When The Welfare Turns Its Back On You
13. A Good Fool Is Hard To Find

Customer Reviews:

RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "I AIN'T DRUNK" "I'M JUST LISTENING TO CLASSIC ALBERT COLLINS".......2007-02-04

If your main passion and joy is electric blues, then the most important reviews for you to follow are Shaq's, "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer". I've checked other reviewers on some blues CD's, and their history also lists reviews of psychology books, movies, etc. Shaq reviews nothing but da blues! With that being said, let's get down to business. Albert Collins, is one of my six all-time favorite electric blues guitarists! One of the problems in building a collection of Albert's work, is a lot of the CD's are recorded under older, limited technology, and the volume and clarity isn't too good. This Deluxe CD, is loud and clear! The subject matter on this CD ranges from the "fun & humorous", opening song "I Ain't Drunk" ("I'm Just Drinking!"), which I always play as my last song, after tail gating with my buddies, as we drink our last beer, before heading into the stadium! You have the definition of classic blues, both vocally and instrumentally, on "Blue Monday Hangover". You've got an absolutely, clever, humorous, toe tapper (Written by Albert's wife Gwen.) "Master Charge". There's not a loser on the CD. SHAQ BLUES TRIVIA (No other blues reviewer adds such enjoyable tidbits!) Make sure you watch the movie "ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING". It's great for all ages. My son, Shaq Jr, and I, have it on our top ten Father and Son movie list. Albert Collins steals the show, (In a small cameo.) with his performance as (surprise) a blues singer in a black nightclub. You can see every ounce of his personality, that comes out in his music, on his face. We miss you Albert, but you still have us smiling, laughing, and loving your blues!

A mediocre overview of Collins's Alligator years.......2004-12-05

Alligator Records' "Deluxe Editions" are usually very good overviews of their artists' output for the label, providing excellent introductions to men like Son Seals and Lonnie Brooks.
This one is less that it could have been, though...Collins has had material released on several other labels, and the track selection is imperfect, but as an introduction I guess it's okay.

"Ice Pickin'" remains Albert Collins' best record for Alligator, and "Live 92/93" would also be a fine place to start. But there is some really good stuff here as well, like the supremely groovy "If You Love Me Like You Say", the slow "Blue Monday Hangover", and Collins' own "Master Charge". Collins was an adequate singer and an excellent guitarist with a highly personal style, and his music often smacks of soul and R&B.
This compilation is not as good as it could have been, though, and the annotation is nothing to get excited about either.
I'd pick up "Ice Pickin'", "Live 92/93" and "Frostbite" instead.

Never "Too Tired" for Albert Collins.......2004-10-03

Albert Collins will put some zip in your step. If you have some mindless job to do, turn on Albert Collins, crank it up, and get to it. Most of his music evokes energy, such that no matter how tired you are, you are never too tired to listen to "Too Tired". His music makes you want to move. Great wake up in the morning music.

One thing I like about Albert Collins, is the quick intro's and then he moves on to the heart of the song. I don't like long slow put you to sleep song intro's.

Another thing I like, his vocals are not over done. He leaves plenty of instrumental time in his songs.

Collins defined what is now called the Texas blues guitar style, using non-standard tuning, and slashing out blocked chords and sharp flurries of treble notes to produce what is known now as the ICE or "ice-cold" sound from his Fender Telecaster.

If you want to trace Albert Collins roots, try listening to Gatemouth Brown.

Capo'd Telecaster Wails Passion & Blues!.......2001-04-08

Albert Collins was a man of style. His Telecaster seemed to sing, right along with Albert's gritty and passionate vocals. It takes some right talent to make your guitar seemingly speak, and Albert does just that on this album. Gone far before we were ready to lose him, his music lives on. A standard by which other blues artists are measured to as well.

The album starts off with the fun, drinking song "I ain't drunk" where Albert says he isn't drunk he's just drinking, but don't tell his woman! Albert can also take you way down into the blues tunnel of despair with tracks like "Blue Monday Hangover" which is a slow, bottom of the barrel song, and "If Trouble Was Money", which features a wailing Albert Collins as he sings about something we can all relate to. Albert's guitar work remains strong, and scathing. White hot, both the album and the Master of The Telecaster.

I recommend this album because it encompasses all that is Albert Collins. It is definitely the best blues bang for your buck when searching for what Albert Collin's album to purchase. He ain't drunk, he's just drinkin', so sit back relax and have a few rounds with Albert.

MASTER OF THE TELECASTER.......2000-08-28

WHAT CAN YOU SAY BUT A GREAT COLLECTION OF BLUES BY ALBERT ON ONE CD. FROM "DONT LOSE YOUR COOL" TO "IF YOU LOVE ME LIKE YOU SAY".IS JUST A REMINDER OF THE GREATNESS OF ALBERT COLLINS

Average customer rating: Sade's music is always soothing to my ear A Delightful Album! My order took too long to arrive, although finally arrived and I'm happy with it Quintessential Sade smoothly classic

Love Deluxe Sade Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Promise Stronger Than Pride Diamond Life Lovers Rock The Best of Sade ASIN: B0000028VD Release Date: 1992-11-03

Tracks:

1. No Ordinary Love
2. Feel No Pain
3. I Couldn't Love You More
4. Like A Tattoo
5. Kiss Of Life
6. Cherish The Day
7. Pearls
8. Bullet Proof Soul
9. Mermaid

Customer Reviews:

Sade's music is always soothing to my ear.......2007-07-02

I absolutely adore all of Sade's music and this album is no exception.

I still listen to her albums from over 10 years ago and they still sound new to me.

I will always buy her music for as long as her melodies make my ears feel wonderful.

A Delightful Album!.......2007-05-11

Whether or not you happen to be a fan of the artist, I believe that you will definitely appreciate and enjoy all that she has done on this album. Her hard work and talent really shine in this work of art! The songs also, I believe, tell a story about the heart of Sade. The orchestrations and back-up vocals are particularly well-done. This album is certainly one that I feel confident in recommending to you...

My order took too long to arrive, although finally arrived and I'm happy with it.......2007-01-19

I'm glad a refund was made to my credit card cause the special freight that I chose didn't work so well and my item arrive one day after the estimated delivery date

Quintessential Sade.......2007-01-12

Beautiful,soft profound lyrics. Wonderful Sade voice. Strong bass. A beautiful work of art.

smoothly classic.......2006-10-26

This is my favorite Sade disc. Her voice melts in my ear, and this disc contains some of her best compositions. The grooves are tight, and the lyrics have real meaning. I have been a fan for some time now, but this release still knocks my socks off.

Average customer rating: Marvin@his best It's True!!! GROWN AND SEXY FOR REAL Loved it Loved it

I Want You [2 CD DELUXE EDITION] Marvin Gaye Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Let's Get It On [Deluxe Edition] What's Going On Here, My Dear Midnight Love In Our Lifetime ASIN: B00009QI3S Release Date: 2003-07-29

Tracks:

1. I Want You
2. Come Live With Me Angel
3. After The Dance
4. Feel All My Love Inside
5. I Wanna Be Where You Are
6. I Want You (Intro Jam)
7. All The Way Around
8. Since I Had You
9. Soon I'll Be Loving You Again
10. I Want You
11. After The Dance
12. I Want You (Vocal)
13. I Want You (Instrumental)
14. Strange Love (Feel All My Love Inside)

Tracks:

1. I Want You (Vocal & Rhythm)
2. Come Live With Me Angel
3. After The Dance
4. Feel All My Love Inside
5. I Wanna Be Where You Are
6. I Want You
7. All The Way Around
8. Since I Had You
9. Soon I'll Be Loving You Again
10. I Want You
11. After The Dance
12. I Wanna Be Where You Are
13. You Are The Way You Are
14. Is Anybody Thinking About Their Living?

Customer Reviews:

Marvin@his best.......2006-06-23

Many people know Marvin Gaye for his top ten hits (What's going, Sexual healing, etc...) But there are lot of people who have not heard his other work (what a shame). I remember the first time I heard Marvin Gaye was in college. My roommate and I were both from Chicago attending college in the "dirty south" He told me that Sunday's would be resevred for playing only Jazz and other types of music (no hip hop for 24 hours ,damn!!). So when he put in the Marvin Gaye, I Want You tape, I was like "damn, who is that". I was amazed by his vocals and the sound of the music he was singing over, I never heard anything like this in my life.

I have just about every Marvin Gaye album and this is one of my favorites. Me being from Chicago and seeing pimpin first hand, I was just taken by the his singing of the line " I want you, the right baby, like I want you, but I want you to want me to. Classic, just classic. Both discs offer a different sound to each song that you will enjoy. After I listen to this cd, I realize why I don't like today's RB These fools can't singing (ok, maybe R.Kelly and John Lengend is good). When a new artist signs a record deal, a contract requirement should be for then to listen to any Marvin Gaye cd before recording. Marvin is the only artist (I've heard)that can sing his own background vocals and do it like its another person singing ( after I read that he had problems with the industry and paying other people and he still wasn't getting paid. He went for self). His voice is amazing and this is what make me appreciate his music even more.

If your thinking about buying this album, stop thinking about it and do it. This is a must have.

Other Marvin Gaye albums to get are Hear My Dear,In Our Lifetime and The Trouble Man Soundtrack.

It's True!!!.......2006-05-31

I thought about buying the Deluxe edition of this album for a while...
Then I read the reviews here and they persuaded me to do it...
man, did I ever make a great decision. Thanks a bunch reviewers. The second CD
is fantastic..
It's really worth it... this is some of the best soul you'll ever hear...
buy it now... buy it now...

GROWN AND SEXY FOR REAL.......2006-05-13

Although it's a far change from "What's Going On", this is most definitely baby making music, safe to say. Everything about the sound of this album, from the outstanding drum, bass, and conga drum arrangements, to the album cover (which was the same painting used on the opening to "Good Times") can set a mood for a house party where you been trying to get at somebody for almost the whole night. Nothing says this more than the title track, where Marvin describes the object of his affection but doesn't have all her attention. Later on in the album, the sounds enhanced by soft guitar riffs and moans of passion only intensify the feeling of finally reaching that special someone on what may be the most explicit songs of the album, "Feel All My Love Inside" and "Since I Had You". On a real note, if you think this is something, listen to "Let's Get It On" (you already know). But if you don't have that, then at least this is a must for any date.

Loved it.......2006-03-02

The six inches of space that Mr. Marvin Gaye commanded between his mouth and the microphone was a vacuum that no one could come in between. The alternate outtakes of disc 2 is worth the price alone, along with the last two cuts, which were like peering into the psyche of Gaye and what was going on in his mind during the sessions of this classic album.

Loved it.......2006-03-02

The six inches of space that Mr. Marvin Gaye commanded between his mouth and the microphone was a vacuum that no one could come in between. The alternate outtakes of disc 2 is worth the price alone, along with the last two cuts, which were like peering into the psyche of Gaye and what was going on in his mind during the sessions of this classic album.

Average customer rating: Koko Taylor music Queen of Chicago Blues: Koko Taylor's Greatest Hits on Alligator, 1975-1999 My God, That Voice! ****1/2. A really nice sampler SING IT KOKO

Deluxe Edition Koko Taylor Manufacturer: Alligator Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Classic Female Vocal Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Alligator Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Vocal Blues | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Force of Nature Queen of the Blues Old School Koko Taylor Blues to the Bone ASIN: B00005UF1W Release Date: 2002-01-22

Tracks:

1. I'm A Woman
2. Beer Bottle Boogie
3. Born Under A Bad Sign (with Buddy Guy)
4. Mother Nature (with Carey Bell)
5. Hey Bartender (with Pinetop Perkins)
6. I'd Rather Go Blind
7. Man Size Job
8. Let The Good Times Roll (live)
9. Voodoo Woman (with Mighty Joe Young)
10. Wang Dang Doodle
11. Stop Watching Your Enemies
12. Sure Had A Wonderful Time Last Night
13. Come To Mama
14. Time Will Tell
15. Blues Hotel (with B.B. King)

Amazon.com

Koko Taylor's something of a deluxe edition herself. With a Cadillac of a voice that rumbles the earth and rattles the glassware, she reigns as the undisputed empress of the blues. Deluxe Edition, a retrospective of her 15 years with Alligator Records, may not include such classics as "I Got What It Takes" and the Willie Dixon-penned "Twenty-Nine Ways," but it does have "I'm a Woman," Taylor's answer to Muddy Waters, just to kick things off. Other highlights include "Born Under a Bad Sign"--a duet with Buddy Guy, of course. Much of Taylor's work in the 1970s included such duets, and here can also be found Carey Bell (on "Mother Nature"), Pinetop Perkins (on "Hey Bartender"), and B.B. King (on "Blues Hotel"). Everything on Deluxe Edition brims with Taylor's trademark attitude, the sass and toughness for which she's well known. Yet Taylor is capable of astonishing tenderness as well, as is borne out by "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "Time Will Tell." Though this collection boasts only one obligatory previously unreleased track, it's a doozy: "Man Size Job," simply put, kicks ass. Looks like Taylor's reign is in no danger whatsoever. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Koko Taylor music.......2007-02-24

This was a gift for my daughter and she is thrilled with it. Koko
at her best....SG

Queen of Chicago Blues: Koko Taylor's Greatest Hits on Alligator, 1975-1999 .......2007-01-04

Before marrying "Pops" Taylor, Koko Taylor was Memphis native Cora Walton. She had a number of hit songs on Chess records in the 1960s. After her time at Chess she went without a record label until she signed with Alligator Records; this 2002 collection is taken from those seven studio albums and one live album.

DELUXE EDITION consists of 15 songs, including one live recording (track 8) and one previously unreleased track (track 7), recorded 1975-1999 (most from '78-'93). Disc packaged in clear jewel case; total running time: 64:07. Booklet includes track information, but it is not easily discerned. There is also a six-panel fold-out with a mini-poster on one side; the other side is an assortment of captioned photographs, a discography (that does not provide release dates), and a short essay. Sound quality is excellent.

Track listing & info:
01. I'm a Woman [1978] mid-tempo, from "The Earthshaker"
02. Beer Bottle Boogie [1985] up-tempo, from "Queen of the Blues"
03. Born Under a Bad Sign (with Buddy Guy: vocal & guitar) [1993] mid-tempo, from "Force of Nature"
04. Mother Nature [1993] mid-tempo, from "Force of Nature"
05. Hey Bartender [1978] up-temp, from "The Earthshaker"
06. I'd Rather Go Blind [1981] ballad, from "From the Heart of a Woman"
07. Man Sized Job [1998/1999] up-tempo, previously unreleased
08. Let the Good Times Roll (LIVE) [1985] mid-tempo, from "Live from Chicago - An Audience with the Queen"
09. Voodoo Woman [1975] up-tempo, from "I Got What It Takes"
10. Wang Dang Doodle [1978] mid-tempo, from "The Earthshaker"
11. Stop Watching Your Enemies [1987] slow-tempo, from "Jump for Joy"
12. Sure Had a Wonderful Time Last Night [1981] Jazzy up-tempo, from "From the Heart of a Woman"
13. Come to Mama [1985] mid-tempo, from "Queen of the Blues"
14. Time Will Tell [1987] ballad, from "Jump for Joy"
15. Blues Hotel (with B.B. King: vocal & guitar) [1999] up-tempo, from "Royal Blue"

Familiar songs include "Born Under a Bad Sign", Etta James's "I'd Rather Go Blind", "Come to Mama" (recorded by Ann Peebles), "Let the Good Times Roll", and a remake of her own 1965 hit "Wang Dang Doodle".

This is a really fun CD. Koko Taylor is very deserving of the title "Queen of Chicago Blues" and any other accolades she receives. She has a powerful voice, as amazing as Bessie Smith, Mahalia Jackson, Big Mama Thornton, and Etta James. Long live the queen!

My God, That Voice!.......2006-06-24

If you have stumbled across this page because you are looking for a great blues CD to add to your collection, then congratulations--you have found it. If you buy this CD, or any other CD by Koko Taylor, you will be rewarded with moving songs that hit you right in your gut. In other words, this is not background music. This is music for when you actually want to listen to music. Koko need only sing one note and I have chills from head to foot. Not a lot of artists can do that to me. This is the real thing.

****1/2. A really nice sampler.......2005-06-20

Koko Taylor has been hailed as "Queen of the Blues" for almost forty years. Born Cora Walton in Mississippi in 1935, she made her first recordings for Chess Records in Chicago, but signed with Bruce Iglauer's Alligator Records in 1975 when Chess went under.
This 2002 compilation brings together 14 songs from her first seven Alligator albums. And the good people at Alligator have included a new song, of course...if they can make a few thousand diehard fans buy 14 songs they already have in order to get one new one, they'll do it.

Still, "Deluxe Edition" is a really fine collection.
The opening track is a somewhat predictable rip-off of Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy", and a couple of numbers are a little bit too polished for their own good.
But most of what is here is top-notch. Koko Taylor has a deep, powerful voice which was simply meant to sing the blues, and she excels on tough, swaggering grooves like "Come To Mama" and "Beer Bottle Boogie". The previously unreleased "Man Size Job" is one of the highligts of this set, and Taylor is equally convincing on soulful R&B numbers, dirty mid-tempo blues grinds, and a smouldering rendition of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind". It's just too bad that one of the best songs of her career, "Find A Fool, Bump Her Head", is missing.

As I said, great compilation. The only "problem", if you will, is that almost all of Taylor's original albums are so good that you are actually missing out on a whole lot of good music if you only ever buy this compilation.
But "Deluxe Edition" is a really good place to start, no doubt about that. Just remember that albums like "The Earthshaker", "Force Of Nature" and "I Got What It Takes" are equally fine...

SING IT KOKO.......2005-01-18

This is her very best. I have been collecting her records for about a year now and when i listened to this record I think it sums up all of what Koko is about. She doesn't play and is very rough. No one in this universe can replicate her voice.Her growls are scary as a wolfs.When she sings with other blues singers the song just can't get any better. This is a collectors Item. This is a good CD to listen in the car or in the house or a gift to someone. If you have never heard Koko sing well by this record because it will show you what she is all about.

Average customer rating: Old Times(Good Times) Revisited.... "PASS THE R!" Hands down, the best Incredible live cd...motown bad decision RICK JAMES WAS IN A LEAGUE BY HIMSELF

Street Songs (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) Rick James Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Come Get It! Anthology Bad Girls What's Going On The Time ASIN: B00005O6HV Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

1. Give It To Me Baby
2. Ghetto Life
3. Make Love To Me
4. Mr. Policeman
5. Super Freak
6. Fire And Desire (with Teena Marie)
7. Call Me Up
8. Below The Funk Pass (Pass The J)
9. Give It To Me Baby (12" mix)
10. Give It To Me Baby (instrumental)
11. Super Freak (12" mix)
12. Super Freak (instrumental)

Tracks:

1. Introduction (live)
2. Ghetto Life (live)
3. Big Time (live)
4. Come Into My Life (live)
5. I'm A Sucker For Love (live; with Teena Marie)
6. Square Biz (live) - Teena Marie
7. Fire It Up (live)
8. Love Gun (live)
9. Do You Want Some Funk? (live)
10. Mary Jane (live)
11. Super Freak (live)
12. You And I (live)
13. Give It To Me Baby (live)

Amazon.com

Rick James later made ludicrous attempts to keep up with Prince, but on 1981's Street Songs he stands in no one's shadow. This is, of course, the album that gave us "Super Freak," but James also scores with several funk protest numbers, including the bitter "Mr. Policeman" and the celebratory "Below the Funk (Pass the J)." Prince ended up running a much longer way with the "punk funk" ball; still, James executed more than one or two good plays here. The new deluxe edition adds 12-inch mixes of "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak" as well as a second disc featuring previously unreleased live material recorded in Long Beach, California, in July, 1981. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Old Times(Good Times) Revisited...........2006-08-25

This record is what made Rick James a bona fide superstar as well as earning him his status as an innovator in R&B music as he carefully crafted his music and career moving from the late 1970's into his prime during the early 1980's. I remember when the first single; "Give It To Me Baby", launched on radio; an instant 'hit' with its' rolling bassline, squiggling synthesizers, and spittin' horns(it was the first song I ever heard played back in 'surround' sound - and a great tune to demo any audio system with); followed by the album which also rapidly climbed up the charts. Then "Super Freak" quickly put him into the "a cut above" class and served as a template for much of what came later in the funk/rock genre and led up to the rap/hip-hop explosion which followed it. Much of the focus on James' career and music centered on the negative aspects and his personal problems as he tried to live the "bad boy" image and lifestyle he chronicled through his music. But with this deluxe reissue of his strongest studio album and the long - withheld live recording of the Rick James/Teena Marie/Stone City Band tour package that followed the album's release; you now get both sides of this multi - talented artist's total spectrum; both as a performer and a savvy studio producer/singer/musician - and controversial rebel; before that became the fashionable mode of promoting a musical career(although Prince worked it better than anyone else). The comparisons between the two 'revolutionaries' will always be made; however; since both artists employed the same basic marketing strategy and both effectively mined the funk/rock movement pioneered by Sly & The Family Stone in the late 60's(another one of rock's icons who parlayed his 'bad boy image' into commercial success). But while Prince delved into his personal self - created fantasy explorations in his studio productions; 'Slick Rick' focused more on his own life experiences growing up on the streets; as writer's material. And this record was his 'personal' musical statement; preserved for all to reflect on as we now move into the next millenium. This disc; more so than his other releases; best showed his maturity and growth; especially as a writer and vocalist(besides being a multi - instrumentalist and producer of his own albums and other artists as well); where in just eight tracks he covers numerous social topics along with, naturally; 'dancin' and 'romancin'. The additional disc of one of his live shows is a real bonus; and particularly memorable for me as well. I saw basically the same performance that's on the music CD; but at a different venue(in San Bernardino)on that summer's tour(the music video released recently is a slightly different presentation of nearly the same lineup of songs; recorded a while later). I had purchased a ticket for the show - but I unexpectedly bumped into a musical compatriot whose own band had recently signed with Motown(I'd helped out during some rehearsals)and was opening as the warmup act on several of the tour stops; but didn't have an engineer that night to handle the sound mix - so he grabbed me before I could make my way to the front entrance; hustled me backstage and got me a stage pass - I sold my ticket - went inside and mixed the 45-minute warmup set(and got some great backstage photos, to boot!) - then went out in front and enjoyed Rick & Teena's performance afterwards - and both acts were on fire that night! If you want one album(or the combo with the video)that epitomizes Rick James' musical impact and fully delivers on the 'punk funk' experience - either way; this is the real deal!

"PASS THE R!".......2006-02-12

Rick James is tha man!! Street Songs was his strongest lp, allowing Superfreak to reach the top 20 in the billboard as well as #4 on the R&B charts. "TEMPTATIONS SING!" Hammer really ruined it 9 years latter and Rick should have continued to get money from him. Give It To Me Baby (#1 R&B) and Ghetto Life are dancable tracks far from the disco scene, but my favorite from here is definitely Below The Funk (Pass The J) - Reppin' his hometown in this 2 and a half minute funky lp track. Fire & Desire with Teena Marie was what sparked Fire & definitley Desire for the whole album. Too bad this was never a single, but it is probaly the most famous lp track by the ol' boy Rick James!

Just git this cd!!! "It's a Celebration!!!"

Hands down, the best.......2004-10-01

With the release of 1981's "Street Songs", The king of Funk,the late, great Rick James was catapulted into superstardom, and now his memory is etched forever into the hearts and minds of millions of loyal followers. This is one of, if not THE best album of the 80s in the R&B/Pop genres, in addition to Prince's "Purple Rain". While people compare Rick James to Prince, and I am hooked on both, there is NO comparison, since each artist has his own unique ways of presentation. 23 years later, I still play this album, and it sounds as fresh and new as the first day I bought it. Possibly one of the best duets of all time, Rick and the lovely Ms. Teena Marie's "Fire and Desire" is reason enough alone to get this masterpiece. F&D is stunning, intoxicating and mezmerizing like no other duet. In the song "Ghetto Life". Rick tells it like it is, not based on fantasy, but his own personal reality. Despite the trials and tribulations that plagued his life, Rick is a legend, and always will be. Get this album while it is still readily available. Mr James may be physically gone, but he will always live in us through his music.

Incredible live cd...motown bad decision.......2004-09-22

Motown bad decision not to release this CD much earlier is really all their fault. What an incredible package I will admit, but the live CD should have been released much earlier. Now I wonder what kind of material is out there of Teena Marie and other Rick James' albums promoting Glow or The Flag or the Mary Jane Girls.

RICK JAMES WAS IN A LEAGUE BY HIMSELF.......2004-08-21

I LOVE PRINCE,, BUT DO NOT ,, DO NOT,, MAKE SUCH AN ABSURED COMMENT LIKE RICK WAS IN PRINCE'S SHADOWS. FOR THE PEOPLE WHOM RICK MADE HIS MUSIC FOR,, HE IS THE KING OF PUNK FUNK. YOU HAD TO HAVE REALLY BEEN THERE. FROM THE SUMMER OF 1978 TO 1984, RICK JAMES MUSIC OWNED THE HOOD NIGHT CLUBS AND DISCO'S. NOTHING GOT A PARTY JUMPING FASTER. I MET MY FUTURE WIFE SLOW DANCING AT RANDOM AT NTC SAN DIEGO TO FIRE AND DESIRE. RICK JAMES PUT DOWN THE FUNK. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE RICK JAMES AND LISTEN TO HIM 69 TIMES (INSIDE JOKE TO THOSE WHO REALLY LOVED HIS MUSIC) RICK JAMES WAS A WESTCOAST PHENONEMON. AND HIS MUSIC REPRESENTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MORE THAN ANY OTHER ARTIST.

Average customer rating: Red Hot , Urban R&B/Soul/Disco: La Ross' Funkiest Solo Album Diana Ross' disco years Love is called my old piano Diva 'diana' Delux Disk: Definitive Dance Dianamite! Revisit DIANA!

Diana (Deluxe Edition) Diana Ross Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Boss To Love Again Bad Girls Diana & Marvin Touch Me in the Morning ASIN: B00009U5J6 Release Date: 2003-07-29

Tracks:

1. Upside Down
2. Tenderness
3. Friend To Friend
4. I'm Coming Out
5. Have Fun (Again)
6. My Old Piano
7. Now That You're Gone
8. Give Up
9. Upside Down
10. Tenderness
11. Friend To Friend
12. I'm Coming Out
13. Have Fun (Again)
14. My Old Piano
15. Now That You're Gone
16. Give Up

Tracks:

1. Love Hangover (Extended Alternate Mix)
2. Your Love Is So Good For Me (12-in Mix)
3. Top Of The World
4. Lovin', Livin' And Givin' (LP Mix)
5. What You Gave Me (12-in Mix)
6. You Were The One
7. Diana Ross & The Supremes Medley Of Hits (12-in Mix)
8. No One Gets The Prize/The Boss (12-in Re-Edit)
9. I Ain't Been Licked (12-in Mix)
10. Fire Don't Burn
11. We Can Never Light That Old Flame Again (Alternate Mix)
12. You Build Me Up To Tear Me Down
13. Sweet Summertime Livin'

Customer Reviews:

Red Hot , Urban R&B/Soul/Disco: La Ross' Funkiest Solo Album.......2006-07-13

The attractively packaged diana Deluxe Edition is one of, if not THE most, definitive entry in Soul diva Diana Ross' seemingly gigantic back catologue of albums. Released in the summer of 2003, the diana Deluxe Edition also, for the very first time, showcases the original sessions intended for the album, remixed by those two renowned R&B/Disco wizards, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.

Following on from the critically-acclaimed, The Boss (1979) album, Diana Ross turned to two of the hottest R&B producers of the day - Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards for her next highly anticipated project. She wanted to bring her sound up to date and reach a younger generation as she had done with The Boss. The album proved an explosive combination but wasn't without its fair share of troubles behind the scenes......

After hearing the final mix of the album, Diana simply wasn't happy. She felt that her vocals had been pushed too far into the background with the emphasis being on the music rather than the voice. She took the finished results and with the assistance of Russ Terenna, completly remixed the entire album herself, pushing her vocals foward and basically as she quoted "put a little of Diana Ross into the project". Learning of Dianas new re-mixed album, Rogers and Edwards were infuriated that their work had been tampered with. They demanded a public disclaimer but it was too late - diana was out on the streets already and was selling wildly fast. At first they considered taking legal action but then learning how much Diana Ross loved the project and how she had still paid them ample credit on the album, they decided to let it go.

Nile and Bernard considered the Have Fun (Again) to be the albums debut release but instead Motown opted for Upside Down. Diana had apparently asked for a song her children could sing along to and thats exactly what she got with Upside Down! It almost sounds like a nursery rhyme set to hot, compelling Disco/Funk music but was just so undeniably infectious. Her sassy, razor sharp performance is vastly infectious, neatly riding along the divine musical arrrangements. Upside Down rapidly hit the top of the U.S charts whilst hitting No.2 on the U.K charts. An out and out classic!

The albums second release would be the even stronger, I'm Coming Out. The song would be something of a declaration of her newly found independence (and she was also preparing too leave Motown Records). I'm Coming Out also became something of a gay anthem and supported her confirmed status even greater as an icon amongst gay males. This recording captures one of her strongest performances on record, sounding so crystal clear and strong. That fabulous opening is just sensational from the rolling drum beats that leads into the roller coaster musical arrangements. I'm Coming Out became a rapid Top 5 seller in the U.S and hit No.13 on the U.K Singles charts.

In Britain Motown issued a third single with the monster classic, My Old Piano. This exotic sounding number is complimented by a firm and exuberant performance from Diana who whips along the verses and chrous with such conviction. My Old Piano too would become a Top 5 seller in the U.K.

Belatedly released in 1982 was Tenderness (by which time she was at RCA Records enjoying success with her secong Gold selling album for the label, Silk Electric). This rhythmically divine number is just utterly superb but unfortuantley stalled at No.73, probably as there was little promotion for the single.

The album cuts are all top notch. The aching Friend To Friend is remarkably effective in its mere simplicity with Diana delivering a deep throasted, fittingly husky performance. Her precise pronounciations and diction is what makes her such an excellent vocalist and the real beauty and natural soul in her voice simmer out on numbers like Friend To Friend. Incidentally Friend To Friend was considered for being the title of the diana album.

Have Fun (Again) is totally infectious where Diana certainly sounds like shes having fun as she delivers another sassy and sharp performance. The track fades out at the bridge of the song only to come back in again for Diana to once again sing the chrous. Curiousl as to why this was done but it certainly doesn't interupt the musical flow.

The beautiful, sparse production of the haunting ballad Now That You're Gone is delivered with a real gutsy, shimmering performance from its star that merely compliments the atmospheric arrangements.

The riotously funky Give Up stands up as the one of the very best of the album tracks. Diana just lets her hair down on this number and truly belts this out with all her mighty heart and soul. This captures one of Diana's strongest performance on records!

The diana project became a landmark in her career when released in 1980.It is her biggest solo album to date. Red hot, sassy, riotously funky packed with roller-coaster musical arrangements, this quite possibly is her best studio album yet.

The original seesions of the diana album, as remixed by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, were less polished and improvised with Diana delivering much more relaxed intepretations. These sessions emerge surprsingly as nearly just as enjoyable. Even if they had made their way out on to the final cut of the album they undoubtedly would have enjoyed just as much blockbuster success as the versions we all love and know today.

Also included on the diana Deluxe Edition is another disc devoted to her solo period at Motown between 1976-1979 before diana had exploded into record stores in 1980. I'd love to have seen (being something of an admitedly fanatical Diana Ross fan) some other tracks added on to this disc which deserve a mention here: You're Good My Child, One Love In A Lifetime, Ain't Nothing But A Maybe (all of which appear on the excellent, critically acclaimed, cross-Atlantic Top 5 smash hit album, Diana Ross (1976) ), Gettin' Ready For Love, You Got It, All Night Lover (all featured on another fabulous La Ross studio album, Baby It's Me (1977), Once In The Morning and It's My House (both of which can be found on one of her all-time greatest recording triumphs, The Boss (1979) ). However the tracks that do pop up on disc 2 are certainly nothing to complain about and hosts some great rarities that will please the keen fan of Diana Ross.

The extended alternate version of Love Hangover surprisingly manages to surpass even the dynamic original, which had topped both the Pop and R&B charts in mid 1976 and had revitalised Dianas then somewhat flagging recording career. Black music was steering in different directions and at that time, Dianas recording career had, in some aspects, lost course. That all changed when this innovative, compelling R&B/Disco/Soul classic, that was way ahead of its time, was released and saw Diana gain a whole new generation of fans. Dianas rich and spontaneous performance is thrilling and the alternate version features her complete vocal performance (a lot of which was edited out on the trimmed down commercial release of the single). The slow, sultry throb and Dianas sensual performance at the beginning of the track makes way for an effective shift in direction tempo-wise where it catapults half way through into jamming R&B/Disco music with Diana letting rip with a purely improvised performance. Never had she sounded so adventurous on record before. This alternate version, that clocks in at over ten minutes long is fantastically funky and extremely infectious! A worthwhile inclusion on this disc as it had previoulsy been unreleased commercially.

The red hot Funk-Disco sounds of Your Love Is So Good For Me, which was produced by Richard Perry, is featured on this disc in its original 12 inch version. Your Love Is So Good For Me, which captures a strong, red blooded performance from Diana in definitive disco diva mode, had been released as a single from Baby It's Me (1977) in February 1978. Whilst Your Love Is So Good For Me only got as far as just a disappointing No.49 on the main U.S Pop Charts, it bounced up to No.15 on the Disco Club Play Listings whilst the 12 inch version featured here climbed its way to No.30 on the Disco Club Play listings.

Top Of The World was a vibrant, upbeat, totally feel-good number with Diana delivering an angelic, rather Supremes-like performance. Top Of The World, written by Tom Snow, is a stellar recording that was again taken from the Baby It's Me album of 1977. It was co-listed with Your Love Is So Good For Me which had made its way onto the Disco Club Play listings. It had also been lifted as a single in Britain but surprisingly it flopped.

The startling Lovin' Livin And Givin' was a hypnotic, trancey, spiralling Disco number. Diana breathed fire and soul into this adventurous offering with her unusually earthy delivery. Lovin' Livin And Givin first appeared on the rather hodge-podge production of her 1978 studio album, Ross. It jumped straight up to No.35 on the Disco Club Play listings. In the U.K Lovin' Livin And Givin' stalled at a disappointing No.54 on the Pop charts, most likely down to some questionably poor promotion for the single. An alternate mix of Lovin' Livin' And Givin', which can be found on Diana Ross - The Motown Anthology (2001) was used as part of the soundtrack to the movie, Thank God It's Friday, which starred disco legend, Donna Summer.

The bouncy What You Gave Me lacks the dynamics of Lovin' Livin' And Givin' (which it was co-listed with) though is engaging enough. Written by two of Diana Ross' best collaborators, Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, What You Gave Me is featured here in its full, sparkling 12 inch version. The edited single release failed to make even a mere blip on the U.S Hot 100.

You Were The One, written by Greg Wright, was another slick, polished R&B/Disco number that had also been used as part of the track line up for the Ross (1978) album. More laid back than the other Disco outings on here but it still works well in its own way when judged on its own merits.

The fun Diana Ross And The Supremes Medley Of Hits contains some of Diana Ross' all-time greatest classics in one long mega mix. The songs included in abbreviated medley form are Stop! In The Name Of Love (U.S No.1), Back In My Arms Again (U.S No.1), Come See About Me (U.S No.1), Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart (U.S No.9), Where Did Our Love Go (U.S No.1) and Baby Love (U.S No.1). These are just a small handful of some of the most terrific and outstanding Pop/Soul songs ever made and were all written and produced by those masterminds of Motown, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, known simply as Holland-Dozier-Holland or H-D-H. This utterly genius trio assisted in helping create and define what was commonly referred to in the 1960's as The Motown Sound - the sound of young America. H-D-H were also instrumental in helping develop a focus, sound and identity for Diana Ross And The Supremes by writing and producing for them some of the most remarkable recordings in the history of Pop and Soul music. In this stomping medley of Supremes hits, a Disco beat is added to give the songs more of a contemporary setting though when listening to this today it does inevitably sound very dated. However it remains a guaranteed dance floor filler.

The rip-roaring 12 inch re-edit combining No One Gets The Prize and The Boss together is a real treasure. No One Gets The Prize had literally blasted on to the Disco scene becoming an instant club hit. Never before had Diana Ross sounded so pure and soulful. Her soft, silky voice brims with total self-assurance, cutting through the hard-driving, pounding musical arrangements. No One Gets The prize is an out and out Disco/R&B classic despite surprisingly never becoming a major chart hit on the mainstream charts.

Anyone who has any qualms about Diana Ross not being a soulful singer or not sounding black enough (what is that supposed to mean anyway?) will eat humble pie on just one listen of her impressively strong, acrobatic performance on the raging Disco masterpiece, The Boss. She begins the song in a breathy, seamless sound and then effectively alters vocal pitch as the second verse builds to the chrous. Diana smartly moves along the sharp grooves and pumping, pulsating rhythms. The Boss, like No One Gets The Prize, enjoyed mammoth club success though disappointingly only reached No.19 on the U.S Hot 100, despite being one of her all-time classics. It actually went all the way to No.1 on the Disco Club Play listings (as did The Boss album of 1979).

Diana the dynamic disco diva gets on down into boogie Wonderland again on the Funk-ridden, sexually charged, I Ain't Been Licked. Her primal vocal delivery shifts direction as she begins the song sounding a little vulnreable but then rises with the exalting musical arrangements to shining self-assurance. Her voice is charged with fire and pure soul on I Ain't Been Licked, dripping with real gutsy emotion. Its incredibly hard to believe this never became an actual hit.

Fire Don't Burn saw Diana reunited with the famous Holland brothers, Brian and Eddie who had, along with Lamont Dozier, written and produced the majority of chart-toppers Diana Ross enjoyed in the 1960's as lead singer of The Supremes, who remain the worlds biggest female vocal group of all time. Sadly they seemed to have been past their artistic prime when they came up with this late 70's Disco number. Fire Don't Burn is certainly very catchy and grows on you after a few listens but this blatant attempt at updating and contemporising her style and sound with The Supremes makes it nothing more than just pleasant filler material, especially as Diana was wanting to progress as a solo artist rather than re-hash a sound she had almost ten years before.

We Can Never Light That Old Flame Again was a more enjoyable collaboration with Brian and Eddie Holland as well as a contribution from Mack David. originally intended for the Ross (1978) album, it was eventually issued as single years later in July of 1982. Rather surprisingly it sank without trace! Even so, We Can Never Light That Old Flame Again is another rhythmically exciting Disco number that has a lot of spark and a tremendous vocal performance from Diana.

You Build Me Up To Tear Me Down was yet another collaboration with Brian and Eddie Holland along with Ron Miller. It's a slow, soft-Funk number that is again pretty standard, routine material though is engaging enough. This was also another recording to have found itself edged out and canned from the Ross (1978) album.

Finally disc 2 draws to a close with the super-funky, Sweet Summertime Lovon' which captures an amazing performance from La Ross who races along the frantic orchestrations to maximum effect, oozing soul. Produced by Hal Davis, Sweet Summertime Lovin' was originally mixed for inclusion on the Ross (1978) album and then was remixed again in 1981 for inclusion on the cancelled Diana Ross album, Revelations. A thoroughly fantastic track that fittingly ends a thoroughly fantastic album.

The diana Deluxe Edition is a double album that you will literally want to play over and over and over again. Instantly memroable, highly contagious, burning with passion and energy with superbly crafted and complex musical arrangements and sassy, streetwise and soulful performances from the divine Diana Ross. diana Deluxe Edition is an essential and definitive Diana Ross album that any lover of urban Soul/R&B/Disco music will lap up!

Ian Phillips

July 2006

Diana Ross' disco years.......2006-07-03

Everybody loves the album "diana" because it's produced by Edwards & Rodgers (Chic), it was a big hit and it features "Upside down" But, is this album really Diana Ross' best?
This new edition of "diana" is divided in three parts. First, we have the original album, a rather short one (34 minutes) with eight songs. It's without a doubt a Chic Organization product, and that's not really a compliment: lyrics are dull and musical lines repetitives. Sometimes it's even boring; the worst song is "Have fun (again)": nobody's having fun here and everybody's yawning, even the singer. I don't understand why so many people like so much Edwards & Rodgers; some of their hits are, it's true, excellent but if we listen to all they've done, their music is unimaginative and tedious. "diana" would be a collection of empty, mechanical and childish songs without the singer's personnality, the excellent "Upside down" and "Now that you're gone" (the only one with a little soul).
The second part of the cd features the same eight songs but in their original mix, the one intended by Chic. As a Diana Ross fan, I was waiting for this eagerly. And it's a true nightmare! Even more boring than the mix we all know, it's raw like a demo and Ross doesn't sing well: in "Upside down" we can hear a frightening "I'm awa-a-a-re" when the second minute begins, "Have fun (again)" in its Chic mix is worse than in the Motown mix, "My old piano" is too long and "Now that you're gone" ends abruptly. "Tenderness" is maybe the only good song in the Chic mix. The Chic mix is interesting in an archeological way but it's neither pleasant nor fun to listen to.
Nevertheless, the third part of this set (the second cd), is worth the purchase; I bought this set three years ago and the second cd is the only one I listen to now. It features 13 disco songs, rare or unreleased. The first one is the Disconet remix of "Love hangover"; it has more lyrics than the usual version, the strings at the very beginning have disapperead and the last 2 minutes 30 are repeated twice. The only problem with this song is a poor sound quality. Then, we have "Your love is so good for me" (1977) and "What you gave me" (1978) in their 12" incarnation. The medley "No one gets the prize/The boss" (1979) is an edit with the 12" version of "The boss". "I ain't been licked" from 1979 is available for the first time in a longer version (more or less an unedited one rather than a real 12" remix). "Lovin, livin' and givin'" and "You were the one" (1978) are making their debut on a cd; both are lp versions, like 1977 "Top of the world". Finally we have four non-lp tracks: "We can never light that old flame again" in its original mix and three unreleased songs intended for the 1978 album ("Fire don't burn", the excellent "You build me up to tear me down" and "Sweet summertime livin'"). All of this gems are a pure bliss for the fan. The only song on this cd that is truly awful is the Supremes discofied medley.
As usual with Motown the booklet is very complete and interesting.

Love is called my old piano.......2005-11-05

What a revelation ... to learn that this classic album originally began on a different path. Chic worked with Diana Ross on this difficult project, but after they completed it, they sent it off to Mowtown for approval. Mowtown considered that the package didn't have enough zing in it to make it a commercial success. So they re-worked all the songs, and put more punch into them.

In 2003, Mowtown decided to re-release this album and include the original unheard Chic mix as well. Thankyou for that. The original Chic mix is very interesting to listen to ... it is more raw and on some occassions better than what we are familiar with from the commercial release. Probably the biggest surprise to your ears will be "My Old Piano". While I love the commercial version, I have grown to love the raw Chic mix simply because there is more piano playing throughout, particularly near the end. "I'm Coming Out" is definitely interesting too, but on this occassion, I prefer the commercial version. "Upside Down" is a tough one, the Chic mix is quite good too, I'll call that one a draw. "Tenderness" is possibly the only song where the differences between commercial and ther Chic mix are quite hard to detect.

This special edition of the classic DIANA album also comes with a bonus CD containing extended versions of songs, mostly largely unknown songs. There is an interesting 10 minute version of the classic "Love Hangover" on this CD which is arguably the best thing.

Overall, "DIANA" is a true Mowtown classic which just got better by the inclusion of the Chic mix. If you have never heard this mix, your ears are in for a bit of a shock and a surprise.

Diva 'diana' Delux Disk: Definitive Dance Dianamite!.......2005-10-13

Ross fans almost gave up hope of ever laying to rest one of the biggest mysteries of her career: why did she/Motown/Russ Terrana et all decide to alter the Chic produced "diana" release? Now with this dual disk, we not only get to compare both versions in their remastered form, we get a history lession of Diana's forays into the dance/disco genre. And we get to decide the issue for ourselves.
"diana" has been nearly universally regarded by the elite music critics (and many fans as well) as her most critically acclaimed endevor. This recognition accompanies the fact that it was her most commercially successful compilation of original material as well. Does this suggest that artistic achievement and commercial viability go hand in glove? Maybe. After all the years of overt and unfair critism, Miss Ross FINALLY managed to please two divergent groups-her biggest fans, those to whom she owed her chart popularity, and the dismissive critics , who disparaged her vocal and artistic abilities from the moment "Where Did Our Love Go" hit the airways.
That said, the comparison of the competing versions, in my opinion, is a draw. It is not that rare that we get to hear different versions of the same material Motown recorded on its artists. The Supremes in particular were known to be made to record multiple versions of the same songs. The jewel we recieve here is a whole cohesive set of material given competing treatments. The draw results from the fact that both versions survive on their own artistic merits as a whole package. And either one of them would have been an outstanding commercial blockbuster- due to the state of pop music at the time of its release.
1979-80 was a crossroads in pop music. The backlash against 5+ years of Disco was mounting steadily. Punk awaited its turn in the wings, while Rock itself was reeling as a result of the overwhelming sucess of Disco. Donna Summer had managed to bring rock influences to disco with the "Bad Girls" set; Chic also made major contributions in the same vein. The confluence of these events almost put mainstream rock out to pasture.
How fitting, then, that Diana Ross and Chic, in the form of the "diana" set, managed to find the nexus for rock, funk, and the Disco/Dance music genres- a confluence whose influence is still being felt in all pop/rock/dance/hip-hop today.
So the "diana" set can be cosidered the culmination of the integration of these various musical forms, as well as the springboard for what was to come musically in years hence.
How appropriate, then, is it for Motown, in releasing this digitized CD, to include the musical references that preceded it, and influenced its formulation.
Start with "The Supremes Hits Medley". Perhaps these songs as compiled together were the inspiration for all the extended dance mixes to come. Its glue is the one of the best dance songs ever, maybe even the first REAL disco/Dance song- "Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart". Try standing still hearing that one. (On a personal note, I can remember a DJ in DC doing a primitive mix of these Supremes' hits in 1974, way before Gloria Gaynor released the "Never Can Say Goodbye" set.)
A natural progression followed in 1975 with the release of "Love Hangover". Two years into the Disco movement, this song was also a bridge, as no established artist in any genre had yet ventured there. Diana was the first. Look who followed- The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Cher, and many of her Motown stablemates. The "Baby Its Me" set and the "Ross" 77-78 set is represented here as well.
The maturation process culminated in Diana's most soaring vocal effort to that time-"The Boss", resulting in the afformentioned tune, as well as "No One Gets The Prize", and the quintessional Diana Ross anthem-"I Ain't Been Licked Yet".
All of which led to "diana". She didn't get the Grammy or a number one on the Bilboard charts. But she finally got the respect, coupled with the commercial sucess, that she so richly deserved. She was able to really "Have Fun"-AGAIN.

Revisit DIANA!.......2005-07-13

This collaborative endevour between Ross/Edwards/Rodgers resulted in one of most successful R&B albums of 1980, and one of the best within Diana's carrer. The seductive grooves of "Upside Down", the celebratory "I'm Coming Out", to the confessional "Friend to Friend", DIANA is an amalgamation of sultry vocals, melodic ballads and slick dance numbers. This two-disc set delievers the original album re-mastered, along with the unreleased "rejected mix" back to back on disc one. Disc Two would definately be of interest to collectors: compiling tracks from previous Diana albums (BABY IT'S ME, SELF-TITLED [1976]ROSS [1978]), along with some unreleased cuts.

Rap Music:

1. Body of Song
2. Boogie Nights: Music From The Original Motion Picture [Soundtrack]
3. Burning in the Sun
4. Canciones de Mi Padre
5. Catch Without Arms
6. Century Ends
7. Christmas Album [Limited Edition]
8. Close to the Edge [Original recording remastered]
9. Coles Corner
10. Dragon

Rap Music

rap music

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