Usually it takes 60 years to get to a diamond anniversary, but what's a few years early to celebrate Diana Ross! The R&B legend will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards on November 19, and a new digital compilation will be released that weekend (Friday, November 17) to get the celebration started.
Diamond Diana: The Legacy Collection is a breezy 15-track non-chronological trip through Miss Ross' unprecedented career. Focusing primarily on her solo years, the set does feature one track with The Supremes ("You Can't Hurry Love," one of a stunning dozen American No. 1 hits the group logged in their career) amid an offering of her greatest singles from the '70s, '80s and beyond. Highlights include five of her six No. 1 singles ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Touch Me In The Morning," "Love Hangover," "Upside Down" and "Endless Love," her Oscar-nominated duet with fellow Motown hitmaker Lionel Richie); some all-time dance favorites, including "The Boss" and "I'm Coming Out" (from her touchstone diana, written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of CHIC); and latter day tracks covering her time at RCA (a Top 10 cover of "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"), her return to Motown (the 1995 No. 1 dance hit "Take Me Higher") and her most recent album of new recordings, 2006's I Love You ("More Today Than Yesterday").
For hardcore collectors, there's one bonus track: a new club remix of her showstopping solo rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Even with some famous hits omitted ("Do You Know Where You're Going To?"), It's a fine entry for a new fan, and perhaps a nice follow-up listen after you've checked out Second Disc/Real Gone's new expansion of The Supremes' Merry Christmas.
Diamond Diana's track list can be seen below, along with a pre-order link.
Diamond Diana: The Legacy Collection (Motown/UMe, 2017)
- I'm Coming Out (7" Edit)
- More Today Than Yesterday
- The Boss
- It's My House
- Endless Love (Duet with Lionel Richie)
- Upside Down (Edit)
- You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
- Touch Me In The Morning
- Love Hangover (7" Edit)
- Take Me Higher
- It's My Turn
- Why Do Fools Fall In Love
- Ain't No Mountain High Enough (7" Edit)
- Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)
- Ain't No Mountain High Enough (The ANMHE 'Diamond Diana' Remix)
Tracks 1 and 6 from diana (Motown, 1980)
Track 2 from I Love You (EMI/Angel (U.K.), 2006 / EMI/Manhattan (U.S.), 2007)
Tracks 3-4 from The Boss (Motown, 1979)
Track 5 from Endless Love: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Mercury, 1981)
Track 7 from The Supremes A' Go-Go (Motown, 1966)
Track 8 from Touch Me In The Morning (Motown, 1973)
Track 9 from Diana Ross (Motown, 1976)
Track 10 from Take Me Higher (Motown, 1995)
Track 11 from To Love Again (Motown, 1981)
Track 12 from Why Do Fools Fall In Love (RCA, 1981)
Tracks 13-14 from Diana Ross (Motown, 1970)
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