Diana Ross Music:

		List Price: $29.98		Label: Motown Salesrank: 81531 Released: July 29, 2003
		Our Price: $15.99
		Used Price: $8.49
		Media: Audio CD

Diana (Deluxe Edition) Reviews:
A Masterpiece made even better! Another great release to discover!
2009-08-15 - These 2CD Deluxe Editions released by Universal Music are definitely setting the standard by which all re-released CDs are measured. I own several of these editions and every one of them leaves me amazed by the sheer amount of goodies they give us. Case in question: Diana Ross' 1980 album DIANA.

This beautiful album produced by legendary producers Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers (responsible for CHIC and SISTER SLEDGE and many other smash acts) comes packed with an amazing Diana Ross singing a string of classic hits like I'M COMING OUT, UPSIDE DOWN, MY OLD PIANO... and in every song she is a powerhouse singer! - everything on this album is right!

CD1 comes with TWO versions of the album: the released version AND the original mix made by the producers. The story goes Motown did not like the the mix that was delivered to them, so they hired another mixer to redo the whole album (which ended up being released). Here, for the first time, we can hear BOTH mixes and it is surprising because they really are very different. I prefer the official one... but the original mixes do have their magic: TENDERNESS, for example, was much longer originally and had a beautiful instrumental ending. FRIEND TO FRIEND had a piano on the background... hear them all and decide for yourself!

The second CD opens with a bang: LOVE HANGOVER's 10-minute alternative mix that circulated for years in vinyl. It comes with different vocals and many not-so-subtle changes that makes is a delight to listen to and a great discovery. After that, there are several 12'' versions of songs coupled with some unreleased songs.

This edition also comes with a beautiful booklet detailing the story of this album. I gives us great insides on the making of it.

This edition of DIANA is an amazing thing... and I'm glad I bought it.
A classic!

Improving on one of the landmark and timeless albums of the 80's
2009-02-21 - Though the original album, "Diana," is approaching the three-decades-old mark, it still holds up as one of the definitive albums of its era as well as one of the best ever released by the Detroit-born Ross. Produced by hitmakers Bernard Edwards and Niles Rodgers of Chic fame, the album is chock-full of danceable tunes, showcasing Miss Ross's unique vocals.

This deluxe edition is, most definitely, just that: reproduces and remasters the original, adding a second helping of the album's songs with additional production, alternate arrangements, and enhanced vocals. Some of the cuts are slightly longer and more "Chic-driven," which makes them sound "newer" than they did back in 1980.

The second disc recycles some dance tracks from other Ross releases, along with four previously unreleased songs that fit into the dance-frame mold. Chief among these cuts are a driving "Love Hangover" remix, "Your Love is So Good to Me," "Top of the World," "What You Gave Me," and "Medley of Hits," homage to Ross's "supreme" days.

Both albums are testaments to Ross's longevity as a major star and the exceptional production values of all parties concerned.

This is one major JAM in the history of recorded music.

diana ross
2009-01-09 - what can i say diana is the BOSS

although on this cd they really could have done
without the 2 versions on side one
and added other songs such as swept away etc...
but all in all i still love the whole cd.

michael


Amazing Deluxe Edition of a Classic
2008-09-21 - Diana Ross has had a very lengthy career - decades - and she has been a success at many different genres of music. Diana is one of the artists that was able to show that disco could be quality music. She managed to shine here larger than she had at any point in her solo career since the Supremes.

She started the disco venture with THE BOSS which was a big success and then came DIANA her musical tour de force. Her vocal performance on all 8 tracks is exemplary and again - she gave disco a good name. Who can forget UPSIDE DOWN and I'M COMING OUT the biggest hits here but there are also other standouts. FRIEND TO FRIEND is an amazing ballad and HAVE FUN is a great, imaginative uptempo number. All the tracks are a success. What a gift for Diana Ross fans to discover that there were 2 versions of the entire album recorded. The version that was released and a verson produced by Chic, who had a truly origial disco sound.

The first cd contains both versions of DIANA. Both are excellent but there is a certain more carefree approach to the Chic version. I find her vocals strong on both versions and both versions vary enough that to listen to both together is not an overload. I love the entire first cd.

Now to the second cd. All that can be said is WOW. What an amazing bonuc disc of song mixes and unreleased tracks. Over 75 minutes of music. Everything here is a highlight. There are tracks from two Diana Ross albums I am waiting to be released in Deluxe Editions. YOUR LOVE IS SO GOOD FOR ME and TOP OF THE WORLD are both from the album BABY IT'S ME. This is my favorite Diana album and these songs are a treat. LOVIN, LIVIN AND GIVIN, WHAT YOU GAVE ME and YOU WERE THE ONE are all from ROSS my next favorite release from Diana. We also get amazing dance mixes of NO ONE GETS THE PRIZE/THE BOSS and I AIN'T BEEN LICKED. The cd of bonus tracks make this Deluxe Edition even more of a must have for Diana Ross fans plus fans of disco and just plain great music. On a final note, the remastering is excellent.

Have fun again and again!!!
2008-02-15 - In 1980, Motown's first lady decided she needed a new musical direction and sought out the skills of Chic backbone, Nile Rodgers, and Bernard Edwards (who had scored big the previous year with Sister Sledge, and with Chic). The ensuing recording sessions were rather turbulent with Nile & Bernard pushing Diana to give more vocally, and Diana storming off after retorting "Berry (Gordy) never said I sang flat!!". Unhappy with the final results, Diana took the mastertapes and had them remixed without Nile & Bernard's knowledge, and had her vocals re-recorded. The result? The biggest selling album of her career; double platinum (and #2 on Billboard), and a million selling single.

The deluxe edition of "Diana" includes the originally released 8 tracks, as well as the unmixed Nile & Bernard versions on one disc, and extended versions of other hits, and rareties on a second disc. Packed in a rectangular digipak which opens up to reveal the full famous black and white shot of Diana in tight top and jeans, much like the original vinyl did.

The album opens with the #1 million selling single "Upside down" with THAT famous scratchy guitar riff and funky sound. The Nile/Edward version features more subdued vocals and the guitar solo that ends the song is not as fiery as the released version's.

The Nile/Bernard version of "Tenderness" features a new instrumental break with some scratchy guitar and additional vocals, which stretch the song longer than the released version. I quite like this.

The released version of the largely acoustic ballad "Friend to friend" is lighter and much nicer than the Nile/Bernard version.

The choruses on the Nile/Bernard version of "I'm coming out" (her funky declaration of a "new me" which became a gay anthem and a #5 hit) are longer, and it misses the final screamed "I'm coming...OOOUT!!!", sacriledge!!

"Have fun again" is basically the same, though the Nile/Bernard version has more drawn out (almost lazy) vocals, and a longer instrumental break.

The released version of "My old piano" (a UK top 10) is fuller and features a nice piano/guitar duel at the end, while the Nile/Bernard version has a longer, almost jazzier piano/guitar duel.

The released version of "Now that you're gone" (the beautiful ballad of longing and loneliness) wins hands down!!! That scratchy, spare bassline, and pseudo reggae feel. The Nile/bernard version ends abruptly, missing out the lovely piano solo at the end of the released version.

Closing is "Give up", basically the same, but longer, with a new instrumental break.

Basically, the original Nile/Bernard version had longer instrumental breaks, a slightly jazzier/funkier feel, and more subdued vocals. I much prefer the released version, but it's nice to have the Chic version hand in hand as an alternate. Some might prefer the Chic version, and that's the beauty of having both versions here. The remastering is superb, and the production of the album still stands up to music produced today. Everybody, let's have fun again!!