Two Cappuccinos & Diana Ross Please
By Keith Boykin, in music
Tuesday, May 16 2006, 12:40AM
Not to be outdone by Janet Jackson, who recently unveiled a new song on her website, Diana Ross today releases a whole new album exclusively at Starbucks. The music is reportedly a collection of never-before released recordings called "Blue, Ross' 1972 Album of Jazz Standards." According to Ross's publicists, the music was recently discovered in a Motown vault nearly three decades after it was recorded.
I've heard these stories about music that was locked away in a vault somewhere and they always sound suspicious to me. I mean, who locks up the music of a superstar and forgets about it for 30 years? And then there's the cross promotional opportunities. I don't understand the connection between Ms. Ross and Starbucks, but the worldwide coffee empire will be selling the CD at Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada starting today. For five weeks, Starbucks will be the official distributor until the album is widely released on June 20.
Diana Ross's new album is available at Starbucks and online.
Recorded in late 1971 and early 1972, the album was originally expected to be a companion to Lady Sings the Blues, Ross's film that earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Blue was produced, arranged and conducted by Gil Askey, who did the same for the Lady Sings the Blues soundtrack and who had conducted Supremes shows in the past and would conduct Ross' solo shows in the future.
The announcement from Starbucks speculates that the tracks may have been considered too jazzy after her film portrayal of Billie Holiday and a decision may have been made by her record company to return Ross to pop music. In 1973, she recorded "Touch Me in the Morning" which shot to #1 on the charts.
Blue premieres Ross's renditions of "I Loves Ya Porgy," "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes," "He's Funny That Way" and Duke Ellington's "Solitude." Each of these tracks had been recorded during the soundtrack sessions but was left out of the film and off the soundtrack album. The bonus track includes "T'Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do."
Comments conceal
blacklatina
May 16 2006, 1:54AM
Go Ms. Ross....I love her and will ALWAYS be a fan :-)
Julian
May 16 2006, 4:18AM
Recently discovered :)
RP
May 16 2006, 7:40AM
Ms Ross is jus da Boss. Nuthhin but love, guess I gotta buy that $$ coffee today, lol. Good luck on the fund drive!!!
CHARLES
May 16 2006, 10:51AM
Keith, you might be surprised how often things are found in the vaults of record companies. Some of it can be attributed to the high turn over at record labels. Another factor could be the "on to the next.." mentality of the music industry. Donny Hathaway fans got a treat a few years back when some live tracks that Donny recorded were found in the vaults. (I know for a fact that there were many other songs including duets with Roberta Flack that could have gone on that album but weren't released.) I hope they keep mining the vaults because most new music SUCKS! Oh well off to Starbucks for my venti mocha, non-fat milk, no whip and a new Diana Ross cd. Extra Hot.
Andre
May 16 2006, 12:56PM
Picked it up this morning. The arrangements are good and she sounds great. I think this "discovery" has perfect timing and can compete with any of the other much hyped standard-jazz cds out there.
saint james
May 16 2006, 2:40PM
I am in possession of the "Blue" CD. I's a mixed bag; mostly good. There are some weak moments (like when she sings the wrong words to a classic; no excuse for that). The strengths are how pure and clear she sounds. A great buy. 'git it y'all.
chris-leo
May 16 2006, 11:48PM
...just went to the evil empire and picked up my copy. if i start it now, i'll never get to bed, so i'll just have to play it tomorrow.
oh, well. i'll try to be calm about this, but it might not work, and i might have to rip off the wrapper and pop the thing in RIGHT NOW.
...after all it's DDIIIIIYYYAAANNAA FRICKIN' ROSSSSSS!!!!
namaste
May 17 2006, 1:47AM
i can't wait to pick up blue............the boss is just the bomb..and her kids are following in her steps...but all you diana buffs check out.......
dianarossfanclub.net
it is great!!!!!!!...you can see videos not released in the states and tons of other things!
kevin you have always been fair whenit came to diana....but being part of the generation that grew up on her.....you can't deny her majesty......
reachout and touch
namaste
Derrick from Philly
May 19 2006, 10:19AM
Diana Ross singing Blues/Jazz classics.
Well, I was taught if you can't say nothin' nice, don't say nothin' at all. I didn't learn that lesson well. But I have to admit she did help a whole new generation of folks aware of Billie Holiday:THEE greatest Jazz singer, and one of the greatest vocalist since they began recording music. In 1972, when I first heard the real Lady Day (before I saw "Lady Sings The Blues") I said nobody could sing Lady Day's songs like Lady Day. After I saw the movie (5 times) at the Uptown here in North Philly, my opinion hadn't changed. I'll always be grateful to the little skinny gal from Detroit for reminding the world how great Billie Holiday is. I will.
Stanley Hopkins
May 22 2006, 6:32PM
I'm so moved by "BLUE". I needed a vocalist who could just SING to me and I could take in every lyric,every note, every line. Diana Ross is a true song stylist and "BLUE" proves it.
Rickyrod46
May 23 2006, 10:45AM
Stunningly beautiful.....Crystal clear voice, Miss Diana Ross has a gift for interpreting a claasic & making it her own..........Miss Ross Is Back!!!! Cannot wait for September for her new cd....
tim young-L.A.
May 29 2006, 3:08AM
PERFECT!
PGarage
June 14 2006, 12:02AM
Classic! Just picked up BLUE in a Montclair, NJ Starbucks, went to my favorite jazz standard cut, "I Love You Porgy", and was BLOWN AWAY. Talk about a nice, fresh rendition. So what she missed a couple of words in some of the songs, most of the great jazz singers have. Especially when they get wrapped in the passion of the lyrics. I hope Ms. Ross takes this music on tour, start the tour with initimate venues and do a great finale at Carnegie Hall with a Tribute to Billie! Now that would be OFF THE CHAIN!
Grayce Gadson
May 22 2007, 3:54PM
Found this site because I have been fixated on "Can't Hurry Love" performed on Ed Sullivan in 1966, as shown on YouTube. What a performance!!! People who don't know the original 45 think the Ed Sullivan show was lip-synced. Diana was on fire! I can't wait to get to Star Bucks to pick up the latest...
Thanks for loving Diana...
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