The Boss [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

One of Diana Ross' very best albums! Produced by the talented team of Nicholas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, this revived Ross' career after the poor sales of albums, BABY ITS ME (1977) and ROSS (1978) (though these are great recordings anyway). Consistently very good throughout though the real notable tracks are the incredibly funky, NO ONE GETS THE PRIZE, the truly magnificent title track, THE BOSS (one of Ross' finest classics), ONCE IN THE MORNING and IT'S MY HOUSE. Diana Ross is vocally excellent throughout with her voice being charged with high emotion and energy. This album on the whole is thoroughly excellent with it being it soulful, vibrant and of course - as always with Ross - very sophisticated. The mixture of funk, disco and soul made this the success it became and deserved. This is now something of a landmark in Diana Ross' career and on hearing this, you will easily understand why. Other great tracks include the fabulously funky, I AIN'T BEEN LICKED, the sultry ballard, ALL FOR ONE, where Ross' vocals are strong and uplifting, the beautiful, flowing ballard, SPARKLE and the triumphant I'M IN THE WORLD. A CLASSIC!

Diana Ross had often been over-looked by critics as an important albums act which really is unjustified when you take into consideration the passion she conveys in her work which was always to a thorough high standard in the 1970's. Albums such as Diana Ross (1970), Surrender (1971),Lady Sings The Blues Origanal Motion Picture Soundtrack (1972), Touch Me In The Morning (1973), Diana Ross (1976) and Baby It's Me (1977) are pure examples of the quality and high standard of work she maintained in the 1970's. But ultimatley she came up with her most solid set at the end of the decade in 1979 with the fabulous, The Boss album.

Ashford and Simpson always knew how to make great records for Diana Ross and you could argue that they were the most fully-formed productions Diana ever worked with. She collaborated with the dynamic duo again for The Boss album which spun magical results as had her other colloborations with them on Diana Ross (1970) and Surrendr. The albums opening track, No One Gets The Prize is a pure funk-driven masterpiece. Never before had Diana sounded so confident and self-assured as she does on this superb recording. It also captures one of her strongest performances on record where she neatly surfboards along the complex arrangements. No One Gets The Prize was lifted as single in the U.K where it surprisingly faltered within the Top 60 despite having all the fire and potential to go much higher (no.1 infact).

Sensational and totally magnificent was another riotously funky number, I Ain't Been Licked which had strong commercial potential and Diana delivers this number remarkably powerfully more in the style of Aretha Franklin. Though hot and infectious it remained hidden away on this album. All For One is a schmaltzy though effective and enduring ballad where Dianas razor sharp delivery effectivley cuts through the musical arrangements

Anyone who has ever doubted Dianas vocal style should take a listen to her acrobatic performance on the title track, The Boss - a pure masterpiece. She sings the song with such verve, style and conviction and sounds absolutly spectacular in the process. The Boss was lifted as a single where it climbed to No.40 on the U.K charts and peaked at No.19 on the U.S BillBoard charts. Continuing in the mood of an earlier classic, Love Hagover. was the hypnotic disco track, Once In The Morning - a vibrant. exciting disco track, containing vast undertones of hot, pulsating funk. Dianas sexually charged delivery is equally effective.

Seemingly screaming out about her newly found independence was the superb, It's My House. Diana had freed herself from the clutches of Motown boss and one time lover, Berry Gordy and had recently divorced from her first husband, Robert Silberstein. Songs like It's My House was all about the new independent side to her which hadn't really surfaced until the release of this album. Its My House was issued as a single and cracked the U.K Top 40 charts.

The album begins winding down with an exotic ballad, Sparkle. Its beautiful, flowing rhythm, containing an effective saxophone interlude after the bridge of the song and too vast effect, contains a sugary but adorable performance from Diana. Finally another song which was seemingly a declaration of her independence was the showbizzy, I'm In The World to which she performs beautifully with style and finesse rounding The Boss album off as an unforgetable masterpiece through and through.

The Boss was rapidly certified Gold by the RIAA.

"The Boss" was an album that revived Diana Ross' fortunes on both sides of the Atlantic, and it's unlike any other that the Diva has recorded throughout her long career.

Unbeknown to some, the album was a musical biography of Diana's life at that particular time. Ashford & Simpson, more than any other producers (with the exception of Nile Rogers/Bernard Edwards) knew how to bring out the best of Diana's talents; they knew how to capitalize on her dramatic vocal range and the results were always outstanding.

Diana sat down with them and talked about her life and her problems, and the material from the album was formed from here. This explains why Diana sounded so alive and vibrant.

The album kicks off with "No One Gets The Prize" - boy, that an introduction! Diana's voice was so strong and self assured that it literally blew me away the first time I heard it. I also love the horn section on this classic disco track.

"I Ain't Been Licked" is a song of defiance and survival.
"All For One" is the first ballad about family, unity and pulling together.
"The Boss" - an instant Ross classic, and an inspired performance.
"Once In The Morning" - pure disco. It may sound a tad passé by today's standards, but that's ok.
"It's My House" - a gorgeous, mid tempo delight that reminds me of summer. The 12" version is superb - all 6.07 minutes of it! It sounds so good loud!
"Sparkle" - a lovely ballad
"I'm In The World" - a heart-felt performance by Diana that's quite moving.

The Boss is an album that every Ross fan should have in their collection. For those who aren't die hard fans, I would say 'give it a try' as you'll be pleasantly surprised.