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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revelatory Ross, 26 Jul 2008
Motown writer and producer Deke Richards who played a major role in the Supremes "Love Child" single and album was as he put it, "given the keys to the Rolls Royce of Motown." Along with Hal Davis and Berry Gordy, they masterminded Diana Ross' second solo album originally released in 1970, and only now available in North America in an expanded compact disc format. Worth the wait? You bet!
In the liner notes, Richards recalled Gordy wanting "something different out on Diana yesterday" and although "Everything Is Everything" is somewhat heavy with cover tunes, Ross finds nooks and crannies in familiar songs to weave her magic.
Diana Ross was in her vocal prime at the time of this recording and standout tracks include the Anna Gaye and Marvin Gaye composition "Baby It's Love" featuring alto sax riffs which took place during back-to-back overdub sessions for Marvin's classic "What's Going On," an Aretha Franklin cover, "I Love You (Call Me)," which earned Ross a nomination for Best Female R&B Performance Grammy, and "I'm Still Waiting," which was a huge hit in England, not once, but twice, the second time around with a 1990 remix version featuring a percolating bass line.
Two Lennon/McCartney songs hit the bulls eye as well, and a previously unreleased version of George Harrison's "Something" is included as a bonus. Richards had a future project in mind, "Diana Takes On The Beatles" that never materialized. As an extra bonus, an 1982 "Revelations" remix of "Come Together" is included, but it lacks the punch and vitality of the original session.
Ross offers up a commanding performance of the Bacharach/David standard "(They Long To Be) Close To You," but it's the previously unreleased bonus tracks, "Wish I Knew" and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?" that stand out.
Once again Hip-O Select has done a masterful job dusting off a classic recording adding bonus tracks, with informative notes and previously unpublished photos. Diana Ross is one of those rare recording artists who deserves to have all her solo Motown albums released in CD format. Hopefully "Surrender" and "Baby It's Me" are due for re-release in the near future.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's been a long time., 5 Jun 2008
Although not regarded as one of Ross' finest albums, it has a mighty nostalgic kick for me as it was the first album I ever owned, and was bought for me by my grandmother for my 16th birthday in December 1971. I had previously bought the single I'm Still Waiting earlier in the year as it rocketed to #1 in the UK charts. It was the first single I ever bought with my own pocket money.
For me, Everything Is Everything is just that, Everything. I was captivated by the album, from the opening bars of My Place to the closing notes of Ross' cover of Bacharach's (They Long To Be) Close To You, and it would captivate me for many years until I lent it to an old girl friend who left it on the window sill in the hot summer sun of 1978. The result was a very warped and very unplayable record. I was devastated, and despite many attempts to replace the album over the years, it has remained lost to me, until now.
It is with eager anticipation that I await the release of this album, the joy of exploring the album design, the new photos, the album notes, and most of all the songs, particularly the bonus tracks, I can't wait to hear her version of Something, kudos to the team who sought out the tracks and liberated them from the archives for us to hear in all their glory.
As for the old familiar tracks, well, I'll be transported back to 1971 as soon as I sit down to listen, it will be good to hear them all after so many years, as Ross sings "Heaven must have sent you, and I'm not gonna let you go back" I will feel like shouting "Hallelujah" as "Somebody Strike(s) up the band" on what has to be Motown's longest, and most tongue twisting titles ever in "Doobedoodn Doobee Doobedoodn Doobee Doobedoodn doo". This really has been The Long And Winding Road to get this album back in my collection. I can't wait.
So, What's next? Come in from the rain Baby It's Me?
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Diana's Second Solo Album, 29 May 2008
Following hot on the heals of 'Let The Music Play' a double album of unreleased Diana Ross & The Supremes material, comes this Hip-o-select release of the second solo album from Diana Ross 'Everything Is Everything'.
Wheras her first and third album were written and produced by Nick Ashford and Val Simpson, this one was more of a rat-bag collection. I'm not saying it is bad, each song is at least passable, but it doesn't hang together too well as an album. It was rush-released towards the end of 1970 to cash in on the success of the first album.
There are some brilliant tracks. 'I'm Still Waiting' was debuted on here. Tony Blackburn picked up the song and kept playing it until they released it as a single. It shot to No 1 in the UK. When Diana Ross was busy in production of 'Lady Sings The Blues', the British market was hungry for releases, so Doobe Dood(etc!) was released and made the upper reaches of our charts. It might have been even bigger, but people were embarassed to go in shops and say the title.
Diana's version of Aretha Franklin's 'I Love You Call Me' was Grammy nominated. No not the original, this version, no kidding. I would say it holds up well to the original, but I know some soul fans who would blanche at the thought of it!
The covers of the Beatles songs, and 'They Long To Be Close To You' are also noteworthy. Tracks 12 to 18 are bonus tracks, including George Harrison's 'Something', and the Phil Chil remix of 'I'm Still Waiting', which charted here in 1990.
I was considering giving this only four stars, but I know some of you guys would never forgive me. This is the last time that Diana Ross smiled on an album cover. Considering that she has the most beautiful smile in the world, that alone makes it worth five stars! The bonus tracks and tantalising snippets of studio chat seal the deal, so it is top marks!
This one and the above mentioned Diana Ross & The Supremes release, has satisfied for a while, my demand for new product from Motown's top Diva.
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~ Diana Ross
~ Diana Ross
![Let the Music Play: Supreme Rarities 1960 - 1969 [Us Import]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4189uAsVfWL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
~ Diana Ross
~ The Supremes
