2000 has surely been a year Diana Ross would like to forget. The maelstrom of overwhelmingly negative publicity surrounding her ill-fated "Return to Love" tour has sadly blinded many to the fact that, sensational newspaper headlines aside, Miss Ross is one of the true pop icons of the twentieth century.

Fortunately, listeners have "The Best of Diana Ross: The Millennium Collection" to remind themselves of the underrated impact the diva has had on popular music and culture. As part of Universal's successful, budget-priced "millennium" series, the offering here is rather skimpy (11 songs, with none from Ross' post-1981 output) but boasts superior sound quality, as well as what constitutes Ross' best-known work.

Ross' first solo single, the sappy-but-anthemic "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's HAnd)," is the only song included in its mono mix. Previous collections featuring the mono version have sounded muddy and distorted; fortunately, the sound here is crisp and clear. Even better is the excellent stereo edit of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," with a just-right amount of reverb making Diana's dramatic yet controlled recitations all the more effective.

"Touch Me in the Morning" has rarely been given a decent remastering job, but this version is by far the best: and it's the full-length, 3 minute 48 second mix, to boot. Likewise, "Love Hangover" has never sounded so full and lush--although it's included in its highly-truncated single edit.

Somewhat bewilderingly, this pattern of juxtaposing single edits with long versions continues with the rest of the cd--but not necessarily in the manner expected. For instance, the times listed on the CD sleeve for "Remember Me," "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out" indicate the short, single edits, while the actual tracks are the full-length album versions.

But no matter; what IS included sounds great--all the better to appreciate Ross' delicate phrasing and crystalline enunciation. Truly, what modern-day diva could read the spoken passages of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" so eloquently, so precisely? And the soaring "It's My Turn" and searing "Remember Me" are sufficient argument against those who claim that Ross' voice lacks power or range. (See also those acrobatic whoops and hollers on "The Boss.")

Diana Ross made excellent music before 1970 (as lead singer of the Supremes), and has continued to release quality material after 1981. But for a concentrated dose of the vocalist at her glamorous height, coming into her own as a sophisticated song stylist, look no further. This is as good as soulful pop can get.

Being a die-hard Ross fan, there's nothing on this CD I haven't heard. Although I was surprised that they included both the 3:48 mix of Touch Me in the Morning (that overdub at the end is great), and the album version of Remember Me (I love that part at the end where she screams almost tearfully, "Don't forget me darlin!"). My only complaint is the booklet insert. Looking at the track times implies that all the tracks are the edited single versions. That's not even half-true. The only single versions are "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (in a breathtaking STEREO mix!), and "Love Hangover" (whose single version has been played to death, but I think stinks compared to the album version). If you're on a budget, or new to Ross, get this CD. It'll be great for your collection. Or, if you've got the money to burn, get it just for the full mix of "Touch Me .." and the stereo mix of "Ain't No Mountain ..". Otherwise, skip it. Nothing new.

Diana Ross is hands down a legendary artist. Her songs are classic; timeless. Her voice is instantly recognizable around the world, and her influence on those that followed her is incalculable. This CD celebrates 11 of her signature solo hits. Every single track on this collection has not only a place in music history, but a place in the hearts of the millions who fell in love with them. Even today's younger generation can claim these tunes their own, as songs like "I'm Coming Out," "Love Hangover," "Upside Down," and "Endless Love" have been re-energized in the recordings of dozens of today's biggest pop stars. "Reach Out And Touch," "Do You Know Where You're Going To," and "It's My Turn" have been heralded as some of the most timeless and successfully inspirational masterpieces of all time. And songs like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Remember Me," "Touch Me In The Morning," and "The Boss" have provided today's younger soul singers with a shining example of the importance of passion in music. They have become classics- not only for the millions who fell in and out of love to them years ago, but to the newest generation of music lovers who are falling in and out of love to them now in the new millenium. A must-have.

This is a nice if skimpy compilation, which is true of most of the "Millenium" series of releases. There is no arguing about the music - this is Diana Ross at her best! Unfortunately, we are given the short single versions of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Love Hangover", "Upside Down", and "I'm Coming Out." "Reach Out and Touch" is in a mono version - the stereo mix would have been preferable. I will say, though, that the mix of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a rare stereo edit with lots of reverb (okay, enough of the technical talk! ). Perhaps, "The Ultimate Collection" would be a better choice, which adds several Supremes cuts plus "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", "Chain Reaction", and "Missing You" from her RCA years and some great songs recorded in the 90s when she returned to Motown. I can not deny - the music is still "Supreme!"

This set includes pretty much all of her biggest hits through-out the 70's and into the early 80's. Many of these hit #1 including her debut single "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," the ballads "Touch Me In the Morning," and "Do You Know Where You're Going To" and then her disco smashes "Love Hangover" and "Upside Down." And of course her massive hit duet "Endless Love" with Lionel Richie is added in. "I'm Coming Out" is also here. This is a great collection to see what Diana Ross was all about.