Stung by the commercial failure of her hip hop-inflected "Workin' Overtime" (1989), Diana Ross returned in 1991 with "The Force Behind the Power." That album contained some gems, but was waterlogged by tepid, whitewashed pop production. "Take Me Higher" (1995) strikes a polished balance between contemporary soul and the glossy pop drama Ross is best known for. The invigorous title track kicks the collection off with a bubbly, retro-disco groove that is easily Ross' best dance tune of the 1990's. The second track, "If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right," is a radio-friendly R&B groove with an instantly catchy hook. "Keep it Right There" is another fine, sultry R&B number, while "Don't Stop" is a saucy trifle featuring a cute rap interlude by the Boom Brothers. A surprisingly fresh cover of "I Will Survive" seems particularly resonant for this industry veteran. The ballads, however, are where Ross really shines. The shimmering "Voice of the Heart" contains a lovely, glistening vocal. The gentle Latin flourishes on "I Never Loved a Man Before" create a smooth, sexy ambience. The excellent "Gone" has Ross singing in a throaty lower register, and masterfully handling a wordy mouthful of lyrics. Brenda Russell contributes the anthemic "Let Somebody Know," and while the sentiments of "Only Love Can Conquer All" veer close to hokum, Ross' sincere, strong performance makes it sound convincing. The standout performance is "I Thought That We Were Still in Love," set against a quiet, jazzy backdrop. Ross sings with a delicacy and nuance that has been missing from her most recent work, and her thoroughly involved reading of the lyric reminds us that she is an Oscar-nominated actress as well. The production is uniformly sophisticated and slick; it's a credit to Ross and her team that despite four separate producers (Narada Michael Walden; Nick Martinelli; Brenda Russell; and Jon-Jon), the album still creates a cohesive atmosphere and flow. Ross is still in top form here, and has produced what is easily her most enjoyable album of the decade.

Being a long time Diana Ross fan, it is a great pleasure to hear her return to the kind of songs she does best: love ballads (Voice of the Heart, Let Somebody Know, Gone, I Never Loved a Man).These songs are some of the best she has ever recorded. The "trendy" songs (Don't Stop, Keep It Right There, If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right) are all fine, but do not showcase Miss Ross' strongest singing abilities. They do show, however, her ability to hold her own amongst the up-and-coming singers of today. The title track is fun and uplifting, probably the best dance tune Diana has ever recorded (rivaled only by "The Boss"), and her cover of "I Will Survive" is in the same neighborhood. The outstanding "I Thought That We were still In Love" is a song that every Diana Ross fan must hear. This CD displays Diana's versatile and matured singing ability at it's very best.

This album is one of the best that Diana has ever recorded. I am still at a loss as to why this CD did not generate any hit singles, because there were possibilites galore. From the beat of the title track, to the tenderness of "I Thought That We Were Still in Love", to the emotional "Voice of the Heart", this album takes you through so many stages of feeling. Practically ignored by the radio industry, this album has the power to truly lift one's spirits. It is certainly named appropriately. If only Motown had promoted it properly, more people would have had the opportunity to enjoy its richness.

"Take Me Higher" is, in my humble opinion, Diana Ross' finest studio album from the 90s. This is a fine collection of songs that has a `grown-up' feel to it. After the runaway success of "The Force Behind the Power", Ms Ross opted for a more soulful slant with this album. Ross teamed up with some of the most influential R&B producers in the business - Nick Martinelli, Narada Michael Walden, Jon John and The Boom Bros. The result? A cracking selection of songs that proved that Ms Ross could still strut her stuff.

The UK and US album selections are different - The US version contains the Brenda Russell ballad "Let Somebody Know", whereas the UK version contains the funky little ditty, "Swing It". I'd recommend that US buyers buy the UK version on import - I'll explain why later on!

The album kicks off with the percussive, high N-R-G title track, "Take Me Higher", which is a brilliant. Listen out for Patti Austin's awesome backing vocals. "If You're Not Going To Love Me Right" is a laid back R&B groove.

It's the ballads that stand out on this album and the first is the gorgeous "I Never Loved a Man Before". It has a beautiful Spanish feel to it that provided the perfect backdrop for Diana's delicate, soothing vocals.

Then we come to the UK only track, "Swing It" which has to be one of the funkiest tracks that Diana's recorded. Why wasn't it released as a single? I played this in my car and a friend was shocked to discover it was Ms Ross!

"Keep It Right Here" is the outstanding R&B track. It's sultry, laid back and easy, as is "Don't Stop". They're the kind of tracks that you listen to in the summer while driving along with the top of your car down (for those convertible owners out there!).

We then come to a couple of stellar love songs - the beautiful "Gone" and the stunning "I Thought That Were Still In Love". The latter is one of the most beautiful ballads that Diana's recorded. It's right up there with "Theme From Mahogany" and "Touch Me In the Morning". Her crystal clear diction and phrasing are awesome. The music is like an intricate tapestry that unfolds, complete with a full sweeping orchestra. The sax solo is sassy and classy, and creates a smoky jazz café atmosphere.

There's only one track that I'm not keen on and that's "Voice of the Heart". It's one of those slushy `listen to your heart and it will guide you' songs that Diana seems to be susceptible to singing. There's one on every album, I suppose!

"Only Love Can Conquer All" is a superb ballad that deals with a sensitive issue. It opens with the line:

"They tell us it's better that people should stay with their own kind..."

There's nothing clichéd about this track - indeed, with mixed-raced kids (a melting pot of African American, half Jewish and half Norwegian) Diana surely knew what she was singing about. Her delivery here is full of conviction. This is like a modern day version of "Reach Out and Touch".

The album rounds off with "I Will Survive" - resurrected and revamped for the 90s, complete with a rousing, stomping chorus. Diana looks gorgeous in the video for this track!

So there you have it - a fine album that I'd recommend again and again. It was an instant hit in the UK, where it went straight into the Top Ten album charts, and spawned 3 Top 40 hits, and certified Gold. I'm not sure why it didn't do so well in the US, but it doesn't really matter, as the album speaks for itself.

What a great album this is!, why it didn't hit the USA, is a mystery, radio airplay just don't seem to click with the contemporary Miss Ross. The best track is "Take Me Higher", "If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right" pure contemporary R&B so delightful!, great songs a mixture with R&B and dance, great artist, a true DIVA! worth your money!