During the years 1964 to 1986 few artists dominated the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart like Diana Ross. As lead singer of the Supremes and later as a solo artist Diana placed more than 70 tunes on the charts. During her years as lead singer of the Supremes Diana would have an remarkable 12 #1 hits! When she made the decision in 1969 to leave the Supremes to pursue a solo career Diana was on top of the world. Many of her fans wondered if she was making the right decision. But Diana longed to pursue new musical vistas and over the next 15 years the music of Diana Ross would continue to be a fixture on radio stations all across America and around the world. "The Definitive Collection" from Hip-O records presents 20 of the biggest and best hits from Diana's highly successful solo career. You will find not only her great hits from Motown but all of her biggest hits from her time at RCA as well.

So what is your favorite Diana Ross song???? There are certainly plenty to choose from. Oddly enough, her biggest hit after she left the Supremes was really not a solo at all. She recorded the theme song from the motion picture "Endless Love" with Motown label mate Lionel Richie. That one spent 9 weeks at the top of the charts in the summer of 1981. Yes, you will find it on "The Definitive Collection". You will also find other outstanding Motown hits like the #1 "Theme From Mahoghany(Do You Know Where You're Going To)", 1973's #1 smash "Touch Me In The Morning" and one of my personal favorites "It's My Turn".

And if that were not enough enjoy once again unforgettable hits like "I'm Coming Out", "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)" and the quirky 1974 release "Last Time I Saw Him". I love that tune! And of course no Diana Ross collection would be complete without her remake of the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" which hit the top of the charts in the golden year 1970. Fast forward now to the Fall of 1981. For the second time in her career Diana Ross makes a controversial career decision. Diana has opted to leave her comfortable surroundings at Motown Records. She signs a contract with RCA. How did that work out?? Over the next few years Diana would score with four more Top Ten hits. All are included in "The Definitive Collection".

These are songs you just don't hear on the radio anymore. You are sure to enjoy Diana's version of Frankie Lymons rollicking "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", the Top 10 hit "Muscles" and her moving tribute to her pal Marvin Gaye "Missing You". All of the tracks on "The Definitive Collection" are the original hits you would remember from the radio. The songs have been lovingly remastered to ensure maximum enjoyment and a beautiful 16 page booklet containing biographical information and chart data is included. For my money, "The Definitive Collection" should be considered essential in any collection of American popular music. Well done and highly recommended!

If you want a single-disc compilation focusing on Miss Ross' post-Supremes work, look no further than THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION. This excellent anthology focuses on both her Motown and RCA years, and contains 19 top-40 pop hits along with her stunning version of the jazz/blues classic "What A Difference A Day Makes" (from the recently issued "Blue" album). A great introduction to a legend.

This remastered collection is a précis version of Diana Ross' music career during her first solo stint with Motown and then with RCA, with nineteen Top 40 songs from 1970 to 1984. There's also one track from her 2006 album "Blue", titled "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes", which is a version of the 1930s classic jazz/pop hit also sung by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Dinah Washington, among others.

It contains six songs that hit the number one spot in the USA - Love Hangover (1976); Touch Me in the Morning (1973); Upside Down (1980); Ain't No Mountain High Enough (1970); Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?) (1975); and Endless Love (with Lionel Richie) (1981). Seven other tracks were Top 10, and the remaining six made it to the Top 40.

If you haven't been collecting her albums through the years, this album is a kind of "CliffsNotes" to Diana Ross - not the whole story, but enough to get the gist.

Amanda Richards, September 15, 2006

Yes, I know "ABC" was a hit from another Motown act, that said, this collection is a good remastered collection of (mostly) hits that Diana had as a solo artist. True these types of "collections" seem to be released often, but

these packages keep selling well as they contain the songs from a given artist that the public knows best.

Spanning both her Motown and RCA recordings we have Diana's first solo hit, Ain't No Moutain High Enough, and her last Top Ten Pop Hit, Missing You, from 1984. Diana's forte has always been the dramatic ballad, and they are well represented here, including one of her duets with Marvin Gaye . We also have one track from the Lady Sings The Blues, soundtrack, Good Morning Heartache (a nice change of pace as My Man is often used) and one from her new album of more tradtional jazz offerings, What a Difference a Day Makes.

Diana's up tempo hits from the 70's and 80's are also well represented, as well as a couple of bonifide hits that are for whatever reason over looked. The sassy, Last Time I Saw Him, and the Supreme's sounding

Remember Me, are two examples of this.

If I have one gripe it's that Diana's 2nd hit off the Boss album is not included, that great song "It's My House",

is the sexy side of Diana at her best (see my review of the Boss).

Muscles is another track that if often over looked, and this is from her great album Silk Electric (also see my review).

Treat yourself (or someone to this collection) and then do yourself a favor, start exploring the great studio albums that these tracks came from.

Yes, Diana Ross is "The Boss"

Ken

Here is why this collection captured my attention...the RCA label Tracks digitally remastered.Mirror Mirror,Muscles,swept away these three tracks alone is worth the price of admission...the sound quality is the BEST you will find anywhere.