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has done a masterful job dusting off a classic recording adding bonus tracks, with informative notes and previously unpublished photos.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.

Everything Is Everything has always been my favorite Diana Ross album of all time. I am an avid Diana Ross fan and have everything she ever made. Even though this album did not produce a major U.S. hit, the songs are all gems. I love Diana Ross' Ashford and Simpson's hits but these songs on Everything Is Everything are different and show another side of Diana. I could play this album over and over. The front cover picture is beautiful and has always been my favorite photo of Diana. Diana in the 1970's was way ahead of her time in music and fashion. Listen to "How About You", "I'm Still Waiting", "Baby, It's Love" and "My Place"...you will fall in love with this album.

where did 'everything is everything' fall in diana ross' career? if i am not mistaken it was just before her film debut.

but it, along with her debut solo album produced by ashford and simpson, are tops on my list. i am loving the remix of 'i'm still waiting' and the extended version of 'baby it's love'. they are both very special! and i like the inclusion of her unreleased versions of 'something' and 'what are you doing the rest of your life?'.

which leaves the remastering of the original album content. even in its original form 'i'm still waiting' is a wonderful ballad. wistful, touching, excellenly written and arranged for ross' uniquely youthful voice. and equally sweet is the title track. it's light, airy and buoyant. being in love should sound so good! and also high on the list is her cover of 'call me'. this arrangement is better than aretha franklin's version but (and it hurts a little to say it) the arrangement is the star. the strings are clear as a bell and the andantes are in top form on the backing vocals. those women were the graces of motown and no one should ever forget it!

now on to what maybe shouldn't have happened. like 'come together'. every time i mention this cover to someone british, i can hear their toenails retract. i think it's funny. lennon meets vegas. it's really funny! and the other version with the shrieking synthesizer is funnier than that! and the blatant crossover attempts with 'the long and winding road' and 'close to you' are shameless. maybe it's because they lack integrity. they don't show off what makes ross so unique.

but i don't care--i have it on vinyl and now i will have it on cd! it's a done deal.

Everything is Everything and Surrender are my two favorite Diana Ross albums. I used to stare at this cover incessantly as a little girl wishing I was her when this album came out. It sounds a little too Vegasy in some spots on the remake side but everything that is not a remake is superb. Deke R has a tendency to have some over the top productions with his musicians but it works with Diana (like Ashford and Simpson) because he pushes her vocally. These albums and most of her other Motown albums are meant to satisfy because she sings with the music and she is not as breathy as she has a tendency to be on her RCA output. Aint no Sad Song, How About You, and most of all My Place (which would have made a great single) is the Ross I know with the unigue strong voice. I longed for her to sound this way at RCA but it didnt happen. Yes she had hits there and the only song I could think of that would match what she did at Motown would be Chain Reaction. I just received this CD today and its one of the few I can listen to over and over again including Surrender. I wish I could say the same for the Touch me In the Morning CD.

The next time you want to her Ross at her best watch her Ceasars Palace concert or put on the first three albums she did as a solo act at Motown and you will know why she was not only the lead singer of the Supremes but a class act into taking that label to the next level.

First time I heard the unusual doobeedoo - and loved it!

Been trying to get this track for years and the reason for buying this cd.

I'm still waiting - well............enough said already (just beautiful)

The long and winding road,something + they long to be close to you = good covers of well known songs.

Tracks 9,10 +13 also great songs after a few plays