DESCRIPTION:
Diana Ross became the star power of the 60's supergroup, The Supremes, who amassed an amazing run of 12 #1 singles. Mary Wilson noted that Diana's impending departure from the group began when Diana got star billing as "Diana Ross and the Supremes" in 1967. In 1969, she went into the studio alone to record the Supremes final #1 hit, "Someday, We'll Be Together". Technically, it was her first solo single, as those background vocals were done by the legendary Julia & Maxine Walters in the studio along with some coaxing vocals by co writer Johnny Bristol. After her departure from the Supremes, her singles chart performance did not really take hold until she released until she recorded a dramatic new version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" that turned the song on its end as the chorus was the climax of a sexily spoken long intro. It spent three weeks at #1 in 1970, and she did not have another top ten hit until 1973's "Touch Me In The Morning" (#1) and then not again until 1975's "Do You Know Where You're Going To" (#1) from her movie "Mahogany". The following year she went disco and created a marvelously famous "Love Hangover" that smashed the dreams of a newly reconstructed Fifth Dimension who tried to beat her version with a cover of that same song. She did not repeat that disco formula until Ashford and Simpson recorded her for "The Boss" LP in 1979. Eager to continue her run, she contacted the guys from Chic who were just as eager to work with her. The sessions were sometimes difficult as the Chic boys tried to impose their vocal regimentation on the strong willed Diana. When it came down to the final mix, Diana refused to allow it to be released unless her vocals were brought forward more so that record buyers would know the star was the singer and not the production team. The Chic guys finally threw up their hands and told Diana to mix it the way she wanted and she did just that with engineer Russ Terrana. "Upside Down" became her biggest #1 hit to date spending three weeks at #1, and the follow up "I'm Coming Out" peaked at #5.