Lady Sings the Blues (soundtrack)
| Lady Sings the Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | October 1972 | |||
| Recorded | 1972; MoWest Studios, Los Angeles, California; Glen Glenn Sound, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | R&B, vocal jazz | |||
| Length | 57:10 | |||
| Label | Motown M 758-D | |||
| Producer | Gil Askey | |||
| Diana Ross chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Lady Sings the Blues | ||||
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Lady Sings the Blues is the soundtrack to the Billie Holiday biopic of the same name, which starred Diana Ross in her 1972 screen debut. It became Ross' fourth #1 album (eventually selling over 2 million US copies),[1] though the only one as a solo artist. It was certified gold in the UK for sales of over 100,000 copies.[2] It was the fourth best-selling R&B album and fifth best-selling Pop album of 1973 in the US.
Music writers said Ross emulated Billie Holiday's voice while retaining her own individual sound. This soundtrack album was the only Motown album to have a special designed label to match the album cover on the vinyl release, rather than Motown's usual "Map of Detroit" design. This label design would also turn up on the single releases from the soundtrack.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[3] |
Track listing
Side one
- "The Arrest" – 0:15
- "Lady Sings the Blues" – 1:03
- "Baltimore Brothel" – 0:25
- "Billie Sneaks into Dean and Dean's/Swinging Uptown" – 0:49
- "'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 1:06
- "Big Ben/C.C. Rider" – 1:06
- "All of Me" – 2:19
- "The Man I Love" – 2:27
- "Them There Eyes" – 1:03
- "Gardenias from Louis" – 2:03
- "Cafe Manhattan/Had You Been Around/Love Theme" – 2:03
Side two
- "Any Happy Home" – 0:37
- "I Cried for You" – 0:37
- "Billie and Harry/Don't Explain" – 0:37
- "Mean to Me" – 1:18
- "Fine and Mellow" – 0:45
- "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" – 2:09
- "Louis Visits Billie on Tour/Love Theme" – 0:45
- "Cafe Manhattan Party" – 1:37
- "Persuasion/'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 3:48
- "Agent's Office" – 1:09
- "Our Love Is Here to Stay" – 2:01
Side three
- "Fine and Mellow" – 2:54
- "Lover Man" – 3:22
- "You've Changed" – 2:34
- "Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)" – 2:06
- "Good Morning Heartache" – 2:21
- "All of Me" – 2:04
Side four
- "Love Theme" – 2:53
- "My Man" – 3:26
- "Don't Explain" – 2:10
- "I Cried for You" – 2:13
- "Strange Fruit" – 3:35
- "God Bless the Child" – 2:42
- "Closing Theme" – 1:08
Charts
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 43 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] | 5 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[6] | 50 |
| US Billboard 200[7] | 1 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] | 2 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[9] | Gold | 100,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Personnel
- Diana Ross - vocals
- Gil Askey - conductor
- Gil Askey, Benny Golson, Oliver Nelson - arrangements
- Albert Aarons, William "Cat" Anderson, Bobby Bryant, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Teddy Buckner - trumpets
- Georgie Auld, William "Buddy" Collette, Plas Johnson, Jack Nimitz, Marshall Royal, Ernie Watts - saxophone
- George Bohanon, Jimmy Cleveland, Henry Coker, Grover Mitchell, Maurice Spears, John Ewing - trombones
- Max Bennett, George "Red" Callender, Arthur Edwards - bass
- John Collins - guitar, banjo
- Earl Palmer, Jesse Sailes - drums
- Don Abney, Gerald Wiggins, Chester Lane - piano
- "Caughey" Roberts - clarinet, soprano saxophone
Production
- Michel Legrand - composed, arranged, conductor
- Guy Costa - engineering and technical direction
- Larry Miles, Cal Harris, Bill Macmeekin, Dave Ramsey, Art Stewart, Russ Terrana - Mowest engineers
- Gordon Day, Dave Docendort, John Norman - Glen Glen engineers
- Katarina Pettersson - art direction
- John Le Prevost, Frank Frezzo - design
- Orlando Suero - photography
- Sandra Forney - graphic production
- Suzanne de Passe, Iris Gordy - edited, coordinated
- Tony Jones - creative assistance
- Berry Gordy - executive producer
See also
References
- ^ "Greasy Lake Community".
- ^ "UK Certified Awards Search > Diana Ross". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 2013-01-11. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 281. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4814". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Diana Ross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ "British album certifications – Diana Ross – Lady Sings The Blues". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Lady Sings The Blues in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
