Diana "To The Baby" album...

[mistercarter2u]

I know most of you Diana and Sups fans have heard Diana's "To The Baby" album, which was released as part of the "Touch Me In The Morning" expanded edition a few years back. I have just been re-discovering this lost gem again lately, and I find myself amazed at how good the album actually is. The concept of songs for and about children and babies is extremely well-executed, and Diana's performance, in my humble opinion, is among her very best. Soft, sweet, subtle....

I am curious as to how others feel about this album. Would it have been a hit if it had been released in its intended form? What are you favorite tracks? Was the "Touch Me In The Morning" album as good, or was it better?

Whacha think, Diana fans?

[Ian Scarlet]

I love this album too! It's one of my favourites.
I think that "Part of You" or "To The Baby" would have been hits and even the singles for the album.
My favourite tracks are "A Wonderful Guest", her version of "Got To Be There", "Part Of You", "Turn Around" and "To The Baby".
For me To The Baby is a better album.

[PeaceNHarmony]

It's lovely, to be sure, but I don't know about it's commercial appeal. I think that TMITM was such a killer song that an LP had to be assembled around it.

[mysterysinger]

Our "friend" in Germany is still producing his bootleg CDs, one of which is "To The Baby" - he also has an expanded M&TV "Watchout" etc.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIANA-ROSS-TO-THE-BABY-rare-album-with-unreleased-vocal-takes/273032333656?hash=item3f91fec958:g:E98AAOSwUwFaTO1 z

To The Baby
The tracklist is:
1. Part Of You
2. A Wonderful Guest
3. Young Mothers
4. The first time ever I saw your face
5. Got To Be There
6. To The Baby
7. Brown Baby
8. My Baby [[My own)
9. Turn Around
10. Imagine/Save The Children
Bonus Tracks:
11. Young Mothers [[Alternate Version 1)
12. A Wonderful Guest [[Alternate Version)
13. The First Time Every I Saw Your Face [[Alternate Version)
14. Got To Be There [[Alternate Version)
15. My Baby [[My Own) [[Alternate Version)
16. Turn Around [[Alternate Version)
17. Young Mothers [[Alternate Version 2)
18. Brown Baby/Save the Children
19. When We Grow Up
20. Save The Children [[Single Version)
21. Young Mothers [[Alternate Version 3)

[reese]

I don't know if it would have been a hit. I don't disagree with Motown's decision to release the songs on various albums. But Diana never sounded better. Her versions of GOT TO BE THERE, and THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE are just as good as those by MJ and Roberta, IMO.

[Bluebrock]

I thought it was okay, but nothing special. Tmitm was a stronger album in my opinion. Not sure it would have been especially successful.

[TheMotownManiac]

I think it’s ok, but I don’t think it would have found a sizable audience. It was brilliant of Deke and Berry to create the album that surfaced. Otherwise, TMITM album would have had hodge podge filler on side two, and For The Baby would not have been a compelling purchase for most fans. I think they nailed this one perfectly.

[luke]

Never heard of it

[marv2]

Sounds very dull to me.

[vgalindo]

I love the songs of "To the baby". It would have been a beautiful album.

[daviddh]

I thought TMITM was a really good album but there were some really good tracks on the BABY album and that I would have liked to have seen released especially since the Last Time I Saw him lp was so weak. but I don't think I would have released BABY on its own.

[sup_fan]

I think the artistic concept is one of value and her performances r strong. But the overall song content and production isn’t at the level of “classic” that was needed. Whether they were intended this way or not, the music on LSTB and Blue are amazing and the albums are absolute masterpieces. If Motown has put the same level of development into creating an everlasting classic to celebrate the joys of her motherhood then that’s one thing. But they don’t come across that way. Seem more like typical Motown trying to make a buck vs a timeless artistic statement and masterpiece. Something for the ages

[PeaceNHarmony]

Our "friend" in Germany is still producing his bootleg CDs, one of which is "To The Baby" - he also has an expanded M&TV "Watchout" etc.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIANA-ROSS-TO-THE-BABY-rare-album-with-unreleased-vocal-takes/273032333656?hash=item3f91fec958:g:E98AAOSwUwFaTO1 z

To The Baby
The tracklist is:
1. Part Of You
2. A Wonderful Guest
3. Young Mothers
4. The first time ever I saw your face
5. Got To Be There
6. To The Baby
7. Brown Baby
8. My Baby [[My own)
9. Turn Around
10. Imagine/Save The Children
Bonus Tracks:
11. Young Mothers [[Alternate Version 1)
12. A Wonderful Guest [[Alternate Version)
13. The First Time Every I Saw Your Face [[Alternate Version)
14. Got To Be There [[Alternate Version)
15. My Baby [[My Own) [[Alternate Version)
16. Turn Around [[Alternate Version)
17. Young Mothers [[Alternate Version 2)
18. Brown Baby/Save the Children
19. When We Grow Up
20. Save The Children [[Single Version)
21. Young Mothers [[Alternate Version 3)
Right? Can't wait to get my copy!