Absolutely, though to my ears 'Special' has interesting builds-and-breaks. And 'Mistake' was an original, I think.
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seems like most of the D&M duet album was originals. I count 4 covers - Don't know, you are everything, pledging my love and stop look listen. Interesting that motown didn't exactly follow the old formula of doing nothing but covers.
I think the real problem with this album is Diana just comes across lackluster. like she's tired and bored with the whole thing
I don't notice that especially, though as has been discussed many [[really ... many ...) times before Diana was expecting and Marvin was in his 'get high, lay down on the sofa and sing' phase, so indeed the results are less than thrilling. But I give the LP a spin once or twice a year and find it pleasant. Not much more.
I always found it to be an uninspiring album. It should have been an absolute classic, but there were too many bang average songs. Marvin sounds great, but i do agree that Diana's performances are lacklustre. Neither artist particularly wanted to do the album, and Diana was pregnant and sick during the recording of it. I wish they had done another album together in the late 70's. It could have been a gem with both artists at their vocal peak.
I wonder why she choose to perform "you are everything" for her TV special in 1981?
Larry Hagman, seems an odd guest from a 2020 perspective, and his voice is dreadful, his charisma close to zero.
The contrast with Diana sublime voice is almost shocking.
But, he sings the duet like he is sure that all viewers knew it was a duet between Diana and Marvin. The song must be famous?
From what I recall reading, Larry Hagman was included by request of CBS. He was their hottest star at the time, with his role as J.R. Ewing on the nighttime soap DALLAS. Having him on Diana's special was sure to bring in even more viewers.
I was pleasantly surprised by their choosing to duet on YOU ARE EVERYTHING, as it was a UK-only hit for Diana. In the States, it is better known as a Stylistics classic. Maybe Larry liked that song and requested it.
I think Larry Hagman being on the show was all about CBS internal politics. In 1980/81 Hagman was the biggest network star on CBS and the show Dallas was one of the top if not the top rated show. Plus I think CBS probably thought that not enough folks in "middle America" would tune in to just watch a black singer for an hour, so they needed a famous and popular white figure to get more viewers. If you haven't noticed it that practice was also seen in most of the other Motown Specials as well.
i don't think race had anything to do with it. by 81 Diana Ross had more than proven herself with white, middle America. This was her 5th tv special, counting the 2 with the Sups. She also had had a widely success 1980 on the charts. So the idea of her doing an hour special on CBS was nothing shocking
the decision to had Hagman was purely about $$$$
the diana special aired in March of 81. not 100% of the taping date but November 21, 1980 was the air date for the reveal of Who Shot JR. so Hagman was MASSIVE at the time. Also he'd played [[and won) hardball with the CBS execs by using the summer hiatus of 1980 to demand huge pay raise. So now CBS would be eager to have him add his star appeal to probably any and all projects. Hagman would have made the ad prices skyrocket for the special and therefore make CBS much more money
The funny “Marvin Gaye, eat your heart out,” line at the end of the song really surprised me when this originally aired. Hagman had to have known the two duetted on the song.
A little trivia: When this special was repeated in April of 1984, just two weeks after Marvin Gaye’s death, CBS execs were savvy enough to delete the line from the broadcast.
I thought it was an odd choice for rebroadcast as it was three years old by then. But it was still nice to see it again.
When the special originally aired in 1981, I didn't have a vcr. But I did have an 8-track tape record deck on my stereo, so I recorded it on that. I played it so much that I knew it word for word. So when the Marvin Gaye line was cut on the rebroadcast, I was a bit thrown at first. But yes, it was savvy that CBS or Diana decided to cut it out. The line was harmless of course, but the timing was totally off. When I finally bought a bootleg vhs of the show, I could tell that it was taken from the 1984 rebroadcast as the Marvin reference was missing.
Maybe Diana was a fan of J.R :[[ Wasn't she rumored for years to have a role in Dallas? I think, in the end, Barbara Carrera played the part Diana was supposed to play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPTyqw3HJCU
I'm only now liking this vocal of this song by Diana. She should have recorded it as a solo.
I believe that beyond the fact this was a truly entertaining television special, the rebroadcast was most likely prompted by Michael Jackson mania. Michael was still everywhere in entertainment media in 1984 with the success of Thriller. Also, the Victory tour had just been announced and was being promoted as the event of the summer...
Diana and Michael were crowned by Ebony magazine “The king and Queen of entertainment”. Diana was at the height of her career after Endless Love” and by the time it aired the second time, Michael was the biggest star on the planet. I suspect the second airing was because of the Michael Jackson connection.
I find Diana's vocals on the album laid back on as opposed to lacklustre."You Are Everything" and "Stop Look Listen" imo are among the best vocals of her career.
She sounds sexy on the funky "Love Twins",and her voice on "Just Say" sounds emotional and sincere. "Don't Knock My Love" being imo her weakest performance on the set. I consider Diana & Marvin one of the greatest duet albums of all time.
oh i don't think every song is a dud. You Are Everything is wonderful - especially when she says You in "today i saw somebody that looked just like YOU" the breathy way she emphasizes it is chilling.
I guess the better way to describe the album is uneven. IMO there are some amazing parts and then some not. Marvin is just off doing his own thing and sometimes seems to be trying to outsing her. And Diana is laid back, sometimes too much so that it comes off as disinterested.
Talking of cover versions, it's interesting that Diana is one of those very rare singers who can take a cover and make it her own. In addition to "You Are Everything" being a huge hit in the UK, i think she could have scored big if "Close To You" and "Won't Last A Day" had been released as singles. For me they are the ultimate versions.
In fact, i think most of the songs she covered in the 70's were all of a very high standard. .
I can't say the same for the 80's....alas.
^one of my fav and IMO most underrated covers she did was Carry On from the Everyday is a New Day album. it's a sensational track and she's incredible on it. I think it should have been pushed heavily and, frankly, i think she should ditch Survive for this. while she's very good at singing I Will Survive, that song is just SOOOOOO instantly identified with Gloria Gaynor.
i think the best cover of her career is I'm Gonna Make You Love Me. let's face it - just a perfect duet. every element is working 100%
In J. Randy's last book on Diana, the discography mentions that on the session tape for this recording, you can hear Diana say "This is the song that I hate." Myself, I like it but I do think her vocal sounds rather limp on it.
As far as the rest of the album goes, I have to say it is one of my favorites. This album was recorded during what is probably one of my favorite time periods of Diana vocals and I think her interpretations are great. Her solo verse of PLEDGING MY LOVE, for one.
Yes, i remember reading that. As regards Diana's vocals, this is also my favourite time period. I think Diana and Marvin's voice really compliment each other. I have read critiques of the album where it's been mentioned that D & M sing against each other rather than sing together which i find strange. On songs such as "Love Twins" and "Just Say" i think they share a wonderful vocal intimacy. It's a huge shame they never recorded more songs together.
I totally agree about the track Carry On. Definitely a missed opportunity with that track.https://youtu.be/dHofLs6qKNg
CARRY ON was one of my favorite songs from that album. I didn't even know it was a remake until much later. I ,too was hoping that it would replace I WILL SURVIVE in her act but no such luck. She never toured with the EVERY DAY IS A NEW DAY album and aside from her occasionally doing HE LIVES IN YOU, I don't think she ever did any of its material live.
"Not Over You Yet" reached top 10 in the UK so she could easily include it her upcoming tour.
The thing about "I Will Survive" is that the world and his wife are familiar with the song. It's an instant crowd pleaser. As much as i prefer "Carry On" and regardless of it's hit potential, i don't think it would ever have reached that status.
Perhaps if the arrangement to "Survive" were updated a 'tad it might help. I would definitely drop the "i will, you will, we will" lol.
Love Hangover was a major hit! It went to #1. What kind of rock/pop reviewer wouldn't be able to identify it? I mean, everybody knew this song - it got a lot of airplay. I should think that, in particular, someone in the industry would be able to easily identify it.
No?
It's not just Motown. After a great come back with her FBTP and Ultimate albums, TMH and EDAND went nowhere in Europe or Japan.
TMH did rather well in the UK. the album went to #10 and IWS went to number 14. The title track only just scrapped into top 40, as did Gone.
Not Over You Yet when top 10 in UK. but the album didn't do much
in Japan, TMH album when top 40 but none of the singles charted.
yeah i don't know if people felt TMH fully captured what was going on with music at the time. personally i think the sound and style of Everyday is stronger and more inline with popular music at the time, although the lyric is often quite morose.