Hardly anyone in America heard it or bought it. "Chain Reaction was too hokey sounding with lyrics that made no sense in my opinion. People were listening to Sade, Patti LaBelle, Janet Jackson, Anita Baker and of course Whitney Houston at that time. Women that were putting out relevant music for the time. American radio was through with Diana Ross by the mid-80s. Not one of her singles once she returned to Motown even charted on the Billboard Pop Charts. She released quite a few too.
I really like "Bad Weather".
Musically it's great, but it isn't the most commercial Stevie composition and production. Those lovely chord changes and horn interplays in the intro alone are enough to frighten the horses!
So although I enjoy listening to it, I can understand how commercially it might have been a slightly unsettling step off the well-beaten path for traditional Supremes fans, especially since it followed hot on the heels of the very pop-y, highly accessible and and slightly retro "Floy Joy" album.
In the UK we were also listening to all of those artists, but we also sent "Chain Reaction" to Number One.
It was fun, it was slightly retro, but it was also "current" and eminently danceable, and it's been a floor-filler ever since. It was also a great pop song.
What it showed is that the classic Supremes sound never lost its appeal. Janet Jackson, Vanessa Paradis and Ace of Base also subsequently recognised this and exploited it.
It might also be that there was a slight divergence of taste regarding the Bee Gees at that time since their resurgence in the UK in the late 80s wasn't quite matched in the USA. The UK seemed more open to what they were doing, including producing a smash hit for Diana Ross.
But it's also always been that way between the UK and the USA, and sometimes it takes 20 or 30 years before a record that hits in one country but misses in the other gets the wider recognition that it deserves.
For instance, "What's Going On" and "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye are viewed as classics in the UK, but the UK didn't actually chart WGO at all, and LGIO only scraped into the UK Top 40.
Go figure. Beats me.
I am in total agreement Sotosound. Your observations regarding the Bee Gees are also spot on.
"Chain Reaction" is the perfect pop record and more than deserved it's international [[bar usa) success. More of this would have been nice.
I do partly agree with marv in that during those rca years Diana seldom had her finger on the button as regards music trends and the type of music her fans craved for.
Initially, Chain Reaction got big support on the #1 station in the US:WABC
However, it didn’t get adds in other crucial markets. When it was re-issued, WABC didn’t add it, naturally, but it did get some play here and there to limp into the 60’s.
WABC was big on Diana Ross solo:
Upside Down and WDFFIL both were charted there for 25 weeks
its My Turn for 22
Endless Love was #1 for 14 weeks
and the diana album was on their album playlist for months
‘I couldn’t agree more. When I first played the album I couldn’t believe this was the follow up to the biggest record of her career????? I liked mirror mirror and think I’m in love, Plus even though it’s nothing more than cheesy Schmaltz pablum disco, I didn’t mind it’s never too late at all…… And I think if it had a harder edge to it and more soulful it would’ve work as a third single. I’ve never cared for the title song, or the solo endless love - but I think it was wise to put it on there, and I don’t have anything against Sweet nothing‘s I mean it was perfectly fine but not too songs from the 50s please…… And that led to the dreadful release of so close the following year as a limp dick single. I shook my head until it rattled trying to figure out how this nothing album could’ve possibly followed up the brilliant Chic Album. I think some of her vocals are perfunctory, but most of all, if 4 million people in the previous year and purchased your album what made you think at those same people we’re going to want to hear music like this????? Even the album cover is a gigantic went down compared to the year before…… and even though I like the mirror mirror, I wasn’t crazy about it. And even though I like to think I’m in love, I just don’t think it has any business being on the follow up album that had upside down on it.
Getting back to the "To Love Again album, it's a huge shame that the album could not have been released at the same time "Endless Love" was climbing the charts.
It could have been titled Endless Love" to include "Dreaming Of You". Had this been the case i think the album could have gone top 10.
One Masser song i so wish Diana had recorded is "Someone That I Used To Love". A beautiful, poignant song that was perfect for her. Natalie Cole had a minor hit with it but i'm sure Diana could have had the definitive version and a sizeable hit.
After the massive success of 20 Golden Greats in the UK, i think the Masser tribute idea was a mistake. The public did not need TMITM or Theme From Mahogany featured on vinyl so soon after. I think "After You" and "All Night Lover" would have worked better.
Regarding the "Supremes sound" which was "The Motown Sound" largely created by The Funk Brothers did experience a renew popularity in the mid 80s. Some of the better examples are
Stevie Wonder - Part Time Lover - 1985 #1
Hall & Oates - Maneater - 1982-83 #1
Katrina and the Waves - Walking on Sunshine 1985 #9
All of those songs were hits in the U.S.
Good examples that I'd forgotten about.
[[Better than what?)
In the UK we also had "A Town Called Malice" by The Jam.
Diana had bad career advice during the RCA years and I'm sure she'll agree with me.
So did the Supremes after 1972.
Plus most artists stay relevant for a decade and a half before they get replaced by someone else occasionally making a comeback here and there.
That's just reality.
Technically "Bad Weather" reaching #87 on the Billboard Hot 100 did better in America than "Chain Reaction" that went to #95. Then she got desperate and they remixed it and re-released it and it petered out at #66 but on it's original release, it barely scrapped the Hot 100. Now the only reason I am talking these two records and comparing them is because YOU brought it up!
TOMATOE, TOMATO it still bombed!!
The only reason I brought it up is because you brought up Chain Reaction bombing while my thread is about One More Chance.
She did indeed. I quite like Streisand's version but think Natalie cole has the edge.
I really love the song and so wish Diana had recorded it for the "To Love Again" album. To me it was a natural.
With songs such as this and by motown being able to include EL and DOY the album could have been huge with hits a plenty. As it were they were forced to release two fairly pleasant album tracks as singles which never stood a chance.
Talking of B.S, i think her version of "Home is fairly awful. It should have been great, but it just doesn't work. Diana really does have the definitive on that one.....imo.
I wouldn't say it was awful, but i don't think it will be mentioned when tributes are paid when she eventually passes, which i trust will not be for quite some time yet. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her recently. She was totally different to what i was expecting. A true legend in every respect.
The first time I heard this song [[by Natalie Cole) I knew it should have been recorded by Diana. Natalie and Barbra interpret it well but I can just imagine and "hear" the perfect version by Ross.
Yes, that would have been better. That way, another single from diana could have been released instead of One More Chance. [[One More Chance is my favorite of the "new" Masser songs on To Love Again. I think it is a marvelous, dramatic vocal performance by Ross. But it was a poor, or at least not timely, choice for a single.)Getting back to the "To Love Again album, it's a huge shame that the album could not have been released at the same time "Endless Love" was climbing the charts.
It could have been titled Endless Love" to include "Dreaming Of You". Had this been the case i think the album could have gone top 10.
I can't see another big hit single on diana unless My Old Piano had been released in the US in 1980 on the heels of I'm Coming Out when the album was still hot instead of being held back until 1982 and in direct competition with Mirror Mirror.
Whatever your opinion of the music Diana had a very successful start to her RCA stint.
It's hard to get a handle on what would be successful for Diana in the UK after 1980 but for me the lost UK hit from To Love Again was Stay With Me - it would certainly have been massive in the early and mid-70s.
And Chain Reaction was BIG in Boston and Cleveland.
Perhaps not awful, just a little bland. I met her in 82 but only got to say hi.
She was in the UK working on Yentl and my b/friend was best friend with the costume designer of the film. All the crew said she was a real trooper. I know for a fact she did not want to be called M's Streisand all the time lol.
My bottom line opinion of "Bad Weather" is that it is a really good song. I do think Jean's lead was more laidback on the recorded version and after hearing her live, the record would've probably been better with a more lively and passionate performance, because Jean killed this song live, especially on Soul Train.
"Chain Reaction" had pop hit written all over it. I personally suspect that the turn off wasn't Diana or the track but was instead the voices of the Bee Gees. Had they given Diana a soulful backing group of vocalists- the Waters perhaps- I think the song would've gone top 10. Ross and Bee Gees don't make for a good blend of sound. Diana could've even done the backgrounds herself and made the record much more ear appealing to US audiences.
I love "Home", and wouldn't mind it being tackled by any vocalist that is going to do it justice. Steph, Diana and Whitney are definitely the three who sing my favorite versions, in that order. I'm not a Streisand fan so I shudder at the thought of what she may have done to it.
She was lovely Ollie. I was expecting tissues and issues, but i got a very astute and intelligent lady. She was calm, happy and relaxed. An absolute pleasure to work with. Those 5 or 6 days literally flew by. She promised to return for a tour in 2021 when she will hopefully have her next album out. Fingers crossed.
yeah Piano is ok but was never anything remarkable to me. Have Fun is soooooo chic that it lacks anything new or exciting to make it DR or make it memorable. Tenderness is a bit stronger. and Friend and Now are ballads and i think not strong enough for singles
Perhaps Give Up would have had enough excitement. But it pales compared to Upside and Coming.
I would have moved her either into a 2nd Chic lp or Lionel content.
I know she has a personal assistant named Renata who has been with her like forever. Judy, who worked on the costumes told my partner she was nice but you had to know your stuff because she has such an eye for detail.
So come on Bluebrock, please spill some beans. How does working with Diana compare with Barbra. From what i do know, Bab's is a perfectionist but a lot more relaxed around people then Diana.
I have only once seen Diana out and about in South London. Perhaps she was having a bad day....... That's all i will say.
I am forbidden to say too much, but what i will say is that Barbra had a far better knowledge of her career than Diana did of hers. When i mentioned certain songs Barbra recorded she could tell me what album it was on and who wrote and produced it. Diana's knowledge of her own recordings was most disappointing. It was most obvious that Diana's career played a poor 2nd to her personal life, whilst Barbra was fully in control of her own career and controlled every aspect of it. Unlike Diana she told me she has never recorded a song that she did not fully believe in. However she did admit that a couple of her films were done purely to satisfy a financial commitment.
Ta for sharing Bluebrock. It's a shame the two women have never met. I admire Diana for putting family first. Her priorities have always been in a good place.
Both women have worked with Barry Gibb, but with the exception of CR, Barry seems to keep his best stuff for Streisand.
Diana and Barbra are two different women. Diana had thought about how she was gonna take care of her children, plus she spent years molded by a Svengali so it's no surprise she was bad with musical stuff.
Barbra has basically been her own boss since the start of her career. Therein lies the difference between the two.
I’m willing to bet Diana has recorded more songs than Barbra. Some people simply don’t have that kind of memory/recall, like Barbra or Martha, or Mary, with details. Diana always says her career comes 2nd, and more recently 3rd. Can’t fault her for putting family first. Regarding if they have ever met, I’m sure they must have. They were both at the Legends Ball. So that would be at least one time.
They have met. We were discussing Barry Gibb's work with various divas, and i slipped it into the conversation about working with Diana, and i cheekily said it was a pity they had never met face to face. She very quickly put me in my place and said they had met on a few occasions. She recalled a tribute show for Mohammed Ali where they spoke , and also a Diana concert in the early 70's where she went backstage and met Diana. She also told me in no uncertain terms that Diana had attended at least two of her shows. I quickly recoiled and changed the subject......
Bookmarks