Ross / favorite era

[daviddh]

Just curious with Diana having had such a long career, do you have a favorite era or time frame.
Mine would be
1.64-67
2.76-81

My fav Ross albums,
Dr 76
Baby it's me
Boss
Diana

[lucky2012]

Just curious with Diana having had such a long career, do you have a favorite era or time frame.
Mine would be
1.64-67
2.76-81

My fav Ross albums,
Dr 76
Baby it's me
Boss
Diana

Your favorites [eras & albums] are exactly the same as mine!

[Levi Stubbs Tears]

79-80 was the highlight for me.

And then, sadly, it all went downhill.

[jobucats]

Vocally, her output around the the early 70s focusing on her 1973 Touch Me in the Morning and the Diana & Marvin album. Her voice is so rich sounding on each.

[RanRan79]

As a Supreme, it would be 62-67. As a solo, it's hard for me to pin it down because of the pros and cons. For me, I love the period when Diana was just a pure singer, when her voice was the centerpiece, not all the razzle dazzle, from 70-75. Unfortunately, she didn't do much TV during that time. On the other hand, from 76-81, her stage show was on fire and she was in fantastic voice. She also did quite a bit of TV. But even though she sounded absolutely fantastic, IMO her voice took a backseat to all the frills and thrills of the show productions. The focus became "wow, look at her" vs "wow, listen to her".

That's the best way I can describe my favorite Ross eras. Lol

[mindful1]

As a Supreme, it would be 62-67. As a solo, it's hard for me to pin it down because of the pros and cons. For me, I love the period when Diana was just a pure singer, when her voice was the centerpiece, not all the razzle dazzle, from 70-75. Unfortunately, she didn't do much TV during that time. On the other hand, from 76-81, her stage show was on fire and she was in fantastic voice. She also did quite a bit of TV. But even though she sounded absolutely fantastic, IMO her voice took a backseat to all the frills and thrills of the show productions. The focus became "wow, look at her" vs "wow, listen to her".

That's the best way I can describe my favorite Ross eras. Lol

Understand what you're saying about the Ross early solo years. I thought maybe it was my being nostalgic but you pointing out the change in her persona as superstar status descended and maybe that's it as well. I just have fondness for those first 3 solo albums. But as you say not much touring. But her supper shows at the Empire room blew me away. Like this thread though!

[copley]

64 - 68
70 - 71
77 - 79

After she left Motown I did like quite a few singles but no albums.

[Ollie9]

63 to 81 were all brilliant in different ways. As already mentioned, after that the singing took a backseat to other elements of the show.

[sup_fan]

yeah i definitely see things as blocks or "eras"

pre-64: Diana's voice definitely has a youthfulness to it. there's less control, partly because she often had to sing in a much higher register. she is singing like and as a teenager

64 - early 66: this is Diana's "college years" lol she still has a youthfulness but there's more control. often she's using her lower range

66 - 67: this is really where i think Diana's artistry starts to shine. her lead on YCHL is a major change. her voice is more mature, deeper [[both in tone and sound). there's more substance, especially as she went into the R&H material

68 - 69: this is a continuation of the last phase. the maturity is just expanding even more so

70 - 72: early solo voice. she's taking more risks, experimenting more, pushing herself. but she still had lots of elements of "diana ross, former Supreme"

73: she now has a much more jazz influenced approach to music, combined with motherhood. the impact of her time exploring Lady just simply can't be measured. it was such a major milestone

remainder of the 70s: i don't know if i really hear her change all that much through the rest of the decade, in terms of a major shift in things. she's really just settling more and more into "DIANA ROSS" with it peaking with The Boss sessions. i think that's the most alive and invigorated she has ever sounded on record. she's now singing really as a woman empowered

80s: this is hard to really categorize as much of the music was sub-par, especially her own productions.

90s: she's no longer youthful or an ingenue but now a mature woman, a Grande Dame so to speak.

[Ollie9]

yeah i definitely see things as blocks or "eras"

pre-64: Diana's voice definitely has a youthfulness to it. there's less control, partly because she often had to sing in a much higher register. she is singing like and as a teenager

64 - early 66: this is Diana's "college years" lol she still has a youthfulness but there's more control. often she's using her lower range

66 - 67: this is really where i think Diana's artistry starts to shine. her lead on YCHL is a major change. her voice is more mature, deeper [[both in tone and sound). there's more substance, especially as she went into the R&H material

68 - 69: this is a continuation of the last phase. the maturity is just expanding even more so

70 - 72: early solo voice. she's taking more risks, experimenting more, pushing herself. but she still had lots of elements of "diana ross, former Supreme"

73: she now has a much more jazz influenced approach to music, combined with motherhood. the impact of her time exploring Lady just simply can't be measured. it was such a major milestone

remainder of the 70s: i don't know if i really hear her change all that much through the rest of the decade, in terms of a major shift in things. she's really just settling more and more into "DIANA ROSS" with it peaking with The Boss sessions. i think that's the most alive and invigorated she has ever sounded on record. she's now singing really as a woman empowered

80s: this is hard to really categorize as much of the music was sub-par, especially her own productions.

90s: she's no longer youthful or an ingenue but now a mature woman, a Grande Dame so to speak.

A good breakdown sup.

[Albator]

She became a much better, sincere interpreter when she took control of her own destiny, starting in 79.