Diana Ross "For Once In My Life"

[mysterysinger]

From Motown Superstars Sing Motown Superstars

[Bluebrock]

It is such a widely covered song, but in my opinion this song belongs to Stevie Wonder.
Nobody, but nobody does it better than Stevie.

[nomis]

do we know when this was recorded ?

[reese]

do we know when this was recorded ?

1977, produced by Hal Davis.

[PeaceNHarmony]

That Voice. I don't care much for the production or instrumentation, but ... That Voice. Diana had a bit of a history with 'For Once'. I remember her singing the song on the Danny Thomas episode. In a backstage scene Diana wore her Love Chile denim shorts and offered Thomas a PB and banana sandwich. And ... she was right. They are real good!

[TNSUN]

The acting scenes between Diana Ross and Danny Thomas were phenomenal. They both deserved Emmy Awards. "The Sisters" routine highlights Diana Ross' acting skills.

[TYK1986]

That Voice. I don't care much for the production or instrumentation, but ... That Voice. Diana had a bit of a history with 'For Once'. I remember her singing the song on the Danny Thomas episode. In a backstage scene Diana wore her Love Chile denim shorts and offered Thomas a PB and banana sandwich. And ... she was right. They are real good!

Yes she sounds very good! Although I prefer the instrumental backing track of the unreleased 1969 version a bit more as it sounds relaxing. I think the 1969 version would have fit nicely on the Let the sunshine in album.

[BayouMotownMan]

I'm sorry but the first time I heard this back in the 80s my first thought was...should never have come out of the vault. The song is clearly designed as a ballad and to disco it was a mistake to begin with. Her vocal is fine but the spoken dialogue is so hokey. The instrumental track is clunky and seems to be without vision. I agree that Stevie's uptempo version is probably the best but I'd give Martha Reeves' recorded version as the best way the song was intended to be done.

[Boogiedown]

wow.
thought I was listening to two competing tracks just playing over each other .

Sounds like the THEME FROM 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA [the extended 'glug , glug' version]

[sup_fan]

i find this one ok. obviously not the best thing she ever recorded. but i think it holds up better What You Gave Me

[kenneth]

What I always found so interesting about this song is that it was designed to be and succeeded as what I call a “instant standard.“ Gordy even created a new music publishing company, called Stein and van stock, so it would look like it was not a Motown song published by Jobete. A very interesting marketing strategy and one which ultimately seem to be successful because so many many people recorded it. I forget though, didn’t someone else actually record it before Stevie Wonder? It’s got to be one of the most recorded songs from Motown. It is a great tune and I believe it has become the standard it was meant to be.

[Boogiedown]

What I always found so interesting about this song is that it was designed to be and succeeded as what I call a “instant standard.“ Gordy even created a new music publishing company, called Stein and van stock, so it would look like it was not a Motown song published by Jobete. A very interesting marketing strategy and one which ultimately seem to be successful because so many many people recorded it. I forget though, didn’t someone else actually record it before Stevie Wonder? It’s got to be one of the most recorded songs from Motown. It is a great tune and I believe it has become the standard it was meant to be.

yes an "instant standard" says it .

Would it be fair for me to say it sounded a bit moldy even when Stevie did it?

[Boogiedown]

just as i figured:




this could be a fun thread ...all the versions

[sansradio]

What I always found so interesting about this song is that it was designed to be and succeeded as what I call a “instant standard.“ Gordy even created a new music publishing company, called Stein and van stock, so it would look like it was not a Motown song published by Jobete. A very interesting marketing strategy and one which ultimately seem to be successful because so many many people recorded it. I forget though, didn’t someone else actually record it before Stevie Wonder? It’s got to be one of the most recorded songs from Motown. It is a great tune and I believe it has become the standard it was meant to be.

Tony Bennett actually tackled it before Stevie did. Connie Haines is said to have recorded it first [in '65], but Jean DuShon's version was released first [in '66].

[Boogiedown]

can't ignore the Jamerson bassline: