70s Artist Watch: Diana Ross

This lady could have articles for her covering the 60s,70s,80s and beyond, she is a superstar, and we salute her time in the sensational 1970s.

Born in 1944 and making huge hits with The Supreme in the 1960s on the famous Tamla Motown label with hits like Someday We'll Be Together, she entered the era of the 1970s with a solo career, and her first single hit was "Reach Out And Touch Somebody's Hand" which came from her début album"Diana Ross" and  was a great single but only got to No. 20 in the US.




The next single from the same album"Aint No Mountain High Enough" also  written by Ahsford and Simpson and originally a hit in 1967 for Marvin Gaye and  Tammi Terrell. Diana's version was a number one hit in the U.S., and she was also nominated for a Grammy, not bad for your second solo hit.

All the Lyrics to "Aint No Mountain High Enough"

Listen, baby
Ain't no mountain high
Ain't no vally low
Ain't no river wide enough, baby
If you need me, call me
No matter where you are
No matter how far
Just call my name
I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry
'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you
Remember the day
I set you free
I told you
You could always count on me
From that day on I made a vow
I'll be there when you want me
Some way,some how
'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you
No wind, no rain
My love is alive
Way down in my heart
Although we are miles apart
If you ever need a helping hand
I'll be there on the double
As fast as I can
Don't you know that
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you
Don't you know that
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough

Still in 1970 she had a great hit with "Remember Me" another Ashford and Simpson song, I just have to play this record, enjoy.

The year is now 1971, and Diana Ross makes sure everyone has no doubt that her career as a solo singer is going to get even better, she  has a UK number one with "I'm Still Waiting" from her album "Everything Is Everything", incidentally the DJ in the UK working for Radio One called Tony Blackburn was the man that actually forced the record company to release the single, oh the power of the 70s disc jockeys.

Her 2nd hit that year was "Surrender" a bigger hit in the UK and came from the earlier album  "Diana Ross", and again an Ashford and Simpson production,it also appeared on the album "I'm Still Waiting".

In 1972 Diana went on stage in "The Lady Sings The Blues" portraying blues singer Billie Holiday, she was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy for the performance, and the album "The Lady Sings The Blues" was number one in the U.S.

1973 saw the release of the beautiful single "Touch Me In The Morning", Diana Ross said of this song that it was "A draining experience", but the final result was perfect . Just listen to her sing.

See the full Lyrics to "Touch Me In The Morning"

The next big single that year was "All Of My Life", and moving on to 1974 she teamed up with Marvin Gaye to make a record that just sounded like love "You Are Everything", originally a hit  for The Stylistics, and also in the UK The Pearls had a version of the hit in 1973. But this version is the best, settle down with a cup of coffee and enjoy.

In 1975 Motown made a film called "Mahogany" starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams, the film was a moderate success but the theme called ""Theme From Mahogany(Do You Know Where You Are Going To)" was a huge worldwide hit.

1976 her last single hit of the 70s , and it was a great disco hit called "Upside Down", it was a fitting single to end the 70s with, but the albums kept coming too, with two greatest hits out. And at the tail end of 1979 she released her album "The Boss".

She also starred in the fantasy film "The Wiz" in 1978, and had several big TV spectaculars too, she left the 70s like she entered- at the top.

Diana Ross At Caesar's Palace In Las Vegas 1979 (Full Concert)

For more on Diana Ross see  Diana Web  Dianaross Diana Ross Fansite