Customer Reviews

The Best of Diana Ross & the Supremes (20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

...There are a couple of reasons to spring for this one. #1, it includes the alternate take of "I Hear A Symphony" that has Diana Ross harmonizing with the background on her outro lead. This version is hard to find and was originally only available on LP. Reason #2, it contains the even rarer version of "Someday We'll Be Together" which opens with a tambourine and soft conga drum intro. This was once available in the U.S. on Cimco Records' "64 Motown Greats." According to the Mary Wilson International Fan Club, this version was also available on the Japanese Greatest Hits collection. The sound on all eleven tracks is quite clean and Florence Ballard's strong vocals are heard clearer than ever assisting Diana Ross on "You Keep Me Hangin' On." Brian Chin provides some great liner notes and the photos inside and on the rear of the jewel case are ones not often seen.

This CD is part of the "20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection," which isn't entirely clear here at Amazon.com. With yet another greatest hits package, it still puzzles me why Motown constantly repackages the same material and expects us to buy these sets over and over. Several of the last few I've simply skipped. However, if you're a fan of the Supremes or Motown, you'll want this particular disc in your collection, if for nothing more than the two gems mentioned above.

For years now, Universal has been cranking out basic, mid-priced compilation CD's of artists in their huge catalog of labels. In many cases, these CD's have been welcomed as they have provided overview collections for some artists that have not been collected before or are an improvement, sonically and/or content-wise, over existing product.

However, with the myriad of CD's available for supergroups such as the Supremes, there really is no need for this collection but here it is anyway. If by some chance a music fan does not already own a Supremes collection, this would be a decent sampling but unfortunately, the sound quality here leaves a lot to be desired. So while it's hard to dispute getting all number one tunes with one number two side, this CD falls on its face when it comes to how it performs. Much of the early Motown stuff is muddy-sounding and when mastered for lp the high end was pumped up to compensate for the warming effect of going to vinyl. However, use these masters for CD and without the smoothing out effect of vinyl, these sound terribly shrill and harsh. Two of the tracks here, "Baby Love" and "Come See About Me" are particularly difficult to listen to for this reason. Since stereo versions are available on other Supremes' CD's there is little reason to purchase this only to get sound that is inferior to that which can be obtained elsewhere.

With their monumental charting success, a second Millennium collection volume was necessary to merely skim off the Supreme's biggest hits and that companion volume to this one is a bit better technically. Nonetheless, neither of these collections offer anything new and are actually a step down. Better Supremes collections are easily found elsewhere and are preferable to these Millennium pieces.

I have listened to this cd and quite frankly, the sound (remaster) in my opinion, is terrible. I also own the Supremes 25th Anniversary collection and that sounds much better - go figure. I would not recommend this cd nor the volume 2 that is due to be released later this month which will probably sound just as terrible. I bought this cd based upon other reviewers opinion and now that I have listened to it, I don't know how they can say the sound is terrific!

Unlike THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, this entry in the 20TH CENTURY MASTERS/MILLENIUM COLLECTION series has been digitally remastered in stereo (not mono) and restored the glorious sound of the Supremes on a single disc.

For the new or casual fan, there's no better place to start than this disc, which features all of the classic singles and none of the songs unworthy of placement on a "Best Of." Unlike the now out-of-print EVERY GREAT NO.1 HIT, the "Best Of" does not feature "The Happening" or "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone." Instead, we are treated to the far more memorable "Reflections," a No.2 smash. Also, as "Tony Green" has noted, there are two rare versions of "I Hear a Symphony" and "Someday We'll Be Together." Finally, we Supremes fans have been rewarded with a "Best Of" that has earned its name.

My first Supremes collection purchase on CD. It lacks the warm, full richness I've associated with vinyl.
Deep bass and sharp handclaps but the midrange isn't there.
Is it a bad mixing job or have I just become used to what I hear on the radio?
Compare the snare drum on Phil Collins version of You Can't Hurry Love to the snare drum on this mix.
I know, this isn't about drums but it's difficult to express audio impressions with written words.
I feel the reproduction quality (remix?) of this collection is substandard.
I'm looking for an enjoyable Supremes collection and this isn't it.

It was as I thought, have heard better, have heard worst. Next time I will look for more songs on one CD.
Shipping was as said.

Some of the best music around back then, this completed the entire Diana Ross and The Supremes collection. Ive got all the rest on vinyl (thats record albums) as well as a lot of other motown.

This is a "primo" CD. I have enjoyed every single one of the songs. My experience in ordering from Amazon was easy and efficient as always. Thanks Amazon!

This cd has all the greatest hits and the richness of the original recordings. It is a excellent. You can't go wrong with this cd.

This is one of those Cd's I grabbed just because of the title. But I have to say it was one great grab. From track 1 to track 11 it is one hit after another making it worth the price. Sound quality in my opinion is very good. But that is due to some debate seeing I wasn't around the 1st time these were heard coming off new vinyl records. To me most Cd's sound kinda harsh there lacking the warmth of the old vinyl.