Customer Reviews

I Love You (CD + DVD)

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

At long, long last us eager, adoring fans are treated to a brand new studio album from the sophisticated, glamorous soul music legend ( a
full severn years since the release of the sublime and underated Every Day Is A New Day album). Titled, I Love You, this new Diana Ross album was met with much anticipation from myself - and no doubt from all of her millions and millions of fans all across the world. Well, believe me Diana Ross doesn't disappoint and she really delivers on this album, uncannily working her magic to full effect. What Diana succeeds in doing on the I Love You album is taking you with her on a poignant, musical journey, which was exactly her intention.

The I Love You project was produced by Diana Ross herself and Marylata E. Jacob. Each song for this artistically creative project was personally
selected by Diana. She had literally trawled through hundreds of songs to find the right songs that Diana felt she could personally identify
with. All of the songs on the I Love You project were somehow uniquely personal to Diana. Diana's intended ethos of the I Love You project was to
be a warm, captivating celebration of love and life. Diana approached the project as being an album that you could not only listen too and enjoy in the comfort of your own home but a collection that could be played at weddings, family gatherings and intimate moments.

The I Love You project delicately begins to unravel with a spine tingling, haunting renedition of Harry Nilsson's, Remember. Diana
had been listening to this pleasant and sentimental song whilst glancing through some of her treasured family photo albums. It was this
song that had given Diana the initial ammunition and inspiration for recording a new album. This soothing number is immensely theraputic which is light and dreamy, accompanied by a gentle piano back drop. Diana's silky yet deep, husky-sounding vocals elegantly drift up and down the mellow, mesmerising musical arrangements both seamlessly and beautifully. She projects her voice well, mastering it too pure perfection when hitting
those long, lingering notes.

Swiftly steering direction is the fun, bouncy I Love You (More Than Yesterday). This happy-go-lucky song had originally been recorded
back in the mid 1960's by Spiral Staircase. Diana quite effortlessly surfboards neatly along the wonderfully upbeat musical arrangements. Diana's lovely intepretation of I Love You (More Than Yesterday) is carried off with a fitting degree of subtelty and immense style and finesse. The song strangely fades out at seemingly the wrong
point as you can't help but conclude that the full climax had not been fully reached but that is by no means a criticism of the recording
because on the whole, I Love You (More Than Yesterday) is utterly fantastic and incredibly infectious!

Diana's magnificent reading of the Marvin Gaye classic, I Want You, shrewdly swerves into a late-night, contemporary R&B setting. Her
breathy, sensual, seamless vocal style effectively enhances the smooth-driving orchestrations, making this an absolutely outstanding version that deserves a lot of credit and recognition within its own right. A vastly contagious, slow-grooving number that fits brilliantly into this tremendous album. A lot of people to this day are unaware that this renowned Marvin Gaye classic had been co-written by Diana's brother, T-Boy Ross with Leon Ware.

I Love You (That's All That Really Matters) is the only original song to be featured on this divine album. Diana's renowned vocal expertise
for terrific, exalting love ballads like I Love You (That's All That Really Matters).

What About Love continues in a similar vein though indeed captures its own special, individual merits. This instantly memroable, touching intepretation that really conveys Diana's classy vocal style, had been written for the soundtrack of Oprah Winfrey's stage production of The Colour Purple.

That charisma and joyous feel-good spirit in Diana's distinctive and ever-sensational voice brims beautifully on a stirring, haunting intepretation of Hal David and Burt Bacharachs's, The Look Of Love. Opening with a relaxed Latin guirtar interlude that is extremely effective it steadily leads into gloriously sparse orchestrations. The Look Of Love contains a
soulful, gutsy performance from Diana that shimmers with honest, genuine emotion.

Lovely Day really is a stunning and masterful intepretaion of the familiar Bill Withers classic. The orchestrations, which includes
fabulous saxophone interludes erratically throughout the duration of the recording is ignited even further by Diana's totally beautiful, distinct voice. Once again she cleverly masters her vocals on the lingering notes required on the chrous, to utter perfection! A very commendable cover version, arguably eclipsing the original.

"Let's get ready to rock" Diana says at the triumphant close of this absolutely belting version of Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Indeed
you will all want to rock when listening to this number. Diana proves that she has certainly not lost none of that fire and cool sassiness. Lively and completely contagious, Crazy Little Things Called Love is bubbling with strong, assertive and playful vocals from Diana. Her voice is bright and energetic, enhancing the spectacular musical arrangements to startling effect. The marching drums and blaring brass encapsulates a
striking New Orleans jazz vibe which is accompanied by a wonderful guirtar back drop courtesy of the talented, genius muscian, Brian
May, who shot to fame with one of my own personal all-time favourite Rock group's, Queen. Brian May even went so far to declare after having heard
the final, rip-roaring version of Crazy Little Thing Called Love that "Freddie would be proud".

I have to admit I was most skeptical on first seeing on the track line-up that there was a version of Only You. It was a song I found difficult imagining Diana Ross singing. Well let me tell you I was totally astounded! Not only does Diana bring the song into a tasteful contemporary setting, fitting the times very well, but also breathes new life, fire and spirit into this vintage classic.

To Be Loved is yet another gorgeous and irresistable concoction. To Be Loved features the magical sound of the saxophone played throughout
the track. It shrewdly encapsulates a late 1950's vibe that is amicably given a sharp, contemporary twist.

Diana and one of her sons had seen Paul McCartney live in concert in L.A and she was immediately captivated by his song, I Will. Its simplistic
yet meaningful lyric is given most noble justice by Diana's beautiful, glowing voice.

This Magic Moment is positively heavenly with Diana's uplifting vocals that really is no overstatement to say are magical! As on remarkably every song on this album, Diana's unique vocal style sends cold shivers down the spine. This Magic Moment was originally recorded by The Drifters (one of Diana's favourite groups as a teenager) and is given a whole new lease of life thanks to Diana's great, unparalled talent.

It was reported that Billy Preston sadly passed away not long after Diana had finished recording his song, You Are So Beautiful for inclusion on
the I Love You project. Diana had chosen You Are So Beautiful for its universal message that like every song Diana has recorded (and were talking well into 4 digits now for the amount of songs Diana has recorded since her first with The Primettes - later The Supremes - in 1959 with
Tears Of Sorrow) quite simply, effortlessly manages to transcend to any age, gender or race. The touching lyrics draws upon relationships of
all kinds from lovers, mother to child, child to grandparent, sister to sister and friend to friend. It really is a fair comment to make that
only an artist with as much integrity, style, grace and extraordinary artistic vision as Diana Ross could record a song like this and so
effectively get that simple, yet strongly emotive message across to audiences all across the world.

Always And Forever is a sweeping, divine love song. Always And Forever had been penned by the acclaimed songwriter Rod Temperton and had first
been recorded by Heatwave. This is another soothing, mesmerising number that really captures Diana Ross's impeccable, distinct vocal style.

The I Love You album then gently winds down with a cracking reprise of the atmospheric Remember which had started the album off. A nice, fitting
way to end this dazzling, timeless album.

On top of that is a wonderfully entertaining DVD which will enthrall big Ross fans!

More than anything the I Love You project showcases Diana Ross's ageless appeal, conveying her wonderful craft for versatility. Her voice
seems to get incredibly even better and better with age. Her performances are fresh, vibrant and soulful throughout, igniting each song with a
renewed passion and confidence in her voice, giving each song a brand new lease of life. I Love You is a timeless collection that you will
just want to listen to over and over again. Even in fifty years time this album will firmly stand up well because of its special, universal quality
and its essence that really is impossible to become dated. The legendary, magical mystique of Diana Ross is captured beautifully and most
effectively on this album and one thing's for sure, Diana hasn't lost any of that sparkling magic that catapulted her into a worldwide,
phenomenal, first class superstar in the early 1960's. Listening to this superb collection certainly gives you a clear understanding as to
why Diana Ross offically remains the most successful feamle singer in the whole history of music. A definite classic and one of the
definitive entries in Diana Ross's lengthy catologue.


Ian Phillips

October 2006

For starters, let me say that I think it's a crime this album is not receiving an official release in the United States. Why on earth won't Clive Davis sign Miss Ross? This album would fit so nicely in his new routine of mining the classics for more seasoned stars. That being said, this is the lush, beautifully orchestrated, and adult-sounding album that we fans have been waiting for all these years! Yes, most of these are covers - but Diana gives all these tracks her own personal statement/investment and they all become distinctive and new again. I love the bookends of "Remember" - a melancholy tune that seems to set just the right tone. "More Today than Yesterday", if released as a single (although EMI has no plans for any single right now) could be a big, fun, retro hit a la "Why do Fools fall in Love." I am especially impressed by the jazzy/emotional range on several tracks such as "The Look of Love" and "What About Love." "I Love You" - the second original song - recalls many previous Diana classics while she manages to make "I Want You" (written by her brother) sound fresh and new again. The biggest surprise for me is "Always and Forever". In a word: gorgeous. While I am not sure we needed another cover of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", it is still upbeat and fun. Some editions contain a bonus track of "Take my breath Away". Listen for her amazing harmonizing with herself in verse two! All in all, this is the album Diana Ross fans have craved for so long - and she delivers in fine style. Now, why can't we get more fanfare in this country? Here's hoping that the First Lady of Motown gets the homecoming she so richly deserves.

I love this album.
It is an album to be played from beginning to end.
I love the deepness of diana's voice on some of the tracks and then the cool uplifting notes on other tracks.
The music is lush and beautiful.
In my opinion all of diana's last 4 albums were very strong and this one is perfect for its intended theme and audience.

I expected to be disappointed, even though I'm a huge Ross fan. She's put out some quality music since her heyday, most notably on the Force Behind the Power and Take Me Higher CD's. Overall, those had some good moments, but they were uneven. They seemed to lack something, that special spark. Some of the performances were uninspired. I expected the same this time out, despite the glowing customer reviews for I Love You. I'm happy to report that I Love You deserves every 5 star rating it's gotten.

She sounds so good. Her voice is smooth, silky, light, airy, brassy, and soothing all at once. It's also grown richer and deeper. She's singing her heart out, without overdoing it like a lot of singers tend to do. Her voice soars when necessary, like on Always and Forever. I love this old skool R&B jam, and when I saw the title on the song list, I never thought she'd pull it off. Perhaps it's because she's taken such a beating from the haters for so many years since her peak, with the constant "Diana Ross is more showbiz than singer" routine, that I too began to believe it. I was a fool. She sings A&F beautifully and effortlessly, and hits all the right notes.

The whole set is stellar. This is music for grown folks. I'm glad she didn't try to appeal to the younger crowd by working with some producers of the moment, because that never works for anybody. (I'm surprised more artists don't realize that.) Diana does what she does best, allow her voice to be the star. She makes You Are So Beautiful sounds fresh, despite the umpteen incarnations we've already heard. Lovely Day, the Bill Withers classic, is sweet and uplifting, and it would fit in any Quiet Storm radio format, though I think the musical arrangement could've been a little funkier. My one criticism of I Love You is that it's heavy on the lush, mellow arrangements, and as an R&B junkie, I like a little more groove.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a jumpin' little ditty; she sounds like she's having fun, and it adds some spark to this ballad heavy collection. Don't get me wrong-the ballads are better than terrific, but it's nice to hear Diana do upbeat songs because she's done so many great ones in the past, and we love her for it. More Today Than Yesterday has good energy and is a decent upbeat track, though probably my least favorite of the set--too campy. I Want You has a nice sultry flow, and interesting vocals. The shouts toward the end are reminiscent of those at the end of The Boss. It's growing on me. These minor missteps aren't nearly significant enough to derail the appeal of this collection.

Overall, I Love You is a great CD. This is the Diana I hear at her live shows, her voice strong, clear and lovely. It's probably one of her best albums ever. I own about 20 Ross albums, and Diana (1980) and Lady Sings the Blues are the only ones I don't hunt and peck through. I'll add I Love You to that short list. Get with it, America. If Tony Bennett, Rod Stewart, and Barry Manilow can have top 10 albums of classics, Diana Ross can too. She's one of the last of the legendary greats, and we'll miss her when she's gone. I Love You is a collection equal to her stature. Recognize.

IF YOUR A FAN OF DIANA ROSS THEN THIS IS FOR YOU.....THE CD/DVD IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC....MY FAVORITE IS THE DVD...SHE'S STILL AS BEAUTIFUL AND CLASSY AS EVER.....THE ARRANGMENTS ARE PERFECT FOR HER VOICE...I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE...HATS OFF TO YA DIANA

This CD will count as one of Ms. Ross's best in my opinion. All the songs are interpreted very oozing with excellent production and musical craftsmanship. Her voice although a tad lower is full of character, feeling and vibratto. It comes from within and from someone who lives her life fulfillingly not only as a mother and entertainer but most of all a beautiful human being who has given joy in the last 40+ years to many countless fans throughout the world through her songs.

The top three that stand out for me are the ff:

1. I Want You - excellent production that has all the making of a huge hit; The late great Marvin Gaye will be very proud
2. What About Love - a beautiful love song with excellent lyrics; Ms. Ross' voice is full of character and feeling; worthy of a grammy
3. Always and Forever - beautifully delivered with Ms. Ross' signature distinctive voice with a lovely bridge and refrain

The songs Remember, Lovely Day, Only You and More Than Yesterday are feel good songs that can brighten your day anytime

All in all, the CD is excellent with a superb accompanying DVD showing Ms. Ross on what she does best; singing, posing and entertaining all at the same time with a good preview on some of the songs what has inspired her to do this CD. She is truly a total performer that has withstood the test of time. Bravo Ms. Ross!

At 62, Ross could've easily taken the same route as most of her contemporaries and played it safe by recording the great American songbook. Not this time and not this unique songstress. Ross had her own ideas of recording past pop and R&B favorites from the 50's to the present, and delivers them with the same passion she had all those years ago. The result is a magnificent album entitled I Love You which can also be purchased as a special edition CD and DVD package, so you can not only hear this diva in action, you can savor the visual as well. And seeing Ross after a seven year absence is a wonderful treat. She looks as if she hasn't aged a day, and that voice, which has been described by Mick Jagger "as smooth as velvet," remains crystalline.

Recently I read a review that said that Ross should've included more up-tempo numbers because that is what she does best. It may have been true with her 60's classics with The Supremes and a few disco numbers from the 70's ("Love Hangover" and "The Boss" come to mind), but I have to disagree and say that when Ross sings a ballad, she shines the brightest. Think back to her solo heyday of the 70's and 80's. Nobody worked love songs the way she did. Hits such as "Touch Me In The Morning," "Do You Know Where You're Going To," her biggest chart topper "Endless Love," and the song that was written specifically for her by Lionel Richie as a dedication to her fallen friend Marvin Gaye, "Missing You," are everlasting proof.

The album kicks off with a song of yesteryear, "Remember," setting the stage for all of the love classics that Ross covers. Ross not only has her share of lush ballads, but she also strays into R&B territory with her old buddy Marvin Gaye's classic mid-tempo "I Want You," complete with heavy bass and beats that make this song so sublime and sexy. Other R&B favorites include Bill Withers' stunning 70's symphony "Lovely Day," the Heatwave classic "Always And Forever," and the 60's gem that was originally sung by The Drifters and later covered by Jay & The Americans, "This Magic Moment," are performed superbly. Pop highlights include a dazzling rendition of Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful," Lennon and McCartney's "I Will," The Platters' 1955 classic "Only You," and my favorite track on the album, the Bacharach/David masterpiece "The Look Of Love," which is arranged samba style with a Spanish guitar and makes you yearn for an entire album recorded in this fashion which suits Ross' sultry softness so well. Other songs that may not be as familiar but are equally as impressive are "What About Love," culled from the soundtrack The Color Purple, "To Be Loved," and the dramatic title cut (and the one original track), "I Love You (That's All That Really Matters)." Of the 15 tracks, I'd say there are only two missteps; A cover of The Spiral Staircase's 60's romp "More Today Than Yesterday," where Ross sounds as if she's competing with the pace, and the Oscar-winning song "Take My Breath Away," originally recorded by 80's synth group Berlin, is not produced and arranged to properly accompany Ross' vocals. The album closes with a reprise of "Remember," which wraps the album up into one beautifully love-themed opus.

Ross' unique vocal style is a fresh reminder of what has been sorely missed in the music that makes up today's Top 40. For all of the rumors and innuendo that has been spewed throughout Ross' storied career, when it comes to talent there's no argument as to why Ross became a living legend before she turned thirty years old. I Love You is an appropriate title and message to the fans that have stood by this diva for the past 40-plus years. Listening to this album is like welcoming an old friend home, I truly hear a symphony.

Like many other long-devoted Diana Ross fans, I was ecstatic when I heard she was back in the studio recording a new CD. The buzz began with the release of "Blue" from the vaults followed by the renewed interest in her music and legacy courtesy of the film version of "Dreamgirls". When I originally received this album in the fall of 2006 (EMI Europe/Worldwide), I must admit, it took several listens before I began to really appreciate the vocals and the changes her voice has undergone in the last few years. Like her previous two albums, "Take Me Higher" and "Everyday is a New Day", this album begins on a high note, dips slightly down in the middle and picks up again towards the end. There is a wisdom and warmth in her voice that I had not noticed before (perhaps on 2001's "Goin' Back") and present in "Remember" and particularly the oft-pegged as cliche "You Are So Beautiful" and "Always and Forever". On the latter two, Ross hits those high notes that you've been craving the entire run of the disc and reminds you that you are indeed listening to one of the great stylistic voices of the 20th Century. From her days as a Supreme covering Rodgers & Hart, Bacharach & David, and even the Beatles, Ross's work as an interpreter is oft-overshadowed by her hits. It's clear with that body of work and with the bulk of this album, that she can and should continue to interpret some of the great lyricists of the 20th century. The new tracks: "What About Love" and the title song are also particularly strong and heart-wrenching if the latter, unfortunately, relies on a few trite chorus repeats and a rather dated instrumentation track (think synth ala Brenda Holloway's '99 comeback CD). "More Today Than Yesterday" is the standout upbeat song on the album and the one that I think she will continue to inject into her live shows. For those who have any doubt about her performing skills ("American Idol" and her turns on the morning shows were not the greatest), I will defend her by saying that her version of the song performed at Madison Square Garden in April was, vocally, better than the studio version. Don't let this CD collect dust in the $1.99 bin. Give it a shot and you'll agree that Ross needs to be recording...bigger and better as time goes by.

After a spectacular career, Diana lost her way for a long, long time. But it is significant, and speaks to her spirit, that she never gave in and never gave up. She kept making music and some of the albums she made which went all but unnoticed, particularly "Every Day Is A New Day," soared with creativity, passion, insight and foresight. She could have just given up but she didn't and finally she has a hit album which is an international success. It debuted on the Billboard charts domestically at 32. Don't be surprised if it goes higher as word gets around about it. Now there's one thing Diana must do to repair her legacy for the future. She must find it in herself to get back together with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong and do at least one Supremes engagement in an appropriate venue. It doesn't have to be a giant tour or an over-the-top show. It can just be them, three microphones, an orchestra and their music and their look. And it should be the three of them up front, together, at three microphones, no one in the back, equal partners. This will erase the bad taste (in all senses) of the Return to Love debacle and also honor the history of the Supremes while there are these three Supremes to honor it. This project should not be about money, billing or who's on first, but about giving dignity to what became sadly sullied. If Diana can do that everyone will be telling her "I love you."

Diana's return proves to be an enjoyabe musical experience. Nice choice of songs and some really great interpretations. The more I hear it--the more I like it.