Lady Sings The Blues (1972 Film) [Soundtrack]

Michel Legrand, Diana Ross | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 12, 1972
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000001ABB
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,491 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE DYNAMIC DIANA ROSS, April 14, 2001

By 

[e-mail] (BOLTON, LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady Sings The Blues (1972 Film) (Audio CD)

As soon as it was announced that Diana Ross was to portray the late 1940's/50's jazz and blues singer, Billie Holiday, sneering critics doubted almost immediatley that she could really carry this challenging task off. It is true to say that there certainly were many differences between Billie Holiday and Diana Ross vocally. Firstly Billie Holiday had a deep, husky, hoarse sounding voice which suited the material she worked with perfectly whilst Diana Ross had a smooth but soulful voice that could at times sound very sugary sweet on the slower material she worked with whilst high pitched on an up tempo number. This defintley was Dianas most challenging tak to carry off to this point in her career. It was only a few years into her solo career by then but this film helped propell her into the world class mega stardom that she now enjoys to this day. She was most certainly an accomplished soul/r&b/pop vocalist but had never really ventured into the field of jazz and blues before.

However by the end of her work on Lady Sings The Blues, critics really began to sit up and recognise her as the renowned vocalist she still is today. the soundtrack was recorded under the strict supervision of Gil Askey. She totally avoided doing any Supreme type numbers and sang these songs in a refreshingly unique style that manages to capture the mood and spirit of the origanal recordings perfectly. The real beauty and soul comes out on these numbers as she sings them with such passion and feeling. She does an absolutley fantastic job on Strange Fruit - a very deep, meaningful song which is all about the horrors of racial abuse that occured back then and how Billie first saw a black man being hung which explains the descriptive notion of "strange fruit". Equally just as magnificent is her incredibly touching and heart felt performance on My Man which is perharps (certainly in my own personal opinion that is) the very best recording out of the entire soundtrack. Her gorgeous reneditions of classics such as Lover Man (oh where can you be), Good Morning Heartache, All Of Me, Love Is Here To Say, What A Little Moonlight Can Do, Fine And Mellow, Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer and T'ain't Nobodys Buisness If I Do are pure magic to listen. Many of the films dialogue appears throughout the soundtrack to capture the mood of the movie effectivley. Lady Sings The Blues remains one of Diana Ross' most accomplished pieces of work and was a major triumph in her career showcasing her unlimited talents. Highly Recommended - both soundtrack and the movie itself!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Essence of Lady Day is Captured by Ms Ross, April 26, 2005

By 

M. Edwards "grenadines" (Buckinghamshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lady Sings The Blues (1972 Film) (Audio CD)

Diana Ross certainly ruffled a few feathers among the "purists" when it was announced that she was to portray one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. One of their main gripes was that the young 28 year old Ms Ross simply had lived enough to even dare stepping on Lady Day's territory.

The movie itself came under criticism for its lack of authenticity in certain areas, and for the glossing over of Holiday's turbulent life and career. Where the movie and the music shine forth so powerfully is that it captures the essence of Holiday. Diana showcases Holiday's triumphs, vulnerability and confusion in such a poignant way that it cannot fail to move even the hardest critic.

Diana didn't try to imitate Ms Holiday - no one could have, really. Instead, she created new interpretations of Holiday's classics.

There's a rich feel to the soundtrack, and this is reinforced by dialogue from the film. Many of the musicians who played with Billie were drafted in to perform for the film and this is explains why the calibre of the music was so high. The orchestra was conducted by the legendary Gil Askey, who has worked with Diana since her time with the Supremes.

There are several outstanding tracks here, namely:

"Don't Explain" - a touch of melancholy
"Fine and Mellow"
"Lover Man"
"You've Changed" - captures Billie's heartache - very moving
"Good Morning Heartache" - stunning vocal performance
"My Man (Mon Homme)" - incredible torch song!
"Love Theme" - a beautiful instrumental written by French composer Michael Le Grand
"God Bless the Child" - a commanding performance

"Strange Fruit" is a haunting song that reveals the horror of lynching in the Deep South. Diana's crystal clear diction and intonation are incredible - to the point of being eerie.

The soundtrack raced to the #1 spot on the Billboard album charts, and became the fastest selling Motown album at the time. Quite why Diana, Gil Askey and Michel Le Grand weren't awarded Grammies for their sterling efforts is one of life's minor mysteries.

As for Diana missing out on the Oscar, I have my own theory about why: Hollywood just weren't quite ready to give up its most glittered prize - in the leading Best Actress category - to a woman of colour. Interestingly, Cicely Tyson (another fine actress) was also nominated for a Best Actress Oscar at the same time as Diana. We'd have to wait some 30 years (how crazy was that?) for Halle Berry to scoop the award and make history. I reckon that denying Diana the Oscar was a way of keeping her and Motown firmly in their place.

Nevertheless, the film and the soundtrack have stood the test of time, and represent some of best of Diana's work. It's a beautiful, moving performance that showcased Diana's gift for jazz interpretation. This soundtrack comes highly recommended.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DIANA ROSS EXPLORES THE WORLD OF BLUES & JAZZ...AND DID IT VERY WELL WITH THIS TOP SELLING ALBUM!!!, September 5, 2006

By 

Mr. Nightshift (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lady Sings The Blues (1972 Film) (Audio CD)

Of all of the Motown acts Diana Ross (With and without the Supremes) was always given the room to explore various settings including Pop, Standards, Disney Favorites, Show Tunes, and the list goes on and on. On this Soundtrack not only was she given the opportunity to record Billie Holiday blues & jazz favorites but she (Diana Ross) also got her first major starring role in movie "Lady Sings The Blues". Both Movie & Soundtrack were runaway smashes. As a result of the Top 20 hit single from the Soundtrack "Good Morning Heartaches", a new interest in Billie Holiday recordings took off. Be forwarned none of these recordings on this Soundtrack have the more familiar Motown Sound of the 70's, but well orchestrated blues, jazz & pop chestnuts arranged by the one and only Gil Askey.

These are the type of recordings where you'll want to get your favorite drink and enjoy such jewels as "Mean To Me", "Fine And Mellow", "You've Changed", "Don't Explain", "God Bless The Child" (And others)....Sit back and enjoy. The only down side is that it includes excerpts from the Movie spliced in throughout (Unless you've seen the movie, then it might make a slight difference). For the most part you'll get to explore one of Diana Ross' most successful attemps at blues & jazz. Since that time she revisted this Genre several times.