Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A CLASSIC!!!! The essential Diana Ross album!!!!, May 26, 1999
By A Customer
"The Boss" is the most consistently thrilling work of Ross' storied career. Legendary songwriting, production and vocal duo Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson wrote, arranged and produced the entire affair. Their outstanding efforts were perfectly matched by a Diana Ross in peak vocal form. The opening track, "No One Gets The Prize", features the most assured vocal performance of Diana's career. The title track is one of the few masterpieces of the disco era. These two songs (and "Once In The Morning") make a very compelling argument for Diana Ross as a "disco diva", but even in the midst of this disco inferno it is apparent that her true calling is as an interpreter, and ballads are her forte. On the exquisite "Sparkle", the rhythm rolls like a slow samba and is perfectly complemented by Diana's voice at its sugary sweetest. The highlight of this fantastic collection is "All For One". "All For One" is an impeccably arranged, majestic ode to brotherhood in the tradition of "Reach Out And Touch" but less corny, more poignant and invested with an urgency that only Ross could pull off. The bonus tracks of "It's My House" and "The Boss" included here are called "remixes" but they are more like extended versions because they retain the rhythm arrangements of the originals with extended breakdowns and a few more "ooohs" and "aaahs". Of course, the original versions are so flawless, it would be criminal to remix them anyway. All tracks have been digitally remastered and the sound quality is amazing. If you only ever buy one Diana Ross CD in your life, make it "The Boss".
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Diana Collaborates With Ashford And Simpson, September 8, 2001
When this lp first came out on disc format, the mastering was crude and there were no bonus tracks. This version makes the music crisp and provides two extended mixes. "It's My House" benefits from the extension, which gives the song a focus and does not allow it to be overlooked as it often was on the original lp. "The Boss" was a joyous production that always seemed, at about 4 minutes in the original version, much too brief. The extended version maintains the buoyant, exultant mood and sterling production. I always wondered what Ashford and Simpson would have done with these songs on an album of their own, but I must say, as someone not particularly enamored of Diva Ross, Diana's vocals are expressive, warm, and stirring here. "No One Gets The Prize" is a dramatic piece, "Sparkle" is a lovely, jazzy number, "I Ain't Been Licked" is jaunty, and "I'm In The World" is an understated work of self-assertion. Highly recommended for A&S, Ross, R&B, and disco fans.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
PINNACLE FOR ROSS, ASHFORD & SIMPSON, May 11, 2005
While not as timely or trend-setting as her next release [the Chic team-produced DIANA, which featured the huge hits "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out"], THE BOSS is simply a great pop and straight-ahead soul album, with the accent on the soul. It is mystifying that this album didn't enter the pop top 10 and go multi-platinum at the time of it's release. This worthy effort surely deserved to remain on the charts for an extended period.
In my opinion, Ashford and Simpson's tune-crafting and production have never been better (and that's saying a lot!!) and Ms. Ross has never topped this vocal performance, in terms of strength and delivery---ever! She gave this 1000%.
Ross' performance on the title tune should have garnered her a Grammy for best r&b performance, but wasn't even nominated. [Like me, a lot of people with musical tastes beyond the mainstream believe the Grammys to be pretty lame and milquetoast, anyway.]
"It's My House" is a reggae-fied beauty. "I Ain't Been Licked" is a powerful song of self-affirmation, perfectly and soulfully delievered. "Once in The Morning" is solid. "All for One" is "Reach Out And Touch" updated, and very strong. "No One Gets The Prize" is incredibly powerful and soulful, and has a nice lesson for the greedy. The bonus cuts [extended versions of the title tune and "It's My House"] are treats.
This album even exceeds Ashford and Simpson's stunning work on Ross' solo 1970 debut, and that, also, is saying a lot. ABSOLUTE ROSS ESSENTIAL from 1979.
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