by Michael P. Coleman
In the liner notes to Diana Ross’ 1984 album Swept Away, which has just been rereleased by Funky Town Grooves, Ross wrote “I want to…encourage you to write to me, your feelings and thoughts.”
She doesn’t have to ask ME twice.
“Dear Miss Ross,
Funky Town Grooves has done an INCREDIBLE job of restoring and remastering all six of your RCA albums from the 1980s. They have been expanded to include extended mixes, instrumental tracks, and single mixes, most of which haven’t been heard in years. Three of your albums have been released as two disc sets.
As you originally released these albums – Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Silk Electric, Ross, Swept Away, Eaten Alive, and Red Hot Rhythm & Blues) at the dawn of digital recordings, the original releases were sonically lacking. In every case, these albums sound better than they ever have. Your cover art has been meticulously restored, and each release features a new essay along with chart positions for each of your singles.
Highlights to the discs include extended 12″ mixes of “Work That Body”, “Muscles”, “Pieces Of Ice”, “Swept Away”, “Touch By Touch”, “Eaten Alive”, “Chain Reaction”, and “Dirty Looks”; the rare “Fight For It”; your experimental forays into a variety of genres including reggae and rock; and the previously unreleased “Sweet Soul Music” from your 1987 ABC TV special.
Creatively, your six RCA albums are among the most ambitious of your entire career. In addition to the aforementioned, your Eaten Alive album is among your best, with “Oh, Teacher” featuring one of the sexiest vocal performances in the history of recorded music, several stirring ballads like “Experience” and “More & More”, and your international smash “Chain Reaction”. It is also a delight to revisit your collaborations with Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Lionel Richie, Ray Parker, Jr. and other legends over the course of your years with RCA.
Funky Town Grooves has done an excellent job with these rereleases, and I just thought you’d want to know. Also, please congratulate your son, Evan, for me on his recent wedding. I’m sure my invitation just got lost in the mail.
My Endless Love,
Michael”
As I had a little time on my hands awaiting Ross’ reply, I thought I’d reach out to the folks at Funky Town Grooves. They say the Ross CDs are available for a limited time, and that other albums from a couple of other R & B divas are on the horizon.
“We’ve just started accepting preorders for three of eight Dionne Warwick albums that we’re releasing: No Night So Long, How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye? (produced by Luther Vandross), and Finder Of Lost Loves,” said Craig Turnbull, Marketing Manager for Funky Town Grooves. Turnbull told me that all three will be expanded editions, as well, along with two Manhattans albums (There‘s No Good In Goodbye and After Midnight). Down the pike, the label will be releasing expanded versions of two classic Aretha Franklin albums, 1986’s Aretha (featuring her #1 duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting For Me”), and Through The Storm.
For now, we have the Ross collection to enjoy. Trust me: there’s no bad place to start. I’m currently stuck on Diana’s 1981 RCA debut, featuring her stirring solo take on “Endless Love”. I KNOW she won’t mind, because I’ll be a fool for her…
Diana Ross‘ RCA collection, the two new Manhattans rereleases, and a host of other treasures are in stock at www.funkytowngrooves.com, where you can also pre-order the first of the Dionne Warwick re-releases, at promotional prices. The Warwick albums will be released November 3rd.
Michael P. Coleman is a Sacramento-based freelance writer. Catch up to him at michaelpcoleman.com, mikelsmindseye@me.com, or on Twitter: @ColemanMichaelP
