Blue, originally titled The Blue Album, is the twenty-third studio album by American singer Diana Ross. Initially recorded between late 1971 and early 1972, it was released as Ross' twenty-third studio album by Motown Records on June 20, 2006. Overseen by Ross' musical director Gil Askey,Motown - Never released Diana Ross album discovered! the jazz-flavored album was originally conceived as a follow-up to her soundtrack to the 1972 American biographical drama film Lady Sings the Blues in which Ross starred. Berry Gordy and Motown subsequently decided to shelve the album, and Ross' next release was the more pop-oriented Touch Me in the Morning (1973).
Critical reception
Allmusic editor Rob Theakston found that "Gil Askey's arrangements are top-notch without sounding like dinner theater knock-offs. Blue is an album every bit as bold an artistic statement as her contemporaries Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, who were recording the opuses Where I'm Coming From and What's Going On around the same time, and for Ross fans, Blue is every bit as enjoyable as her sultriest moments as the supreme Supreme."
Chart performance Blue was initially sold through Starbucks' US stores for the first 30 days of release, though the coffeehouse chain immediately sold out of its supply nationwide. On the charts, Blue peaked at number two on the US Billboard Top Jazz Albums, also logging a single week on the Billboard 200 at number 146. Its final sales figure was slightly higher than 80,000 US copies.
Track listing All songs produced and conducted by Gil Askey.
Notes Tracks 10–16 were originally recorded for Lady Sings the Blues (1972) but some were left out of the movie or were included in different versions.
Personnel
Gil Askey – Conductor, Musical Arrangements, Producer Oliver Nelson, Benny Golson – Arrangements Guy Costa – Engineer Cal Harris Sr. – Engineer Michele Horie – Producer, Artwork Harry Langdon – Photography, Cover Photo Pat Lawrence – Executive Producer Ralph Lotten – Assistant Bill MacMeeken – Engineer Larry Miles – Engineer John B. Norman – Engineer Ryan Null – Photo Coordination Kevin Reeves – Mastering, Mixing David Ritz – Liner Notes Greg Ross – Design George Solomon – Consultant Art Stewart – Engineer Russ Terrana – Engineer Harry Weinger – Liner Notes, Compilation Producer
Charts Chart (2006)Peakposition
References
External links Blue at Motown.com