Lady Sings the Blues
Soundtrack album by
Diana Ross
ReleasedOctober 1972
Recorded1972; MoWest Studios, Los Angeles, California; Glen Glenn Sound, Hollywood, California
GenreR&B, vocal jazz
Length57:10
LabelMotown
M 758-D
ProducerGil Askey
Diana Ross chronology
Surrender
(1971) 		Lady Sings the Blues
(1972) 		Greatest Hits
(1972)
Singles from Lady Sings the Blues
  1. "Good Morning Heartache"
    Released: December 18, 1972

Lady Sings the Blues is the soundtrack to the Billie Holiday biopic of the same name, which starred Diana Ross in her 1972 screen debut. It became Ross' fourth #1 album (eventually selling over 2 million US copies),[citation needed] though the only one as a solo artist. It was certified gold in the UK for sales of over 100,000 copies.[1] It was the fourth best-selling R&B album and fifth best-selling Pop album of 1973 in the US.

Music writers said Ross emulated Billie Holiday's voice while retaining her own individual sound. This soundtrack album was the only Motown album to have a special designed label to match the album cover on the vinyl release, rather than Motown's usual "Map of Detroit" design. This label design would also turn up on the single releases from the soundtrack.

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Christgau's Record GuideB+[2]

Track listing

Side one

  1. "The Arrest" – 0:15
  2. "Lady Sings the Blues" – 1:03
  3. "Baltimore Brothel" – 0:25
  4. "Billie Sneaks into Dean and Dean's/Swinging Uptown" – 0:49
  5. "'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 1:06
  6. "Big Ben/C.C. Rider" – 1:06
  7. "All of Me" – 2:19
  8. "The Man I Love" – 2:27
  9. "Them There Eyes" – 1:03
  10. "Gardenias from Louis" – 2:03
  11. "Cafe Manhattan/Had You Been Around/Love Theme" – 2:03

Side two

  1. "Any Happy Home" – 0:37
  2. "I Cried for You" – 0:37
  3. "Billie and Harry/Don't Explain" – 0:37
  4. "Mean to Me" – 1:18
  5. "Fine and Mellow" – 0:45
  6. "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" – 2:09
  7. "Louis Visits Billie on Tour/Love Theme" – 0:45
  8. "Cafe Manhattan Party" – 1:37
  9. "Persuasion/'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 3:48
  10. "Agent's Office" – 1:09
  11. "Love Is Here to Stay" – 2:01

Side three

  1. "Fine and Mellow" – 2:54
  2. "Lover Man" – 3:22
  3. "You've Changed" – 2:34
  4. "Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)" – 2:06
  5. "Good Morning Heartache" – 2:21
  6. "All of Me" – 2:04

Side four

  1. "Love Theme" – 2:53
  2. "My Man" – 3:26
  3. "Don't Explain" – 2:10
  4. "I Cried for You" – 2:13
  5. "Strange Fruit" – 3:35
  6. "God Bless the Child" – 2:42
  7. "Closing Theme" – 1:08

Charts

Chart (1973) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3] 43
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[4] 5
UK Albums (OCC)[5] 50
US Billboard 200[6] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 2

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Production

See also

References

  1. ^ "UK Certified Awards Search > Diana Ross". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 2013-01-11. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 281. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4814". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "Diana Ross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  7. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "British album certifications – Diana Ross – Lady Sings The Blues". British Phonographic Industry.
Categories