This is definitely the homosexual coming out of me, but fuck, who would've thought the original masterpiece would be expanded upon to an even greater degree?

While this 2-disc set bolsters a disc comprised entirely of 12" edits and dance remixes, the star is arguably the long sought after original Chic productions that went unreleased for 23 years prior to the DE being issued.

To make a long story short for those who may be clueless to the original's back drama: After a string of disagreements with Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers over her output for the project, Diana took what would be the mastered tapes to in-house Motown engineer, Russ Terrana, and had him completely remix the material without the approval of Bernard or Nile. Rumor has it that this was done due to the original recordings having too much of a Disco-esque sound, and Diana feared her career would flounder if she were to release the recordings in the wake of disco's death.

Anyhoo, damn that Diana for having such greatness tampered with. A side-by-side listening comparison - IMO - easily displays the superiority of Bernard & Nile's work over the matted sound the world would come to hear thanks to Terrana's mixing. Diana's no longer "in the mix" with the tracks taking on a whole new life with the songstress sounding so vibrantly full (despite claims that the Chic duo felt her singing was too flat) over the genius instrumentation finally presented in it's audible luster.

I could go on and on, but I'll pause here for right now. Who else is with me on this gem!?

I heard some of the Chic mixes on YouTube and I can't understand why Diana fucked with the music. It was fine on its own merit.

Timmy84 said:

She really messed up My Old Piano, the chic mix curb stomps the tweaked version into the pavement. Hell, she even took off an intricate full minute of Have Fun Again.

IdentityCrisis said:

That's Miss Ross for you. Always fucking up good things.

If only she had fucked up Workin' Overtime to the point of the project being canned, all would be forgiven.

OK, hearing it in its original form would have been enough to make it a "deluxe" edition for me.

But they managed to fit that on disc one.


Disc TWO is the ill schitt and the most conceptual overlook of her dance works from other albums, plus rare dj promo only mixes. I thought disc 2 made it priceless.
[Edited 8/3/08 21:00pm]

IdentityCrisis said:

I heard that record was some dog shit. I remember seeing the video for the title track on BET all the damn time as a child.

Timmy84 said:

Diana doing the reverse running man in a pair of acid-wash jeans was a visual pay-off, but the record itself can in no way be justified.

Cinnie, I get your aspect seeing as how you mentioned the mixes were a rarity for you, but as having heard a bulk of them prior, the unheard Chic mixes were Godsend.

Cinnie, man, I think of the songs on disc 2, the longer, extended "Love Hangover" version said it all! Sometimes Diana doesn't know how good her songs WERE!
[Edited 8/3/08 21:29pm]

IdentityCrisis said:

Not that I hadn't heard them before. Hell, you can get that Supremes disco edit or disco songs at any used vinyl store (except for "Love Hangover" extended!!!) but my point was... never has anyone compiled those worthy dance tracks from Diana like that. It really made me see the art in it.

Timmy84 said:

Yes!

Cinnie said:

Ahh, gotcha loud and clear now!

They largely skipped her 80's output when it came to the dance cd. The fan in me wishes they would've added the Pieces Of Ice 12'' Mix or anything to acknowledge it did happen.
[Edited 8/3/08 21:42pm]

I was thankful they skipped her 80s output and just focused on the true "disco" era, which still sounds like a curse word, but the way it was presented on disc 2, it became endearing.

Cinnie said:

Let me have my overly influenced, strugglin' for a hit 80's Diana dammit.

But alas, the entire set is remarkable overall which leaves little room for complaints.
[Edited 8/3/08 21:52pm]

IdentityCrisis said:

There is plenty of room for that on the deluxe edition for Swept Away.

Cinnie said:

Don't you dare tease me with such a claim of grandeur.

Cinnie said:

I don't want, want, want no cure, cure, cure for this love hangover!

I've had this for a few years now, and I fully expected when I bought it to like the original Chic productions more than what originally made it to record store shelves. Much to my surprise, I think Diana was right to have them redone. You barely hear her in the original mixes. They're certainly not bad, but she was right - it sounded like a Chic record with Diana on background vocals.

Glad to have those mixes, but I listen to the original more.

I think the released version of the album is much better than the "Chic mix" version.Diana did the right thing by having the songs remixed.The "Chic mixes" sound like demos and Diana is not giving her all,vocally.Her vocals needed to be brought out more,into the mix.I'm actually surprised that Niles and Bernard were satisfied with the original version.

Here's the "Chic Mix" version of "Upside Down"....it sounds flat to me,lacking the power and urgency of the released version that we know so well.

[Edited 8/4/08 5:55am]

AlexdeParis said:

speaking of "Love Hangover"...on my weekend vinyl dig,I found a copy of Diana Ross' 1976 self-titled album.This album contains the 7-minute version of "Love Hangover",which I never knew existed! I know about the 10-minute DiscoNet version that appears on the 'Diana' deluxe edition,but I never knew an extended version appears on her 1976 album.What a pleasant surprise,lol.

I only listen to the CHIC version. It may probably be the last good Chic Organization record...

I LOVE this album. I brought this in 2005 searching for the song "Top of the World" after hearing it on the show "Noah's Arc" when it was on Logo. When I heard this, I was FLOORED. There isn't a bad song on this album and hearing the Chic version makes me love it even more. I think it would have been a hit with the Chic version as well because the songs were just that good. Chic's version of Tenderness, Have Fun (Again) and Give Up is to die for! Hell remixed or not, from Upside Down to Give Up, "Diana" is a pure bonafide winner. The "Diana" album is now in my top 10 for favorite albums of all time. I joked with a friend of mine shortly after I brought the CD that I finally understand why so many gay guys love Diana Ross. Gay or straight, this CD is a must have for real.

Disc 2 is the bomb too! The 10-minute version of Love Hangover, Top Of The World, No One Gets The Prize/The Boss and all the other songs on the CD is kickass! The Deluxe Edition is worth the money and thensome.

purplecam said:

That album's FUNKY. I won't even call it "just" an album for the gay community, lol. The straight community hasn't really gave it up for Diana like the gay and bisexual communities have tho.

Timmy84 said:

It's VERY funky. Everyone should "have fun" with this CD! It's just great!

SoulAlive said:

I believe the 7 minute version was included on the re-issue cd a few years ago (not the same version on the Diana expanded version).

SoulAlive said:

I agree about Upside Down. I also feel the same way about "I'm Coming Out". The original Chic mix of those songs lacked the same "umph" that the released versions had. Now, I did LOVE the original Chic mix of My Old Piano and Friend to Friend.

daPrettyman said:

Yeah I can see to some degree why the songs were changed UD and ICO definitely sounded "unfinished" but I loved Diana's vocals on those versions. I like it when she sang "I'm a-WARE that you're cheating!" Nile said he wanted Diana to sound like that, Diana apparently didn't agree, lol.

GREAT FNG ALBUM>>> both mixes are good in their own right.

THIS IS MANDATORY LISTENING for anyone who claims they are a music fan.

Timmy84 said:

*Scoots closer*