Why isn't this woman more of a legend? So underrated. She kills this performance of "Home" on The Apollo.

To me Stephanie Mills is one of those underappreciated r&b artists her voice alone made you take notice of her talent. I know the song 'Home' will always be her signature song but to me the two I remember as a child that stands out to me was

Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin

"http://www.youtube.com/em...7HPQs4GUiI"

Never Knew Love Like This Before

"http://www.youtube.com/em...7epglKvhPs"

[Edited 6/11/11 17:43pm]

I've always though Maxine Jones from En Vogue sounds a little like Stephanie.

.

[Edited 6/11/11 19:21pm]

Nick715 said:

Why isn't this woman more of a legend? So underrated. She kills this performance of "Home" on The Apollo.

Because A) she never had a Clive Davis or Berry Gordy championing her music and mass-promoting her across multiple radio/video formats, B) her initial impact, for the most part, was mainly with Soul/R&B/Disco/Dance audiences, nothing at all wrong with that, but you know how some people are...if you're not consistently on the top of the pop charts you are irrelevant, and C) after her final major label CD in 1992 she stopped recording secular music for over a decade, in that time she only released one gospel CD, so you have generations who have no idea who she is because of her lack of presence on the music scene, though I'm certain many younger people have discovered her music via YouTube and their parents record collections. Plus I think Stephanie is a very outspoken person and not one to play the games one needs to in order to secure a spot in the very fickle and cut-throat world of the entertainment industry. Though I don't know for certain, this may have something to do with why so much of her catalog has never been reissued on CD. That, and some people just have no taste. I keed. I keed. ...........

[Edited 6/11/11 19:25pm]

She needs a documentary. I'll happily see it... not anything on "Unsung", but something more productive if you know what I mean. Definitely underappreciated...

Imagine how history would shift for her had egos and private parts were checked ever so firmly at the door and didn't play a big role in this story and Stephanie Mills actually played Dorothy in the movie version of "The Wiz". Just imagine the possibilities.

That one career move would've made her a household name by now, but NOOOOOO Mr.Gordy, Lord of the Leprechauns and Madame Ross The Buck Toothed monster had to fuck it up for her,,,,and the rest of us who loved the musical.

[Edited 6/12/11 10:32am]

Harlepolis said:

Imagine how history would shift for her had egos and private parts were checked ever so firmly at the door and didn't play a big role in this story and Stephanie Mills actually played Dorothy in the movie version of "The Wiz". Just imagine the possibilities.

That one career move would've made her a household name by now, but NOOOOOO Mr.Gordy, Lord of the Leprechauns and Buck Tooth Ross had to fuck it up for her,,,,and the rest of us who loved the musical.

[Edited 6/12/11 10:30am]

Gordy didn't want Ross to do it. So let's destroy that myth. Also, Diana practically begged the producers to choose her because she was a bigger name. For some reason she thought she could sell the film and not Stephanie. While the film version has become a cult favorite, the original play's fans still hasn't forgave Diana for that.

To be honest, every time I listen to Stephanie wail or belt, she makes me feel something other singers who belt (with the exceptions of Aretha and Chaka and Gladys) don't. It's something deep in my heart she touches especially when she sings "Home".

[Edited 6/12/11 10:33am]

Timmy84 said:

Harlepolis said:

Imagine how history would shift for her had egos and private parts were checked ever so firmly at the door and didn't play a big role in this story and Stephanie Mills actually played Dorothy in the movie version of "The Wiz". Just imagine the possibilities.

That one career move would've made her a household name by now, but NOOOOOO Mr.Gordy, Lord of the Leprechauns and Buck Tooth Ross had to fuck it up for her,,,,and the rest of us who loved the musical.

[Edited 6/12/11 10:30am]

Gordy didn't want Ross to do it. So let's destroy that myth. Also, Diana practically begged the producers to choose her because she was a bigger name. For some reason she thought she could sell the film and not Stephanie. While the film version has become a cult favorite, the original play's fans still hasn't forgave Diana for that.

Gordy had enough clout and power to say "Nah bitch, I got this" but greed got into his head and evidently, he too was on the same page as Diane as far as sales attraction were concerned. And what were the results? A filthy powerhouse mess with epic proportions.

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

Gordy didn't want Ross to do it. So let's destroy that myth. Also, Diana practically begged the producers to choose her because she was a bigger name. For some reason she thought she could sell the film and not Stephanie. While the film version has become a cult favorite, the original play's fans still hasn't forgave Diana for that.

Gordy had enough clout and power to say "Nah bitch, I got this" but greed got into his head and evidently, he too was on the same page as Diane as far as sales attraction were concerned. And what were the results? A filthy powerhouse mess with epic proportions.

When it became a flop, apparently Gordy rubbed it in Diana's face saying "see, now look what happens when you don't listen to me."

Gordy only dug it for THE MONEY and when that didn't work, it made him madder. Actually helped to break them up altogether because neither Diana nor Berry trusted each other yet Berry still wanted Diana to stay with Motown and she further upset him when, after Rick James dropped out of producing for her (because they only wanted Rick to do four songs) to produce Teena, she picked the producers (Ashford & Simpson) herself on her next album.

So there was more to it than the usual "fuck me and I'll get you the project" deal. Besides, when you look back at Diana's career at the time, she was struggling more than succeeding.

yanowha said:

You know what I loved what Stephanie did after all that, she scored her biggest hit with "I Never Knew Love Like This Before", THEN took the Grammy from what was expected to be Diana's. Then years later, Patti's stubborn tail turned down the future classic "I Feel Good All Over" (which would've made Winner in You decent enough) and Stephanie took it and made it to #1 R&B. Stephanie had enough potential to be a pop star but maybe the record label (or maybe it was just her choosing) that she stuck to her R&B roots and maybe that's why after a while she got disillusioned. It's kinda like Phyllis Hyman without the tragic ending.

Timmy84 said:

For some reason she thought she could sell the film and not Stephanie.

How is that? Except for a few exceptions, most of Diana's solo albums and singles weren't successful. Mahogany the movie wasn't a big success either.

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

For some reason she thought she could sell the film and not Stephanie.

How is that? Except for a few exceptions, most of Diana's solo albums and singles weren't successful. Mahogany the movie wasn't a big success either.

Beats the fuck out of me Micky.

1sotrue said:

She deserves to be honored just as much as Patti Labelle at the BET awards.

Timmy84 said:

MickyDolenz said:

How is that? Except for a few exceptions, most of Diana's solo albums and singles weren't successful. Mahogany the movie wasn't a big success either.

Beats the fuck out of me Micky.

Outside of the 3 Motown/Gordy movies she did, no one else hired her to appear in their films. She did a TV movie with Brandy in the 1990's.

MickyDolenz said:

Timmy84 said:

Beats the fuck out of me Micky.

Outside of the 3 Motown/Gordy movies she did, no one else hired her to appear in their films. She did a TV movie with Brandy in the 1990's.

She showed out BIG TIME in "Out of Darkness" IMO. That was her golden moment, acting wise.

OK I think it was too but come on are y'all really gonna talk about Diana in a Stephanie Mills thread?

Keep it on Stephanie.

^^^I didn't bring up Diana. I mentioned Maxine Jones.

MickyDolenz said:

I've always though Maxine Jones from En Vogue sounds a little like Stephanie.

Same here. Coincidently, Maxine cites Steph as an inspiration growing up.

MickyDolenz said:

^^^I didn't bring up Diana. I mentioned Maxine Jones.

I know you didn't.

mrjun18 said:

MickyDolenz said:

I've always though Maxine Jones from En Vogue sounds a little like Stephanie.

Same here. Coincidently, Maxine cites Steph as an inspiration growing up.

I hear it too.

Timmy84 said:

MickyDolenz said:

^^^I didn't bring up Diana. I mentioned Maxine Jones.

I know you didn't.

She was bound to be mentioned, get a damn grip

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

I know you didn't.

She was bound to be mentioned, get a damn grip

Yeah right. Guess I should talk about Patti then.

Timmy84 said:

Harlepolis said:

She was bound to be mentioned, get a damn grip

Yeah right. Guess I should talk about Patti then.

The OP posted "Home" and it sparked the whole "Wiz" scenario for me which Patti didn't participate in as we all know, so I don't see the big deal.

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah right. Guess I should talk about Patti then.

The OP posted "Home" and it sparked the whole "Wiz" scenario for me which Patti didn't participate in as we all know, so I don't see the big deal.

*coughPattiturneddownIFeelGoodAllOvercough*

Timmy84 said:

Harlepolis said:

The OP posted "Home" and it sparked the whole "Wiz" scenario for me which Patti didn't participate in as we all know, so I don't see the big deal.

*coughPattiturneddownIFeelGoodAllOvercough*

And? She would've been mentioned too had that song been posted. Like I said, ain't no big deal.

Stephanie totally got in that ass with this one. Makes me forget about Peabo's and I can't even listen to his version anymore!

Harlepolis said:

Timmy84 said:

*coughPattiturneddownIFeelGoodAllOvercough*

And? She would've been mentioned too had that song been posted. Like I said, ain't no big deal.

Either way it's really all about Stephanie Mills.