I must say, I wasn't a big fan of hers at all..I really started checking her out(career) probably since 2003-2005..when Luther Vandross passed away thats when I noticed her..come to find out a lot of her tunes that Luther made bigger hits out of were her hits in the sixties..let me just say, she was singing her butt off,she was one of the few singers of the day to bring blacks and whites together with her music. she brought pop, soul, gospel, and easy listening to her audiences, how many singers can do that?.from my understanding, she's second to Aretha when it comes to hits, sales, songs, and etc..So Amazing was written for her first then Luther(who wrote it) covered it on one of his albums and her son wrote Here and Now for Mr. Vandross..Dionne gets know credit:

Walk On By

Anyone Who Had A Heart

Don't Make Me Over

Alfie

I Say a Little Prayer For You

Make It Easy On Yourself

Deja Vu

I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again

I'll Never Fall In Love Again

Are You There(With Another Girl)

Message To Michael

Then Came You with The Spinners

That's What Friends Are For

There's Something Always There To Remind Me

This Girl Is In Love With You

Do You Know The Way To ssan Jose?

and many more

They give it to the Supremes too damn much. Aretha and Dionne are never acknowledged for their blurring color lines with their music. Especially Dionne since she was really the first pop-soul singer.

The combination of Bacharach/David's writing with her voice created some of the most melodic Pop songs.

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

Timmy84 said:

Aretha and Dionne are never acknowledged for their blurring color lines with their music.

I think it's because of Aretha that Dionne doesn't get the props she deserves

aardvark15 said:

Timmy84 said:

Aretha and Dionne are never acknowledged for their blurring color lines with their music.

I think it's because of Aretha that Dionne doesn't get the props she deserves

I disagree lol

Timmy84 said:

aardvark15 said:

I think it's because of Aretha that Dionne doesn't get the props she deserves

I disagree lol

Think about it. When people think of think of 60's soul, 60's female artists, and or 60's black artists. Aretha is one of the first to come up. She's performed in front of the front of the president and when her songs (or songs that aren't really her songs but kind of are her songs) are covered people know. She's still cited as an influence amoung many young singers and she sells records better than most people who made records during that era. Dionne's had to live in the big shadow of Aretha (pun not intended )

aardvark15 said:

Timmy84 said:

I disagree lol

Think about it. When people think of think of 60's soul, 60's female artists, and or 60's black artists. Aretha is one of the first to come up. She's performed in front of the front of the president and when her songs (or songs that aren't really her songs but kind of are her songs) are covered people know. She's still cited as an influence amoung many young singers and she sells records better than most people who made records during that era. Dionne's had to live in the big shadow of Aretha (pun not intended )

Aretha was able to get the backing and had the background that allowed her to be that major. You have to remember her father was C. L. Franklin. She was gonna be a star regardless because she had the "it" factor. I think Dionne's management is a big reason why she doesn't really get the props. True, you can say the rise of Aretha is a reason but then again blame Motown also. In a way Dionne got something of a shaft similar to what the Shirelles got when the Supremes and the other Motown girl groups came on the scene (shortly after they did) and took their fan base from them.

These threads pop up about some successful artist/musician not getting their props. Ms. Warwick sold millions of records, made a living, and has maintained a 30 year plus career; in an industry for which its hard do to all three thing. People get caught up comparing records sale of artist, in my humble opinion that's neither here or there. Ms. Warwick had her fans and the late Mr. Vandross had his.

I agree with Neal's assessment of Ms. Warwick's contribution to the music and her collaboration with the writing team of Bacharach/David's.

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[Edited 1/18/13 19:44pm]

Luther's Dionne covers weren't even released as singles. So in that sense Dionne definitely gets props.

Timmy84 said:

Luther's Dionne covers weren't even released as singles. So in that sense Dionne definitely gets props.

Not when a lot of people don't realize Dionne did them first....

[Edited 1/19/13 6:52am]

Dionne's voice is bland. It's elevator music-all the soul has been blanched out of it.

Timmy84 said:

They give it to the Supremes too damn much. Aretha and Dionne are never acknowledged for their blurring color lines with their music. Especially Dionne since she was really the first pop-soul singer.

Perhaps from a domestic (US) point of view, but I find that overseas most people are more into Aretha and Dionne, and can likely hum one of their tunes off the tops of their heads before the can recall one of the Supremes. Quite often they will be able to recall Diana's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" but that seems to usually pale in comparison to how quickly everyone clamors to songs like "Respect" or "Do You Know the Way to San Jose". Did you see Dionne's TV One special, btw? I'm actually thinking about watching it again, tonight (if it's still up on the website).

theAudience said:

The combination of Bacharach/David's writing with her voice created some of the most melodic Pop songs.

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

That have stood the test of time the world over

Wait, didn't old girl do a psychic hotline?

scriptgirl said:

Dionne's voice is bland. It's elevator music-all the soul has been blanched out of it.

But she was meant to be a pop star, not a searing soul songstress.

No she's not a weeping, wailing Soul diva, but she holds a place amongst some pretty important musical heavy hitters; like her pals Bacharach & David, plus others from that era like Laura Nyro, Paul Simon, Phil Spector, The Rhonettes, Connie Francis...they ( and a host of others) all belonged to a very famous, powerful, and musically influential clique in the form of The Brill Building music machine. Motown wasn't the only thing going on back in the 1960's It's kinda sad, 'cause it seems like the more time goes on, the less younger generations know about this institution, it's artists, and the period in time where they reigned over American radio--- and just how much they're all a pretty important thread in the tapestry of American music.

theAudience said:

The combination of Bacharach/David's writing with her voice created some of the most melodic Pop songs.

"Walk On By" is my favorite

Her music is dull as hell to me.

Eh, I know about Brill, but can't get behind it. I like soul and grit. That's pretty much why, for the most part, I'm not into motown.

Ottensen said:

Timmy84 said:

They give it to the Supremes too damn much. Aretha and Dionne are never acknowledged for their blurring color lines with their music. Especially Dionne since she was really the first pop-soul singer.

Perhaps from a domestic (US) point of view, but I find that overseas most people are more into Aretha and Dionne, and can likely hum one of their tunes off the tops of their heads before the can recall one of the Supremes. Quite often they will be able to recall Diana's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" but that seems to usually pale in comparison to how quickly everyone clamors to songs like "Respect" or "Do You Know the Way to San Jose". Did you see Dionne's TV One special, btw? I'm actually thinking about watching it again, tonight (if it's still up on the website).

That is a good point...

Timmy84 said:

Luther's Dionne covers weren't even released as singles. So in that sense Dionne definitely gets props.

That's an excellent point Timmy. When Warwick was hot she was hot. No she wasn't played on V103 (R&B/Soul) am but all you had to do is turn the dial to WLS and you heard Warwick on the hour ever hour, what more do some folks want'. Geeezzzz.

I'll say this...

The main reason why she and Bacharach/David's teamed up in the first place was because I think she sang or interpret their songs the way they heard them in their heads. She basically was for a lack of a better word, their muse. The songs weren't easy songs to sing, the way they were arranged. In my opinion Ms. Warwick is the definitive singer for their material. Well apart of it anyways.

=========================

[Edited 1/19/13 19:14pm]

Don't really care for her.

other than seeming like being a bitch on TV...she has a nice singing voice, some nice songs..outside of that nothing special...

BTW she has nostrils that could hide the Titanic!!

Saw her recently on the Apprentice and she came across terrible on there, but I do love her music.

And one of the few who acted with class after Whitney passed.

theAudience said:

The combination of Bacharach/David's writing with her voice created some of the most melodic Pop songs.

Music for adventurous listeners

tA

Tribal Records

THE best answer in THIS entire thread. The Bacharach/David/Warwick alliiance is what made those classics works.

TD3 said:

Timmy84 said:

Luther's Dionne covers weren't even released as singles. So in that sense Dionne definitely gets props.

That's an excellent point Timmy. When Warwick was hot she was hot. No she wasn't played on V103 (R&B/Soul) am but all you had to do is turn the dial to WLS and you heard Warwick on the hour ever hour, what more do some folks want'. Geeezzzz.

I'll say this...

The main reason why she and Bacharach/David's teamed up in the first place was because I think she sang or interpret their songs the way they heard them in their heads. She basically was for a lack of a better word, their muse. The songs weren't easy songs to sing, the way they were arranged. In my opinion Ms. Warwick is the definitive singer for their material. Well apart of it anyways.

=========================

[Edited 1/19/13 19:14pm]

Yeah, Bacharach/David/Warwick were like a trio. They rode each other to fame and glory.

I have never explored her music. I heard songs here and there but she seems boring. lol

mookie said:

Saw her recently on the Apprentice and she came across terrible on there, but I do love her music.

Dionne doesnt get the propers she deserves. She did in the 80's & 90's but after the 90's she did more High profile Gigs overseas and she was less in the spotlight here. By the 90's she had alaready done it all, sang every where with & for everybody. In my opinion Dionne didnt feel the need to keep doing High profile Gigs because she already made a name for herself decades proior and she was already Rich.

Dionne's music title should be Queen of Pop or The Songstress of Pop or something. Of course she is that and then some without the theatre titles. Her hits were charting on both charts back in the day and was doing it with ease.

The only 2 things I think she regrets career wise was doing The Psychic Friends network and agreeing to do Donald Trumps"The Apprentice". One was long term and made her a lot of money but changed her Songstress image, while the other was only short term but painted her as this mean old Lady.

I don't think Dionne had a clue that The Apprentice producers look for the WORST in all of their participants. Bad moments on camera is what sells in their eyes and they used EVERY bad moment of her they could air.

I knew she wasnt going to return for the Season finale and I dont blame her.

[Edited 1/21/13 2:49am]

I don't really rate her voice - its pleasant enough but she aint no power house singer.

I like her voice a lot.. I prefer her verison of Say A little Prayer, Walk On By and Don't Make Me Over

I dig Anyone Who Had A Heart too, but Luther killed it

[Edited 1/21/13 6:28am]