7 Diana Ross Lady Sings The Blues OST

TAMLA MOTOWN, 1972

You say: “Diana’s first movie, showcasing fine interpretations of Billie Holiday classics.” Nigel Maggs, via e-mail

The casting of Ross as Billie Holiday in the 1972 biopic Lady Sings The Blues raised eyebrows at best, caused apoplexy at worst. But her singing on the soundtrack turned out to be her best OST – as was her acting performance. With a band of seasoned jazz players working on arrangements by Oliver Nelson, Benny Golson and producer Gil Askey, Ross doesn’t diligently mimic Lady Day but honours the material with few vocal histrionics. Fine And Mellow is just that, there are confident readings of My Man, You’ve Changed, Good Morning Heartache, even the indelible signatures God Bless The Child and Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?). Blue, an LP of jazz standards made at this time, was shelved ’til 2006.