Diana Ross is the debut solo studio album by American singer Diana Ross. It reached number 19 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album would later go onto sell 500,000 copies in America. The album was the ultimate test to see if the former Supremes frontwoman could make it as a solo act. Overseen by the songwriting-producing team of Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, the album includes several cover versions of songs the duo had recorded on other Motown acts. Johnny Bristol, producer of her final single with The Supremes, "Someday We'll Be Together" also contributed one track "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You". Ross' first solo single, "Reach Out and Touch ", sold over 500,000 copies in the USA, but was somewhat of a disappointment in terms of chart success, when it charted at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its follow-up, a cover of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", peaked at number one on the Hot 100, selling approximately 1,245,000 copies in the USA, and garnering a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The 2002 Expanded Edition re-release of the album featured a number of bonus tracks, including four from her unreleased sessions with 5th Dimension producer Bones Howe. These included two Laura Nyro covers which would subsequently be recorded by Barbra Streisand for her 1971 album Stoney End as well as "Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes" which become a Fifth Dimension hit in 1971.
Critical reception
Diana Ross received generally positive reviews from music critics. Ron Wynn of AllMusic, gave the album a 4.5/5, and stated that the album was the best album she had released while under contract with Motown, and perhaps her best work ever, and that it proved that she would be able to be successful without The Supremes. Village Voice critic Robert Christgau said that while there were two or three good songs, the rest came off bland and boring, also saying that the album did not age well since its release. In a positive review, Daryl Easlea of BBC stated that despite the album cover making it look more bland and uninteresting, that the album and its songs made up for this.
Commercial performance
Diana Ross made its debut on the Billboard 200 on the chart dated July 11th, 1970, the album made its debut at number 71. On the chart issue dated October 3, 1970, the album reached its peak at number 19. The album eventually was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, denoting shipments of 500,000 copies.
Track listing
All tracks written and produced by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, except for "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You", written by Johnny Bristol, Harvey Fuqua, Sylvia Moy and produced by Bristol.
