Definitive Collection? HAH!!!
Jonathan W. Schult | Mass. Park, NY | 02/01/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Universal's "The Definitive Collection" by Diana Ross and the Supremes contains 18 songs. Their "The Ultimate Collection" of just a few years ago contains 25 songs (for just a buck and a half more!) What's so "definitive" about missing 7 songs?
Look, single-disc retrospectives rarely are any good, whether you're just looking for the big hits or wanting to check out an artists' repertoire on a somewhat larger scope. I personally recommend "The Supremes Gold", a two disc retrospective which contains 40 tracks, and collects THREE previous albums in their entirety: The original blue two-record "Diana Ross And the Supremes Greatest Hits" (later issued as "Greatest Hits Volumes One and Two"), "Greatest Hits Volume 3", and "The Supremes - At Their Best" which contained the Jean Terrell-led hits. This would be the cheapest and most concise way for the CASUAL fan to acquire everything they could want in one felled swoop. And it includes the stereo mixes the younger people want (even though the mono IS better!!!) And it can be gotten on the cheap.
This "definitive" collection smacks once more of Universal's blatant, money-grubbing ways."
Diana Ross or Supremes??
rickshayne | 12/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a mess amazon has made! Two listings, both for Diana Ross The Definitive Collection, yet this one has Supremes cover and track listing, yet listed under Diana Ross and every review is about her solo collection."
Diana and The Supremes Wins First #1 Amazon Album
L. Boki | San Francisco, CA | 03/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When your career spans nearly 5 decades, your discography will most undoubtedly have many greatest hits compilations. Diana Ross and the Supremes are certainly no exception to this rule (often to the distaste of Diana's fervent fan base). However, Greatest Hits compilations are usually not designed for the "audiophile fan". They are designed to reach a wider, more casual, fairweather fan.
The exceptional aspect of this compilation is its success as part of Amazon's aggressive MP3 Album of the Day. The ladies are in great company as artists as diverse as U2, Mozart, John Coltrane and Creedence Clearwater have all been selected as MP3 Album of the Day. The pricing is definitely appealing for 18 well known smashes. And to its credit, the album soared into the Top 5 (as most Album of the Day candidates have) and eventually became Diana's first #1 Amazon album!
Iconic songs like "Come See About Me", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "You Keep Me Hangin' On" to "Someday We'll Be Together" (their final #1 single and the final #1 Record of 1969). As these float right into your MP3 library, you will be delighted to hear these well-crafted 3 minutes of Pop/R&B treasures. The teaming of Holland, Dozier, Holland (producer and songwriters of the majority of these songs) was as important as the distinct harmonizing of Diana, Mary and Flo! A match made in Music heaven garnering 12 #1 Pop Singles, 3 #1 Pop albums, 11 Pop Top 10 Albums and the template for any girl group, even today, a half century later.
Diana's distinctive vocals are infused with nuance, phrasing and emotive drama caressed by the harmonies of Flo and Mary (and a few songs featuring Cindy).
So it is fitting that the #1 American Group in the 60s, the #2 Most Popular Group Globally in the 60s, sometimes forgotten, but fortunately reawakened by "Dreamgirls" and really, the debut of any new girl group from Destiny's Child to The Dixie Chicks.
You wont be disappointed in the often heartbreaking lyrics against that distinctive Funk Brothers driving musicianship adventure.........because the Definitive Girl Group of all time, is now accurately captured with their Definitive hits in this "Definitive Collection"!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1