Search - Diana Ross :: Swept Away

Still the Boss

Ralph | Florida | 09/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Swept Away stands the test of time. Great songs, including the wonderful ballad 'All of You'. So glad this LP was put on a CD."

I was swept away...

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 02/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Diana Ross may have had bigger hit albums ("Diana", "Why do fools fall in love", her eponymous debut, to name a few) but this has always been my favourite album of hers.



In 1984, Diana was very much in her experimental phrase (which began with "Why do fools fall in love"), trying everything from reggae to rock. "Swept away" was her fourth studio album for RCA and featured production by various people; Lionel Richie, Daryl Hall, Bernard Edwards, and Ms Ross herself. There was pop, rock, dance and her trademark ballads.



Opening is "Missing you", a lush piano ballad (with a nice spoken bridge) written and produced by Lionel Richie and recorded in memory of former Motown label mate Marvin Gaye who had died earlier in the year. This has been her last US top 10 hit to date (#10). Next up, the lite Caribbean soul of "Touch by touch" (with demolishing drum beats), a remake of the Fontella Bass hit "Rescue me" (not drastically reworked), the tender horn sprinkled "It's your move", and the stomping dance/rock title track "Swept away" (with a spoken intro, a blistering guitar solo, and aggressive vocals from Diana), written and produced by Daryl Hall, this is one of my favourites, and #19 in the US.



Bernard Edwards (from Chic) produced the next track, the wonderful "Telephone" with echoing vocals, which starts off with a phone being dialled, followed by deep plodding beats, a sparse, scratchy bass line, and the famous Chic guitar sounds. Fabulous! Next up, synthesizer pop á la Donna Summer's "I feel love", "Nobody makes me crazy like you do"; a bleak, haunting beauty with loads of electronic flourishes.



"All of you" is another lush ballad, this time a duet with Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias. This was another #19 hit. "We are the children of the world" (with a children's chorus) is hi energy rock/pop (and the weakest track on the album), and closing is a tender reading of Bob Dylan's "Forever young".



The album artwork was stunning too. Diana had just turned 40 but looked eons younger in the beautiful Francesco Scavullo photos, the original vinyl case folded open like her "Diana" album, and she was also aping the "Diana" pose. The album hit the top 40 and was certified gold.

"