| 1. Touch Me in the Morning |
| 2. All of My Life |
| 3. We Need You |
| 4. Leave a Little Room |
| 5. I Won't Last a Day Without You |
| 6. Little Girl Blue |
| 7. My Baby (My Baby My Own) |
| 8. Imagine |
| 9. Medley: Brown Baby/Save the Children |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
1973 solo album featuring the hit title track & a cover of John Lennon's 'Imagine'.
return to her signature sound should be fast in coming, so shortly after the Lady.... soundtrack was winding down on the charts, Touch Me In The Morning was released.
The tile track is the epitome of a Diana Ross ballad, and it landed her another Pop/R & B crossover hit.
With the commitment of her mentor, Berry Gordy, Diana gained more confidence as a vocalist, and this release contains some of her finest work from a cover of the Carpenter's, I Won't Last A Day Without You, to a moving take on the John Lennon masterpiece Imagine.
Her Jazz/Blues stylings from LSTB were not lost either, and the medley of Brown Baby and Save The Children
lent her more vocal credability.
Diana displayed a powerful level of emotion on this album and All Of My Life is another prime example.
Why a rating of 4 stars, as opposed to 5?. Simply put, that although the dramatic ballad is Diana's forte,
a uptempo track, or two, delivered with the same passion as the rest of this release would have taken it to the next level.
Ken
The magnificent title track, Touch Me In The Morning is an absolute cracking masterpiece and is one of Diana's most memroable and timeless classics. A young composer, Michael Masser was drafted in by Motown. His first assignment was to come up with a no.1 hit for Motown's leading lady - Diana Ross. Michael Masser immediately came up with Touch Me In The Morning with Diana Ross in mind. Touch Me In The Morning would also be aided by the compositional and lyrical finesse of Ron Miller. Basically Berry Gordy wanted a No.1 hit waiting in the wings for his leading star just in the event of a needed re-bound if the Lady Sings The Blues movie bombed. Of course we all know Lady Sings The Blues was indeed an enduring success and earned her a much deserved oscar nomination for her powerful and riviting portrayal as the tortured Jazz singer Billie Holiday. Hot on its trail came Touch Me in The Morning. After an extremely sluggish start where it literally hovered for weeks on end down the lower reaches of the Hot 100 it slowly but surely climbed up the charts and eventually zoomed into pole position, remaining there for weeks on end. The formula is vastly similar to Ain't No Mountain High Enough where the rhythm steadily builds to its exalting chrous which Diana tackles with utter style and finesse sounding gutsy and soulful. One of Diana Ross's best classics!
Incidentally Michael Masser described the recording sessions for the Touch Me In The Morning single an emotionally draining experience. He claimed that Diana was very emotional during the sessions, crying a lot when she couldn't hit the notes required for the song and Diana even believed the song was beyond her vocal abilities. After countless takes, Diana finally got that desired vocal performance mastered to perfection.
Another timeless ballad was the remarkably powerful, All Of My Life where Dianas exubearant delivery ignites this breathtakingly beautiful ballad to startling effect. All Of My Life was lifted as a single in the U.K and became a Top 10 hit.
The mood turns somewhat chilly on the atmospheric, We Need You where Diana delivers a fantastic and stirring vocal performance. We Need you was written by Deke Richards whose most famous work for Diana Ross was the U.K chart-topping, I'm Still Waiting in 1971.
Also of great musical merit was the pleasant, mid-tempo Leave A Little Room where Diana glides through the verses and is joined by a gospel choir on the chrous which merley adds to its dramatic effect.
Diana surprisingly makes her version of The Carpenters, I Won't Last A Day Without You her own but it's the latter half of the album that displays a lot of true artistic flair. Perharps holding onto Lady Sings The Blues in some way, Diana delivers two Jazz/Blues numbers that are both stunningly atmospheric. Her performance on Little Girl Blue is dreamy and rich whilst the mood deepens and steadily more sombre on the haunting, My Baby (My Own). Her striking, lower throat register performance virtually turns into a subdued howl at the climax of this track.
Diana then delivers a magnificent and sophisticated reading of the John Lennon classic Imagine which she sings with such passion in her voice.
The Touch Me In The Morning (1973)album's climax is a startling and compelling medley (a)Brown Baby (b)Save The Children. More than anything, this medley showcased her versatile vocal style and her overall diversity as a recording artist. The Medley is both touching and hauntingly atmospheric rounding the project off beautifully.
The Touch Me In The Morning (1973) set was a fantastic affair all round and was one of her most artistic and diverse efforts off the 1970's. The bonus was it proved to be another yet massive commercial success where it speedily jumped into the U.K and U.S Top 10 Album charts becoming one of her biggest sellers in that era.
Ian Phillips
August 2006
Historically, the timing for the release of the album was of significant importance. Diana had stunned the world with her Oscar nominated and Golden Globe Award winning performance in "Lady Sings the Blues". It was time to return to the studios and the result was a collection of beautiful, timeless classics that have stood the test of time.
The album opens with that ever popular Ross ballad, "Touch Me in the Morning" which has to rank as one of the finest pop/R&B singles of the modern pop era. Diana demonstrated previously undiscovered nuances in her delivery, and displayed a talent for ballads that was fresh and exciting. Furthermore, Diana's voice was incredibly smooth, supple and dreamy. It all makes for pleasant listening.
There are no dance cuts here, just classy ballads. My personal favourites are "Leave A Little Room", "Little Girl Blue", and "My Baby, My Own". The "Brown Baby/Save the Children" medley is awesome. "Save the Children" is quite an intense experience, with Diana singing with passion and conviction. Both tracks were produced by Ms Ross.
This classy album should be part of the collection of any Ross fan. This was Diana at her best.
The title track Touch Me In The Morning is a masterpiece itself and is one of Dianas' most mememroable and timeless classics. The rhythm builds to the exciting chrous which Diana tackles with style and finesse. After a sluggish start on the U.S charts, Touch Me In The Morning eventually catapulted into pole position, whilst gliding into the U.K Top 10.
Another timeless ballad, All Of My Life became a Top 10 success in the U.K deservedly. This soul classic contains a fantastic, stirring vocal performance from its star whilst the mood quickly turns chilly on the yearning, We Need You.
Of equally strong musical merit was the effective Leave A Little Room, where Diana glides through the verses and is joined by a gospel-influenced choir on the tracks chrous. Diana surprisingly makes her version of The Carpenters, I Won't Last a Day Without You, her own but its the latter half of the album that displays a lot of true artistic flair. Perharps holding onto Lady Sings The Blues in some way, Diana delivers two Jazz/Blues numbers that are both startlingly atmospheric. Her performance is almost dreamy on Little Girl Blue whilst the mood goes deeper and more sombre on the haunting My Baby (My Own). Her striking vocal delivery virtually turns into a subdued howl at the climax of this track.
She then delivers a magnificent, stylish and sophisticated reading of John Lennons' famous classic, Imagine, and then finally the albums winds down to its climax with the startling medley Brown Baby/Save The Children. Both these number are chilly and hauntingly atmospheric and both display Dianas' versatile vocal expertise.
The Touch Me in The Morning album is a fantastic, unique affair all round and was one of her most artistic efforts. And the bonus was it proved to be another massive commercial success where it rapidly jumped into the U.K and U.S Top 10 Album Charts, becoming one of her biggest sellers of that era. A Classic!
Diana Ross' studio albums at Motown Records during the 1970's had always received a mixed reception from critics and had always been somewhat erratic in terms of commercial success. There had been classics such as her stunning solo debut Diana Ross (1970), Surrender (1971), Touch Me In The Morning (1973) and Diana Ross (1976) whilst others such as Everything Is Everything (1970) and Last Time I Saw Him (1973) seemed more like scrappily assembled collections of left-over tracks from various recording sessions.
After the cross-Atlantic Top 5 success of the excellent Diana Ross (1976) LP, Ross was teamed with renowned R&B producer Richard Perry and a diverse range of songwriters. This 1977 studio entry titled Baby It's Me marked a more clear consistency within the startling musical arrangements which varied from pounding percussion and heavy drum beats that contained compelling undertones of pure, pulsating Funk on the blend of uptempo material to haunting string arrangements and gentle piano backdrops on the slower and more intricate tracks. Ross gets ample opportunity to stretch herself and becomes immersed into the varying moods of the album.
Baby It's Me (1977) opens with Gettin' Ready For Love, which became the projects premier single. The cross Disco-Jazz flavoured arrangements of this feel-good number, which had been written by Tom Snowe and Frannie Goulde, contained an easy-going, seamless performance from Ross who glides along the verses and the catchy chrous with ease and style. Gettin' Ready For Love surprisingly only climbed to No.27 in the U.S whilst stalling at just No.23 in the U.K.
You Got It, a song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Linda Laurie, also found its way to being issued as a single in the U.S. Encapsulating R&B/Pop with a slight Disco twinge, Ross sounded slightly more like a showbiz performer than a Soul singer but that charm and unique style and sound of her soft, silky voice shines through. Indeed a catchy number, You Got It all the more surprisingly only made it to No.49 on the U.S BillBoard Charts.
The title track, Baby It's Me, spins into mainstream Funk though Ross surprisingly doesn't quite sound comfortable or at ease with this number which had been penned by Donald Dunn and Charles C Smith. Ross is backed by an uncredited male vocalist who virtually sings along with her through the duration of the song, probably to add some spark and ignition to the recording but though Baby It's Me is average to listen to, it also somehow comes off flawed and lacking in some way.
Far better is the haunting, atmospheric tone of Too Shy To Say, written by fellow Motown colleague and the genius himself, Stevie Wonder. Ross inserts herself effectively into this mellow compostion of lush strings, electric keyboards and synthesizers.
The highly infectious Your Love Is So Good For Me was a sparse Disco number that combined red hot, compelling Funk with a strong, pulsating bassline and heavy, repetitive drum beats. Ross sounds the perfect Disco Diva and Your Love Is So Good For Me gave a mere taste of things to come on future Disco-oriented albums, The Boss (1979) and diana (1980). Your Love Is So Good For Me became a popular club hit though despite its fire and potential stopped again at just No.49 on the U.S Top 100.
Richard Perry obviously wanted Diana Ross to maintain her identity and a certain familiarity with mainstream buyers. and with the bouncy Top Of The World (a superb track that would have made an ideal choice for release as a single) and exotic All Night Lover, Ross sounds like shes back with The Supremes with her angelic, yearning and vulnreable-sounding performances on both tracks. The latter was penned by Jerry Ragovoy and Len Roberts, All Night Lover is instantly contagious with its bright and commercial-like R&B/Pop sound.
During the 70's Diana Ross had become something of what many described as a black Barbara Streisand with her extravagent, showbiz-inspired concerts and Confide In Me really carried that ideally supper-club type sound that didn't work for many die-hard Soul/R&B fans. However Ross is in glorious voice throughout, igniting this otherwise rather kitsch number.
The mood then darkens, becoming deeper and sombre in its tone on the Bill Walters number, The Same Love That Made Me Laugh. Ross sounds in complete dispair and fittingly sullen throughout the track which adds to the intensity of the chilly and atmospheric musical arrangements. A remarkable recording that is very untypical for Ross and is quite possibly the cream of the crop on this album.
More mellower in its tone is the final dramatic affair of the album, Come In From The Rain, an exalting ballad written by Carole Boyer Sayer and Melissa Manchester. Ross' voice brims with emotion, coating the dazzling, tempo-shifting orchestrations.
Baby It's Me (1977) is highly glossy and sophisticated but Ross' voice retains that soulful edge that always managed to ignite even the most mediocre track she recorded at Motown. That sassy, funky side to Ross is still evidently there on the energetic, upbeat offerings such as Gettin' Ready For Love, You Got It, Your Love Is So Good For Me, Top Of The World and All Night Lover whilst also displaying her effortless flair for ballads on diverse numbers such as the haunting The Same Love That Made Me Laugh, the atmospheric Too Shy To Say and the exalting Come In From The Rain.
All in all, Baby It's Me is another pleasing effort that was a fantastic follow-up to her previous LP Diana Ross (1976). However Baby It's Me was less successful commercially, landing at No.18 on the U.S Album Charts whilst disappointingly failing to even chart altogether in the U.K - a market in which she had always been a consistent seller.
Even so, Baby It's Me is now one of her most popular studio albums amongst fans.
The Touch Me In The Morning LP really showcases her adeptness with this format. Certainly the title track earned fame when it topped the US Pop charts and made the Top 10 in the UK. But the remainder of the album is no less worthy of attention. "All Of My Life" and "Leave A Little Room" are among the most polished AC ballads Ross has ever released -- they are simultaneously breezy and powerful. Both feature some of the best ballad production in her catalog.
She also handles a cover of Marvin Gaye's soulful "Brown Baby"/"Save The Children" with remarkably emotive vocal delivery. It remains one of my favorite Ross vocal performances.
The ballads on Touch Me In The Morning, taken together with songs like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Last Time I Saw Him," "Love Hangover," "Mirror, Mirror," and "Good Morning Heartache," truly reveal Diana's ability to handle a diverse range of musical genres. TMITM is not only spectacular on its own, but it really underscores Diana Ross's versatility as an artist.
1973 solo album featuring the hit title track & a cover of John Lennon's 'Imagine'.
Touch Me in the Morning,Diana Ross,Polygram Int'l,Motown,Pop,R&B,R&B/Soul,Soul,Soul/R & B
Average customer rating: 
|
Touch Me in the Morning
Diana Ross Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  Classic R&B
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
Motown
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soul
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
R&B
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000026OGE Release Date: 2003-07-07 |
Tracks:
- Touch Me in the Morning
- All of My Life
- We Need You
- Leave a Little Room
- I Won't Last a Day Without You
- Little Girl Blue
- My Baby (My Baby My Own)
- Imagine
- Medley: Brown Baby/Save the Children
Album Description
1973 solo album featuring the hit title track & a cover of John Lennon's 'Imagine'.Customer Reviews:
"Classic Ross".......2007-01-14
Diana's Ballad Tour De Force.......2006-11-18
return to her signature sound should be fast in coming, so shortly after the Lady.... soundtrack was winding down on the charts, Touch Me In The Morning was released.
The tile track is the epitome of a Diana Ross ballad, and it landed her another Pop/R & B crossover hit.
With the commitment of her mentor, Berry Gordy, Diana gained more confidence as a vocalist, and this release contains some of her finest work from a cover of the Carpenter's, I Won't Last A Day Without You, to a moving take on the John Lennon masterpiece Imagine.
Her Jazz/Blues stylings from LSTB were not lost either, and the medley of Brown Baby and Save The Children
lent her more vocal credability.
Diana displayed a powerful level of emotion on this album and All Of My Life is another prime example.
Why a rating of 4 stars, as opposed to 5?. Simply put, that although the dramatic ballad is Diana's forte,
a uptempo track, or two, delivered with the same passion as the rest of this release would have taken it to the next level.
Ken
The Soul Diva Returns After Lady Sings The Blues With An International Top 10 Album.......2006-08-31
The magnificent title track, Touch Me In The Morning is an absolute cracking masterpiece and is one of Diana's most memroable and timeless classics. A young composer, Michael Masser was drafted in by Motown. His first assignment was to come up with a no.1 hit for Motown's leading lady - Diana Ross. Michael Masser immediately came up with Touch Me In The Morning with Diana Ross in mind. Touch Me In The Morning would also be aided by the compositional and lyrical finesse of Ron Miller. Basically Berry Gordy wanted a No.1 hit waiting in the wings for his leading star just in the event of a needed re-bound if the Lady Sings The Blues movie bombed. Of course we all know Lady Sings The Blues was indeed an enduring success and earned her a much deserved oscar nomination for her powerful and riviting portrayal as the tortured Jazz singer Billie Holiday. Hot on its trail came Touch Me in The Morning. After an extremely sluggish start where it literally hovered for weeks on end down the lower reaches of the Hot 100 it slowly but surely climbed up the charts and eventually zoomed into pole position, remaining there for weeks on end. The formula is vastly similar to Ain't No Mountain High Enough where the rhythm steadily builds to its exalting chrous which Diana tackles with utter style and finesse sounding gutsy and soulful. One of Diana Ross's best classics!
Incidentally Michael Masser described the recording sessions for the Touch Me In The Morning single an emotionally draining experience. He claimed that Diana was very emotional during the sessions, crying a lot when she couldn't hit the notes required for the song and Diana even believed the song was beyond her vocal abilities. After countless takes, Diana finally got that desired vocal performance mastered to perfection.
Another timeless ballad was the remarkably powerful, All Of My Life where Dianas exubearant delivery ignites this breathtakingly beautiful ballad to startling effect. All Of My Life was lifted as a single in the U.K and became a Top 10 hit.
The mood turns somewhat chilly on the atmospheric, We Need You where Diana delivers a fantastic and stirring vocal performance. We Need you was written by Deke Richards whose most famous work for Diana Ross was the U.K chart-topping, I'm Still Waiting in 1971.
Also of great musical merit was the pleasant, mid-tempo Leave A Little Room where Diana glides through the verses and is joined by a gospel choir on the chrous which merley adds to its dramatic effect.
Diana surprisingly makes her version of The Carpenters, I Won't Last A Day Without You her own but it's the latter half of the album that displays a lot of true artistic flair. Perharps holding onto Lady Sings The Blues in some way, Diana delivers two Jazz/Blues numbers that are both stunningly atmospheric. Her performance on Little Girl Blue is dreamy and rich whilst the mood deepens and steadily more sombre on the haunting, My Baby (My Own). Her striking, lower throat register performance virtually turns into a subdued howl at the climax of this track.
Diana then delivers a magnificent and sophisticated reading of the John Lennon classic Imagine which she sings with such passion in her voice.
The Touch Me In The Morning (1973)album's climax is a startling and compelling medley (a)Brown Baby (b)Save The Children. More than anything, this medley showcased her versatile vocal style and her overall diversity as a recording artist. The Medley is both touching and hauntingly atmospheric rounding the project off beautifully.
The Touch Me In The Morning (1973) set was a fantastic affair all round and was one of her most artistic and diverse efforts off the 1970's. The bonus was it proved to be another yet massive commercial success where it speedily jumped into the U.K and U.S Top 10 Album charts becoming one of her biggest sellers in that era.
Ian Phillips
August 2006
From a Supremes vocalist to a Supreme vocalist ! .......2005-10-03
Diana's Early 70s Masterpiece.......2005-04-12
Historically, the timing for the release of the album was of significant importance. Diana had stunned the world with her Oscar nominated and Golden Globe Award winning performance in "Lady Sings the Blues". It was time to return to the studios and the result was a collection of beautiful, timeless classics that have stood the test of time.
The album opens with that ever popular Ross ballad, "Touch Me in the Morning" which has to rank as one of the finest pop/R&B singles of the modern pop era. Diana demonstrated previously undiscovered nuances in her delivery, and displayed a talent for ballads that was fresh and exciting. Furthermore, Diana's voice was incredibly smooth, supple and dreamy. It all makes for pleasant listening.
There are no dance cuts here, just classy ballads. My personal favourites are "Leave A Little Room", "Little Girl Blue", and "My Baby, My Own". The "Brown Baby/Save the Children" medley is awesome. "Save the Children" is quite an intense experience, with Diana singing with passion and conviction. Both tracks were produced by Ms Ross.
This classy album should be part of the collection of any Ross fan. This was Diana at her best.
Average customer rating:
|
Touch Me in the Morning
Various Artists Manufacturer: Shanachie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
General
| Compilations
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Smooth Jazz
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B00080Z77S Release Date: 2005-05-24 |
Tracks:
- Touch Me in the Morning
- Always and Forever
- All This Love
- Close the Door
- Ooo Baby Baby
- Always
- Me and Mrs. Jones
- Shining Star
- Betcha By Golly Wow
Customer Reviews:
old and young will love it.......2007-05-20
Average customer rating: 
|
Touch Me in the Morning/Baby, It's Me
Diana Ross Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Disco
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
Motown
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soul
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| Disco
| Dance & DJ
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| Disco
| Dance & DJ
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| Soul General
| Soul
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| Soul General
| Soul
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
ASIN: B000008K8O Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
|
Average customer rating:
|
Superhits: 1973
Dobie Gray , Tony Orlando and Dawn , Todd Rundgren , Maureen McGovern , Stealers Wheel , Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show , B.W. Stevenson , Skylark , Art Garfunkel , and Helen Reddy Manufacturer: Time Life Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000SXFWNO |
Product Description
Song list: 1. Helen Reddy: Delta Dawn 2. Jim Croce: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown 3. Tony Orlando and Dawn: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree 4. Three Dog Night: Shambala 5. Dobie Gray: Drift Away 6. Al Green Call Me (Come Back Home) 7. James Taylor: Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 8. Aretha Franklin: Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) 9. Carly Simon: You're So Vain 10. Todd Rundgren: Hello It's Me 11. Maureen McGovern: The Morning After 12. The Four Tops: Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got) 13. Stealers Wheel: Stuck In The Middle With You 14. The Spinners: Could It Be I'm Falling In Love 15. Gladys Knight and the Pips: Midnight Train to Georgia 16. Seals and Crofts: Diamond Girl 17. Diana Ross: Touch Me In The Morning 18. Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show: The Cover of "Rolling Stone" 19. B.W. Stevenson: My Maria 20. Skylark: Wildflower and 21. Art Garfunkel: All I Know.
Average customer rating:
|
You Don't Know Me/Touch Me in the Morning
Ruth Brown Manufacturer: Indigo UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Blues
| Styles
| Music
Jump Blues
| Blues
| Styles
| Music
General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Vocal Jazz General
| Vocal Jazz
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Classic R&B
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Classic R&B
| R&B
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
R&B
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002XUI Release Date: 1999-02-11 |
Tracks:
- If I Were a Bell
- Skylark
- Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
- Miss Brown's Blues
- Smile
- Secret Love
- You Don't Know Me
- Almost Like Being in Love
- Willow Weep for Me
- I'll Never Fall in Love Again
- What'll I Do
- Everybody's Talkin'
- Touch Me in the Morning
- After the Lovin'
- Way You Look Tonight
- Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
Customer Reviews:
The Ruth I Knew.......2007-01-10
Average customer rating:
|
Touch Me In The Morning /Baby It's Me
Manufacturer: Motown / U.K. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
Motown
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000F5OANS |
Product Description
2 All Time Great Motown Classic Albums Mastered On 1 Compact Disc. "Touch Me In The Morning" & " Baby It's Me". Original Cover Artwork. Made in the U.K. for Motown.Customer Reviews:
More ESSENTIAL Diana Ross Albums!.......2006-05-15
The title track Touch Me In The Morning is a masterpiece itself and is one of Dianas' most mememroable and timeless classics. The rhythm builds to the exciting chrous which Diana tackles with style and finesse. After a sluggish start on the U.S charts, Touch Me In The Morning eventually catapulted into pole position, whilst gliding into the U.K Top 10.
Another timeless ballad, All Of My Life became a Top 10 success in the U.K deservedly. This soul classic contains a fantastic, stirring vocal performance from its star whilst the mood quickly turns chilly on the yearning, We Need You.
Of equally strong musical merit was the effective Leave A Little Room, where Diana glides through the verses and is joined by a gospel-influenced choir on the tracks chrous. Diana surprisingly makes her version of The Carpenters, I Won't Last a Day Without You, her own but its the latter half of the album that displays a lot of true artistic flair. Perharps holding onto Lady Sings The Blues in some way, Diana delivers two Jazz/Blues numbers that are both startlingly atmospheric. Her performance is almost dreamy on Little Girl Blue whilst the mood goes deeper and more sombre on the haunting My Baby (My Own). Her striking vocal delivery virtually turns into a subdued howl at the climax of this track.
She then delivers a magnificent, stylish and sophisticated reading of John Lennons' famous classic, Imagine, and then finally the albums winds down to its climax with the startling medley Brown Baby/Save The Children. Both these number are chilly and hauntingly atmospheric and both display Dianas' versatile vocal expertise.
The Touch Me in The Morning album is a fantastic, unique affair all round and was one of her most artistic efforts. And the bonus was it proved to be another massive commercial success where it rapidly jumped into the U.K and U.S Top 10 Album Charts, becoming one of her biggest sellers of that era. A Classic!
Diana Ross' studio albums at Motown Records during the 1970's had always received a mixed reception from critics and had always been somewhat erratic in terms of commercial success. There had been classics such as her stunning solo debut Diana Ross (1970), Surrender (1971), Touch Me In The Morning (1973) and Diana Ross (1976) whilst others such as Everything Is Everything (1970) and Last Time I Saw Him (1973) seemed more like scrappily assembled collections of left-over tracks from various recording sessions.
After the cross-Atlantic Top 5 success of the excellent Diana Ross (1976) LP, Ross was teamed with renowned R&B producer Richard Perry and a diverse range of songwriters. This 1977 studio entry titled Baby It's Me marked a more clear consistency within the startling musical arrangements which varied from pounding percussion and heavy drum beats that contained compelling undertones of pure, pulsating Funk on the blend of uptempo material to haunting string arrangements and gentle piano backdrops on the slower and more intricate tracks. Ross gets ample opportunity to stretch herself and becomes immersed into the varying moods of the album.
Baby It's Me (1977) opens with Gettin' Ready For Love, which became the projects premier single. The cross Disco-Jazz flavoured arrangements of this feel-good number, which had been written by Tom Snowe and Frannie Goulde, contained an easy-going, seamless performance from Ross who glides along the verses and the catchy chrous with ease and style. Gettin' Ready For Love surprisingly only climbed to No.27 in the U.S whilst stalling at just No.23 in the U.K.
You Got It, a song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Linda Laurie, also found its way to being issued as a single in the U.S. Encapsulating R&B/Pop with a slight Disco twinge, Ross sounded slightly more like a showbiz performer than a Soul singer but that charm and unique style and sound of her soft, silky voice shines through. Indeed a catchy number, You Got It all the more surprisingly only made it to No.49 on the U.S BillBoard Charts.
The title track, Baby It's Me, spins into mainstream Funk though Ross surprisingly doesn't quite sound comfortable or at ease with this number which had been penned by Donald Dunn and Charles C Smith. Ross is backed by an uncredited male vocalist who virtually sings along with her through the duration of the song, probably to add some spark and ignition to the recording but though Baby It's Me is average to listen to, it also somehow comes off flawed and lacking in some way.
Far better is the haunting, atmospheric tone of Too Shy To Say, written by fellow Motown colleague and the genius himself, Stevie Wonder. Ross inserts herself effectively into this mellow compostion of lush strings, electric keyboards and synthesizers.
The highly infectious Your Love Is So Good For Me was a sparse Disco number that combined red hot, compelling Funk with a strong, pulsating bassline and heavy, repetitive drum beats. Ross sounds the perfect Disco Diva and Your Love Is So Good For Me gave a mere taste of things to come on future Disco-oriented albums, The Boss (1979) and diana (1980). Your Love Is So Good For Me became a popular club hit though despite its fire and potential stopped again at just No.49 on the U.S Top 100.
Richard Perry obviously wanted Diana Ross to maintain her identity and a certain familiarity with mainstream buyers. and with the bouncy Top Of The World (a superb track that would have made an ideal choice for release as a single) and exotic All Night Lover, Ross sounds like shes back with The Supremes with her angelic, yearning and vulnreable-sounding performances on both tracks. The latter was penned by Jerry Ragovoy and Len Roberts, All Night Lover is instantly contagious with its bright and commercial-like R&B/Pop sound.
During the 70's Diana Ross had become something of what many described as a black Barbara Streisand with her extravagent, showbiz-inspired concerts and Confide In Me really carried that ideally supper-club type sound that didn't work for many die-hard Soul/R&B fans. However Ross is in glorious voice throughout, igniting this otherwise rather kitsch number.
The mood then darkens, becoming deeper and sombre in its tone on the Bill Walters number, The Same Love That Made Me Laugh. Ross sounds in complete dispair and fittingly sullen throughout the track which adds to the intensity of the chilly and atmospheric musical arrangements. A remarkable recording that is very untypical for Ross and is quite possibly the cream of the crop on this album.
More mellower in its tone is the final dramatic affair of the album, Come In From The Rain, an exalting ballad written by Carole Boyer Sayer and Melissa Manchester. Ross' voice brims with emotion, coating the dazzling, tempo-shifting orchestrations.
Baby It's Me (1977) is highly glossy and sophisticated but Ross' voice retains that soulful edge that always managed to ignite even the most mediocre track she recorded at Motown. That sassy, funky side to Ross is still evidently there on the energetic, upbeat offerings such as Gettin' Ready For Love, You Got It, Your Love Is So Good For Me, Top Of The World and All Night Lover whilst also displaying her effortless flair for ballads on diverse numbers such as the haunting The Same Love That Made Me Laugh, the atmospheric Too Shy To Say and the exalting Come In From The Rain.
All in all, Baby It's Me is another pleasing effort that was a fantastic follow-up to her previous LP Diana Ross (1976). However Baby It's Me was less successful commercially, landing at No.18 on the U.S Album Charts whilst disappointingly failing to even chart altogether in the U.K - a market in which she had always been a consistent seller.
Even so, Baby It's Me is now one of her most popular studio albums amongst fans.
|
Average customer rating:
|
Touch Me in the Morning
Diana Ross Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
Motown
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soul
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| Classic R&B
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| Classic R&B
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| Motown
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| Motown
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
CDs $7 - $10
| Soul General
| Soul
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
All Bargain Titles
| Soul General
| Soul
| R&B
| Today's Deals in Music
| Formats
| Music
ASIN: B000001AD8 Release Date: 1991-12-16 |
Tracks:
- Touch Me (In The Morning)
- All Of My Life
- We Need You
- Leave A Little Room
- I Won't Last A Day Without You
- Little Girl Blue
- My Baby (My Baby My Own)
- Imagine
- Medley: Brown Baby, Shave The Children
Customer Reviews:
Diana Ross's excellent leap into Adult Contemporary.......2006-10-26
The Touch Me In The Morning LP really showcases her adeptness with this format. Certainly the title track earned fame when it topped the US Pop charts and made the Top 10 in the UK. But the remainder of the album is no less worthy of attention. "All Of My Life" and "Leave A Little Room" are among the most polished AC ballads Ross has ever released -- they are simultaneously breezy and powerful. Both feature some of the best ballad production in her catalog.
She also handles a cover of Marvin Gaye's soulful "Brown Baby"/"Save The Children" with remarkably emotive vocal delivery. It remains one of my favorite Ross vocal performances.
The ballads on Touch Me In The Morning, taken together with songs like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Last Time I Saw Him," "Love Hangover," "Mirror, Mirror," and "Good Morning Heartache," truly reveal Diana's ability to handle a diverse range of musical genres. TMITM is not only spectacular on its own, but it really underscores Diana Ross's versatility as an artist.
70'S BALLADS AT THEIR BEST!.......2003-10-11
|
Average customer rating:
|
Touch Me in the Morning
Manufacturer: Polygram International ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| Miscellaneous
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soundtracks
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B00000BZ3I Release Date: 2004-08-09 |
Tracks:
- Touch Me (In The Morning)
- All Of My Life
- We Need You
- Leave A Little Room
- I Won't Last A Day Without You
- Little Girl Blue
- My Baby (My Baby My Own)
- Imagine
- Medley: Brown Baby, Shave The Children
Average customer rating:
|
Touch Me in the Morning
Sylvia Mason-James Manufacturer: Central Station ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B0000070DM Release Date: 1997-09-23 |
Album Details
Dance Re-Make of Diana Ross's Classic Song. Seven Mixes in Total.|
Average customer rating:
|
Touch Me in the Morning
Diana Ross Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
Motown
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
General
| Soul
| R&B
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B00004S2FT Release Date: 2002-08-28 |
Tracks:
- Touch Me in the Morning
- All of My Life
- We Need You
- Leave a Little Room
- I Won't Last a Day Without You
- Little Girl Blue
- My Baby (My Baby My Own)
- Imagine
- Medley: Brown Baby/Save the Children
Christian Music:
- Ultimate Collection
- WDIA: History, The Music, The Legend
- We Be Burning [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Import]
- Who's Zoomin' Who?
- Willennium
- Wish It Would Rain/In a Mellow Mood [Original recording remastered] [Import]
- Woman Enough
- You Are Everything [CD-single]
- 1947-1955
- 30th Anniversary Anthology [Import]
Christian Music
Under Wraps [Import] [Original recording remastered]
Bullen Street Blues/Trackside Blues
Ultimate Bluegrass Collection [Import]