Silk Electric [Import]

Product Description
Reissue of Diana's 1982 classic album. EMI. 2005.

Silk Electric,Diana Ross,EMI,R&B/Soul,Soul/R & B

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Average customer rating: Diana Ross's Second Album For RCA Records A Release From The RCA Years That Worked!

Silk Electric Diana Ross Manufacturer: EMI 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: Ross Swept Away Why Do Fools Fall in Love? Red Hot Rhythm & Blues Touch Me in the Morning ASIN: B0007KWP10 Release Date: 2005-03-07

Tracks:

1. Muscles
2. So Close
3. Still In Love
4. Fool For Your Love
5. Turn Me Over
6. Who
7. Love Lies
8. In Your Arms
9. Anywhere You Run To
10. I Am Me

Album Description

Reissue of Diana's 1982 classic album. EMI. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

Diana Ross's Second Album For RCA Records.......2006-06-06

Riding high on the success of her multi-million selling album, Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1981), her first project for RCA Records, Ross returned to the recording studios at the dawn of 1982 to self-produce another studio album (her contractual obligation was to deliver one album per year for RCA).

Ross was clearly enjoying experimenting and divulging her music into other genres. With Silk Electric (1982) she completely tried to shake off and escape the style that had made her famous. Ross was obviously trying to create a new, distinctive sound to keep up with the ever changing musical tastes of the 80's but as a result her music lost a lot of its fire on this album.

However Silk Electrics' premier single was something of a pop masterpiece. That track was of course the slinky, evocative Muscles written and produced by the all-time genius Michael Jackson who through the lyrics was seemingly trying to convey a womans sexual fantasies (or perharps his own?????). Admitedly Ross' vocal performance on Muscles is a little mushy and indistingushable. After all this was a lady that had given us magical classics like Ain't No Mountain High Enough, The Boss, Upside Down and I'm Coming Out. Still the startling musical arrangements give it the ignition it needs and Jacksons' distinctive vocals are gelled neatly and quite effectivley into the production making it over-all a dynamic recording and certainly a credible change in style for Ross.

Muscles enjoyed phenomenal cross-Atlantic success where the track jumped to No.15 in the U.K whilst rushing into the U.S Top 10. If only the rest of the album had been as bold and as adventurous as Muscles, Silk Electric would have been a whole lot better.

So Close is more vintage Diana Ross deeming it one of the best tracks on Silk Electric. The musical arrangements encapsulates a distinctley 1960's feel that is given a sharp, contemporary twist. Ross' exuberant delivery is crystal clear and evocative. Though So Close sounded like a sure-fire smash hit the track only struggled into the lower reaches on both the U.K and U.S Top 50 charts.

Still In Love contains a touching performance from Ross amongst the schmaltzy, familiar arrangements whilst more startling than ever is her stab at (of all things) heavy metal on the rocking Fool For Your Love. This was a commendable and brave experiment on Ross' part but her voice sounds almost lost in the mix (though thankfully she has never delved into this genre again).

Turn Me Over is a pointless inclusion to the CD mastered version of Silk Electric as it was merely an odd, multi-layered interlude with Ross' voice telling you to turn the LP over to side 2. Quite!

The easy-going Who is one of my own personal favourite tracks on the album as this track benefits from restrained production and that customary breathy, seamless vocal style of Ross. Love Lies is a more creative though lacklustre effort where Ross interestingly provides her own backing vocals but the over-produced In Your Arms, a sickly-sweet ballad will make you just want to reach for the sick bucket!

The opening arrangements on Anywhere You Run To sounds like its come straight off a theme tune for some corny American soap opera but one of the other highlights is served with the final number on the number, I Am Me. I Am Me had been written by Ross and Janie Bradford (songwriter for Motown) way back in the early 60's when Ross was still with The Supremes. I Am Me is something of a personal anthem by Ross and is made compelling from its striking reggae-styled arrangements that gives the track more of a soulful edge not least aided by Ross' impeccable performance.

All in all, Silk Electric (1982) is an ambitious project on Ross' part but overly is disappointing. Some of the tracks ignite (Muscles, So Close, Who, I Am Me) whilst the remainder ranges from the adventurous if not failed experiments (Fool For Your Love and Love Lies) to merley routine productions that are highly glossed over (Still In Love, In Your Arms and Anywhere You Run To). This album is strictly for die-hard completists only!

Regardless of Silk Electric being one of Ross' least interesting albums it became a big seller flying into the U.K and U.S Top 40 album charts and became a Gold seller.

(The indigo-coloured front cover featured a portrait of Ross done by the late Andy Warhol who oddly painted Ross' face white???)


Ian Phillips

A Release From The RCA Years That Worked!.......2005-06-07

Of the years that Diana recorded for RCA, only the album prior to this one (Why Do Fools Fall In Love) cold be called a definitive hit. That is sad considering that Silk Electric was far more artistic in it's reach, not to mention the beautiful Andy Warhol Cover Portait.

"Muscles" was the hit off this album, and while it may not be a hit that most Ross fans think of first, it is a fun, quirky song, and it was something different for Ross, and taking risks can be a good thing. Other tracks worthy of "hit" status include; the Supreme's Sounding "So Close", the ballad "I Am Me", and the Disco-Rock fusion of "Fool For Your Love", a song that if promoted right could have been a huge crossover song for Ross, much in the way that "Hot Stuff" was for Donna Summer. "Muscles" did result in a Grammy nomination
for best R & B vocal performance female.

This album actually has 9 full tracks, the lisitng for "Turn Me Over", does not mention that all this is, is a very seductive sounding Diana asking you to turn the record over. A quick history lesson for the CD era, when we bought vinyl albums they had to be turned over to play the 2nd half.

It also needs to be noted that this album features several songs co-written by Ross. Any artist with as long a career as hers no doubt has stories to tell, and I would have loved to heard more.

Average customer rating:

Electric Musical Chairs Silk Saw & Jardin d'Usure Manufacturer: Sub Rosa ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Experimental Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004L8B5 Release Date: 2000-05-23

Tracks:

1. This Machine Kills
2. Antechamber
3. Ineluctable
4. Idiots Cage
5. 11th of November
6. Moron Jig
7. Cage
8. Raoul the Houseman
9. Armistice/Armless
10. Jugsong
11. My Mother
12. Culinae Cantor

Average customer rating: Where Did Your Map Go? I Wish Silk Electric was on CD

Silk Electric Diana Ross Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | 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: B000008K8K Release Date: 1990-06-26

Customer Reviews:

Where Did Your Map Go?.......2004-12-31

SILK ELECTRIC will probably only be appreciated by the die-hard/must-have-everything-Diana Ross-records-fans (uh, kinda like me). This collection of songs goes in all directions...

MUSCLES; sexy, well produced ballad (although a little too "breathy" in places and some lyrics become difficult to understand).
SO CLOSE: a well done, old-oldies style ditty.
STILL IN LOVE: lack-lustre ballad...voice good, music great, lyrics dull.
FOOL FOR YOUR LOVE; Miss Ross does hard rock - Yikes!
TURN ME OVER; huh??? It isn't a song. The music starts, D.R. whispers "turn me over" then the music fades out.
WHO; Very good upbeat danceable-esque number. Great vocals. Clever lyrics.
LOVE LIES: A bit over-produced and over-sung (perhaps the team was trying too hard) but a very good song just the same. One of Diana's best attempts at a rock ballad.
IN YOUR ARMS; The very best song of the bunch. This is Diana Ross singing a ballad as nobody else can. Flawless performance by everyone involved.
ANYWHERE YOU RUN TO; it has the bounce and energy of a Supremes song, but the arrangement is a bit more mature.
I AM ME; what is a Diana Ross album without a 'message' song. This one is fun and a bit out of the ordinary. Very good.

Although these selections do not connect as a whole, some selections are certainly worth having in your Diana Ross library. Certainly more hits than misses.

I Wish Silk Electric was on CD.......2004-01-15

I remember getting this vinyl LP back in the early 80"s for my birthday. I must say it was one of my favorite Diana Ross albums it had a lot of really great songs on it. Like Muscels written by Michale Jackson (which is one of my fav's of miss Ross) plus the ever soulful So Close! Plus some really great slow jams which Miss Ross became Famous for. Other than Muscels you can't even find these songs on compilations. It is a very over looked CD by Diana Ross. I hope it does become reissued soon on cd.

Average customer rating:

Komungo Manufacturer: O.O. Discs ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Computer | Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Korea | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005IC14 Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

1. Self Portrait
2. Core
3. Dorang
4. Saturn's Moons
5. Ssareng
6. Dance of Meditation - Jin Hi Kim, Shonosuke Okura,
7. Silk to Metal
8. Fluttering Tchong
9. Jupiter's Moons - Jin Hi Kim,
10. Ek for JC

Average customer rating:

Limited Edition Collector's Package [CD & SILK 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 foot ZOSO BANNER] Physical Graffiti [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] {see product details below} Led Zeppelin ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Guitar Gods | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000JI9BBM

Product Description

"SILK BANNER" is 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 foot, High durable, imported from Italy. "TRACK LISTINGS" Disc: 1 1. Custard Pie 2. The Rover 3. In My Time Of Dying 4. Houses Of The Holy 5. Trampled Underfoot 6. Kashmir Disc: 2 1. In The Light 2. Bron-Yr-Aur 3. Down By The Seaside 4. Ten Years Gone 5. Night Flight 6. Wanton Song 7. Boogie With Stu 8. Black Country Woman 9. Sick Again

Average customer rating: Silky . . . DREARY, JUST DREARY!! ONE OF HER WORST!

Silk Electric Diana Ross Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music R&B | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000003PLT Release Date: 1996-03-20

Customer Reviews:

Silky . . ........2001-11-05

Silk Electric.
Ross' second RCA album after "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".
Like its predecessor "Silk Electric" includes an eclectic number of songs ranging from doo-wop "So Close" to a bold rock attempt "Fool for your love". The album opens with a song titled "Muscles" written by Michael Jackson for Miss Ross. The track is breathtaking and quite sexy which had great success across the globe and was praised by many critics. Some tracks are great while others just don't seem to belong in this album. Ross sounds harsh in the rock-ish "Fool for your love" while the best track on the album is a soft Ballad "In Your Arms". Ross also co-wrote "I Am Me" a funky- reggae-like song that is catchy. The album also includes a pseudo-disco track "Who" and other pop/rock tracks like "Love Lies" and the stunning "Still In Love". Recommended for Loyal Fans. The Album cover was designed by Andy Warhol, the album was certified GOLD.

DREARY, JUST DREARY!!.......2000-10-22

NOTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID.

ONE OF HER WORST!.......2000-09-22

As a huge Diana Ross fan i have always enjoyed her albums and whilst some have been better than others there normally are a handful of tracks that i do like. However this album emerges as her most indistinctive work of the 80's. To be fair there are two great tracks that save this from being given one star- MUSCLES (written by Michael Jackson and a huge seller on both sides of the Atlantic) and I AM ME. SO CLOSE and IN YOUR ARMS are fairly good but the rest of the album is dreamy and ponderous. This was followed by an even worse album ROSS (1983). These are the only two albums of Diana Ross that i barley ever listen to. The soul seems to have drained from this album to a more light rock sound or in the case of FOOL FOR YOUR LOVE very heavy rock to which Ross undoubtedly has the vocal abilities to carry it through but is simply not the Diana Ross we all know and love. On the whole the album is mediocre with the exception of the few tracks mentioned.

Average customer rating: DON'T LET THE COVER FOOL YOU, IT'S NOT FUNKY! Gold Selling RCA Album One Of Her Best RCA records... MUSCLES... GOLD SELLER

Silk Electric Diana Ross ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music R&B | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000566BA

Customer Reviews:

DON'T LET THE COVER FOOL YOU, IT'S NOT FUNKY!.......2003-09-30

If you should describe in One word, Silk Electric, it should be "ECLECTIC", for the use of so many different music styles, you can go from Doo Wop to Disco, To Rock to 80's R&B. The first track "Muscles" produced by Michael Jackson and written by him, whassup with that? asking all the song for a muscle man with oil in his body?, well for Diana it work well, the song became a top 10 and a Grammy Nomination, it's a slow song praising the body of a well build man, not a song for everyone to sing along, the end of the worthy song of the album eneds here, "So Close" the second single that capture the Doo Woop style of the 50's, of course in the early 80's this song sound so bad it only cracked the top 40 in the pop charts and prompted "Silk Electric" to the bottom of oblivion, being the second and last single to hit the charts, "Still In Love" a filler ballad, "Fool For Your Love" this song sounds great though, it's very similar to Blondie's "Call Me"!, so if you like that song you will loved this one, of course it's a strange aproach of music for miss Ross but it just worked out fine, "Turn Me Over" it's an interlude, that in a funny way told you to turn over the LP, and hear the other side, not neccesary any more in the CD's, "Who" was the disco track, this song fits really well in the first RCA release of Diana "Why Do Fools Fall In LOve", the song it's one of the best tracks(at least this one!), because it's careless, and talks about love, and it's upbeat and easy to dance with, "In Your Arms", well this song is or is not the same as "Hold Me" by Teddy Pendergrass and Whitney Houston, of course is produced by the same Michael Masser, but they sound to much a like and the chorus line I think is the same!, "Hold Me In Yours Arms tonight, this moment is for us to treasure"?, judge for yourself, not a great tune, "I Am Me" is an easy track and it's close to join the filler group of songs!, but, somehow it's just works to the end. "Love Lies" sound a little old, but for my taste is and melancolic ballad that saves Silk Electric to almost becoming a total boring album. "Anywhere You Run To" it's another song that fits nicely although it's sound old too, but manages to keep it with the "Silk Electric" mood, in the end In my own point of view, "Silk Electric" was one of the few album that Diana Ross failed to keep up as a classic, for any Diana fan this album should be a must have, but for a casual listener, the Greatedt Hits RCA Years, will fit you great. The Cover Art of the Album made by Andy Warhol make you think this one was going to be funky like "Mirror Mirror", but don't let it fool you.

Gold Selling RCA Album.......2003-01-09

What I find odd with Silk Electric (1982) being certified Gold is the fact that it was one of the worse studio albums in Diana Ross' career. Its strange as albums like the electric Eaten Alive (1985) and the sensational and divine Red Hot Rhythm And Blues (1987) on RCA were relativley poor sellers. Whilst not being quite as bland and dull as the dreary affair of her next album, Ross (1983) theres very little to recommend it (contrary to my last review on this site I wrote some time time ago). The music is completley white-washed, the soulful feel of her previous output was totally drained and the finished result overall is a rather dreamy and unexciting set of songs geared more toward the Rock market than that of her usual style. Though the albums landmark, Muscles went Top 10 in the U.S and glided into the U.K Top 15, the song is a little indistinguishable for Diana Ross. After all this was a lady that had given us Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Touch Me In The Morning, Love Hangover, The Boss, Upside Down and I'm Coming Out. Dianas performance is a little mushy where as you can easily detect Michael Jacksons distinctive backing vocal gelled neatly into the production. So Close steers into 1950's sounding doo-wop which is washed over to give it a more contemporary feel. So Close has some merits but is lost in an over-long, rather ponderous production. Still In Love could be described as a great Diana Ross ballad and she most certainly projects a lot of emotion and genuine feeling but is somehow lacking that extra special something. Diana does her best to ignite the stormy Rock song Fool Dor Your Love which uncomfortably verges on the lines of turning into out and out Heavy Metal but her vocal pwerformance is drowned out by the over-production. Who careers along at a sluggish pace and though has merits it is yet again lost in an over-long production and not enough punch and force in the musical arrangements. Love Lies does little to liven things up where as the sickly sweet tone of In Your Arms is almost ghastly. There is some fire in Anywhere You Run To even though the song sounds dated (like the rest of the album). One track that just manages to swim out of the pool of mediocrity is the striking Reggae/R&B arrangements of I Am Me which Diana had co-written with Janie Bradford way back in 1961. The song has verve backed with a dynamic performance from Diana and is overly nicely orchestrated. But other than that Silk Electric serves as a disappointment (to myself at least). I've been a big fan of Diana Ross for years now but Silk Electric (1982), Ross (1983) and Last Time I Saw Him (1974) are the three studio albums of Dianas solo career that I baly play. I bought Silk Electric when I was just 9 years old back in 1989 and it still has never grown on me. Its purley a matter of opinion of course as I have indeed heard many good comments on this album from fans of the great Soul Diva so its best you judge for yourself but as a big Diana Ross fan, i'd say this was one of her studio albums that fails to make its mark in the way most of her other albums do. Bland and unmemroable.

One Of Her Best RCA records..........2001-11-05

Silk Electric.
Ross' second RCA album after "Why Do Fools Fall In Love".
Like its predecessor "Silk Electric" includes an eclectic number of songs ranging from doo-wop "So Close" to a bold rock attempt "Fool for your love". The album opens with a song titled "Muscles" written by Michael Jackson for Miss Ross. The track is breathtaking and quite sexy which had great success across the globe and was praised by many critics. Some tracks are great while others just don't seem to belong in this album. Ross sounds harsh in the rock-ish "Fool for your love" while the best track on the album is a soft Ballad "In Your Arms". Ross also co-wrote "I Am Me" a funky- reggae-like song that is catchy. The album also includes a pseudo-disco track "Who" and other pop/rock tracks like "Love Lies" and the stunning "Still In Love". Recommended for Loyal Fans. The Album cover was designed by Andy Warhol, the album was certified GOLD.

MUSCLES..........2001-06-29

Diana Ross continued to make Hits even after leaving Motown in 1980, in a different approach. This RCA record showcases Ms. Ross' ability to sing a wide range of songs, from rock "Fool For Your Love" to the haunting ballad "In Your Arms." The Album Kicks Off with "Muscles" a smash hit written for Ms Ross by Michael Jackson. The song is slick, bold and sexy with M. Jackson singing the back vocals. Ms. Ross & Michael Jackson Reunited later on for "EATEN ALIVE" (RCA). "So close" will remind you of Diana's Supreme years, the early days. A Doo-Wop song that will sure please her fans, performed in the tradition of "Why do fools fall in Love?" "Still In Love" the second most great ballad on the album. This Lady sure knows how to sing a good Love Song. "Fool For Your Love" finds Diana in a daring Rock attempt and she succeeds with it. "Who" a superb track that you will want to repeat constantly. Catchy and funky with a taste of disco. The same applies with "Love Lies" and "Anywhere You Run To". The highlight on this album is the song "In Your Arms". Diana is breathtaking and the orchestrations are beautifully arranged. The album went gold when it was first released and the cover (by Andy Warhol) remains one of her most eye catchy record covers. I hope the label re-masters this, along with some of her other RCA albums, (SWEPT AWAY), (ROSS) (RED HOT RHYTHM & BLUES), (EATEN ALIVE) ETC. If you are interested in Diana Ross' RCA years, purchase "GREATEST HITS. THE RCA YEARS."

GOLD SELLER.......2000-12-09

Although this 1982 album went gold it is certainly by no means one of her best albums. It was quite apparent that after leaving Motown records in 1981 that Diana was trying to create a new, fresh sound to her work. WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE (1981) was an above average album but barley contained any significant change in styles whilst on here there seems to be more ambition behind it but at the same time is sadly rather lacklustre. the album receives three stars simply because of the small handful of good tracks on it. By no means is this a bad one just a little on the bland side.

The album begins with the outrageous and compelling track, MUSCLES which secured Diana another huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The track was written by Michael Jackson who was seemingly trying to convey a womans fantasy (or perharps his own?). despite the success of the single, it seems to be one of Dianas most overlooked recordings with it barley featuring on any recent compilation. never the less, the track is something of a masterpiece and was a clear sign of Diana comfortably moving with the ever changing times of the 1980s. SO CLOSE returns to a traditional Diana Ross sound and is a fair track at that even if on the verge of being too ponderous towards the climax of the song which perharps deems a little too ineffective for it to become nothing more than a minor hit which was all that became of this track. STILL IN LOVE is overly melodramatic yet this recording does hold some fire, mainly due to Dianas heartfelt performance on it. However FOOL FOR YOUR LOVE is slightly disastorous and in no way does this show case Dianas undoubted vocal abilities. She sounds slightly lost amidst the music and although this was a rather brave attempt for Diana to try and crack the heavy rock scene, the track is rather a forgetable mess. TURN ME OVER is not even a real song and its place on this album seems pointless. WHO and LOVE LIES are rather dreamy, ponderous, light rock numbers that are again quite forgetable but she does a fair job on IN YOUR ARMS although again the track verges on being too syrupy, yet Dianas performance is faultless. ANYWHERE YOU RUN TO has some potential but lacks any real fire or immediacy to make it little more than an average track. I AM ME is a track Diana wrote back in the early sixties with Janie Bradford and this song has to be one of the best songs on the album with a catchy reggae twinge to it. on the whole the album is just a little above average. WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE (1981) is preferable though but as said the album does hold a few delights. Andy Warhol designed the album cover which was amongst her most eye catching covers. Recommended to big Diana Ross fans (if you're a completist that is).

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