No, Diana Ross's plastic surgeon didn't work miracles. Blue's cover shows this soul diva in younger times. 1972 to be precise, when she played the lead role in Lady Sings The Blues about the life of Billie Holiday. Blue was supposed to be the follow-up to the film's soundtrack, but Berry Gordy, Motown's big boss, had other plans for Ross. Her pop career preceded and Blue was relegated to the archive.
Thirty-four years later, the recordings were recovered and released after all. And that's a good thing, because Blue shows that Diana's career could have been so much more tasteful if she had moved into the jazz side. Her crystal clear voice lacks the life of Holiday, so Blue should not be seen as an imitation. Yet Blue is a convincing interpretation of classics like Smile, I Loves Ya Porgy and What A Diff'rence A Day Makes. (AD)more
