Perhaps Ms. Ross's most indispensable solo work, the 1980 Diana hooks her up with the Chic organization and eight good to really, really great songs for a disc that glows with rhythm and good feeling. The Boss herself has ... more »rarely sounded finer, as Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers seem to anticipate just what she can do vocally and aim the music at the bull's-eye. One bets that Debbie Harry wished she'd gotten hold of the sassy "Give Up" for her own Edwards/Rodgers-helmed KooKoo. --Rickey Wright« less
Perhaps Ms. Ross's most indispensable solo work, the 1980 Diana hooks her up with the Chic organization and eight good to really, really great songs for a disc that glows with rhythm and good feeling. The Boss herself has rarely sounded finer, as Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers seem to anticipate just what she can do vocally and aim the music at the bull's-eye. One bets that Debbie Harry wished she'd gotten hold of the sassy "Give Up" for her own Edwards/Rodgers-helmed KooKoo. --Rickey Wright
Sherance M. Brothers | Jasper, Alabama United States | 02/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this features coming out and upside down both sampled by mc lyte and puffy whose career really blew up by samplinbg diana but still tyhis is a good cd and the songs are still popular today discolovers should have no fear at that. special props to nile rodgers, and bernard edwards for writing and producing this material this could have been chic's biggest lp if they did the vocals."
One Of The Best Albums Of 1980
World Champion | Bridgeport, Ct. United States | 06/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Actually the title of this album should've been "CHIC featuring Diana Ross" since it is a Chic album with their own Background vocals, strings, etc. Written, Arranged and Produced by The Great Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers, the founders of Chic. The only difference is Diana is singing lead instead of Luci Martin or Alfa Anderson. Anyway, I recently heard this album for the first time in 26 years, only this time on CD and the sound blew me away!!!!! The songs sound just as fresh as they did back then. Every track in addition to "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out" is a potential hit especially "Have Fun Again". Bernard's Bass playing is really kicking on that cut! I love it! Overall this album is a must-listen for any person who appreciates R&B music just as it was during the last year of the "Party Hardy Era" that was from 1977-1980."
Disco-dancin' fun
Glen Zimmerman | Lindenwold, New Jersey | 11/29/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Though she had been recording solo albums for ten years up to this point, this album is almost certainly Diana Ross's best solo effort. It spawned the huge hits "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out", and the great shoulda-been "Give Up", which is probably the most chug-thumping, bass-heavy party jam she's ever made."
This is how remastered reissues should be done!
Olukayode Balogun | Leeds, England | 03/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Diana Ross had of course been around for a long time and had enjoyed a very successful career before this collaboration with Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers. An established diva from the old school, she was reportedly (and quite reasonably) a bit anxious about putting her career in the hands of people she considered young and - compared to her - relatively inexperienced, despite the success they were enjoying at the time.
Well, the gamble paid off and while I'm not sure whether this was her most commercially successful album ever, alongside 1979's The Boss, it's certainly one of my favourites. Just like the Sister Sledge album I reviewed prior to this one, those Chic guys managed to cook up some musical magic that lives in our subconscious and on the airwaves until this very day. It's debateable whether Chic could've penned songs for and produced literally anyone in those days with similarly successful results but with Sister Sledge and Diana Ross they struck pure gold, no doubt.
Chic's music was beginning to evolve by 1980 though and they were making their sound heavier by bringing the bass and drums to the fore. They used the same formula on their own album "Real People" and Sister Sledge's Love Somebody Today, which they also produced that same year. (The latter CD is selling for almost $100 at the moment, so I hope they reissue it sometime soon). Nile Rogers played more lead guitar as opposed to rhythm, for the most part. The keyboards were also brought forward, while the strings were taken back.
The songs on this CD speak for themselves and all sound just as fresh today as they sounded 27 years ago. I have a feeling they'll be sounding just as fresh in 27 years time. The best part of all though, for me, is that the CD keeps the format of the original album - with no gimmicky remixes.
This is how remastering and reissuing is supposed to be done, if you ask me.