Lady Sings the Blues is the soundtrack to the Billie Holiday biopic of the same name, which starred Diana Ross in her 1972 screen debut. It became Ross' first number 1 album (eventually selling more than 2 million US copies), though the only one as a solo artist. It was certified gold in the UK for sales of more than 100,000 copies. It was the fourth best-selling R&B album and fifth best-selling Pop album of 1973 in the US.
Music writers said Ross emulated Billie Holiday's voice while retaining her own individual sound. This soundtrack album was the only Motown album to have a special designed label to match the album cover on the vinyl release, rather than Motown's usual "Map of Detroit" design. This label design would also turn up on the single releases from the soundtrack.
Track listing
Side one "The Arrest" – 0:15 "Lady Sings the Blues" – 1:03 "Baltimore Brothel" – 0:25 "Billie Sneaks into Dean and Dean's/Swinging Uptown" – 0:49 "'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 1:06 "Big Ben/C.C. Rider" – 1:06 "All of Me" – 2:19 "The Man I Love" – 2:27 "Them There Eyes" – 1:03 "Gardenias from Louis" – 2:03 "Cafe Manhattan/Had You Been Around/Love Theme" – 2:03
Side two "Any Happy Home" – 0:37 "I Cried for You" – 0:37 "Billie and Harry/Don't Explain" – 0:37 "Mean to Me" – 1:18 "Fine and Mellow" – 0:45 "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" – 2:09 "Louis Visits Billie on Tour/Love Theme" – 0:45 "Cafe Manhattan Party" – 1:37 "Persuasion/'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 3:48 "Agent's Office" – 1:09 "Love Is Here to Stay" – 2:01
Side three "Fine and Mellow" – 2:54 "Lover Man" – 3:22 "You've Changed" – 2:34 "Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)" – 2:06 "Good Morning Heartache" – 2:21 "All of Me" – 2:04
Side four "Love Theme" – 2:53 "My Man" – 3:26 "Don't Explain" – 2:10 "I Cried for You" – 2:13 "Strange Fruit" – 3:35 "God Bless the Child" – 2:42 "Closing Theme" – 1:08
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Lady Sings the Blues Chart (1973) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 43 US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box) 1 US The Album Chart (Record World) 1 US The R&B LP Chart (Record World) 1
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Lady Sings the Blues Chart (1973) Position US Top Popular Albums (Billboard) 5 US Top Soul Albums (Billboard) 4 US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box) 14 US Top Soundtrack Albums (Cash Box) 1 US Top Album (Record World) 5 US Top Movie Soundtrack (Record World) 1
Certifications
Personnel Diana Ross - vocals Gil Askey - conductor Gil Askey, Benny Golson, Oliver Nelson - arrangements Albert Aarons, William "Cat" Anderson, Bobby Bryant, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Teddy Buckner - trumpets Georgie Auld, William "Buddy" Collette, Plas Johnson, Jack Nimitz, Marshall Royal, Ernie Watts - saxophone George Bohanon, Jimmy Cleveland, Henry Coker, Grover Mitchell, Maurice Spears, John Ewing - trombones Max Bennett, George "Red" Callender, Arthur Edwards - bass John Collins - guitar, banjo Earl Palmer, Jesse Sailes - drums Don Abney, Gerald Wiggins, Chester Lane - piano "Caughey" Roberts - clarinet, soprano saxophone
Production
Michel Legrand - composed, arranged, conductor Guy Costa - engineering and technical direction Larry Miles, Cal Harris, Bill Macmeekin, Dave Ramsey, Art Stewart, Russ Terrana - Mowest engineers Gordon Day, Dave Docendort, John Norman - Glen Glen engineers Katarina Pettersson - art direction John Le Prevost, Frank Frezzo - design Orlando Suero - photography Sandra Forney - graphic production Suzanne de Passe, Iris Gordy - edited, coordinated Tony Jones - creative assistance Berry Gordy - executive producer
See also "Happy (Love Theme from Lady Sings the Blues)" – Michael Jackson recording.
References