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Lady Sings the Blues
Soundtrack album by Diana Ross
Released	October 1972
Recorded	1972; MoWest Studios, Los Angeles, California; Glen Glenn Sound, Hollywood, California
Genre	R&B, vocal jazz
Length	57:10
Label	Motown M 758-D
Producer	Gil Askey
Diana Ross chronology
Surrender (1971) Lady Sings the Blues (1972) Greatest Hits (1972)
Singles from Lady Sings the Blues
"Good Morning Heartache" Released: December 18, 1972

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 #1 album (eventually selling over 2 million US copies), though the only one as a solo artist. It was certified gold in the UK for sales of over 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.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Christgau's Record Guide	B+

Track listing

Side one

1. "The Arrest" – 0:15
2. "Lady Sings the Blues" – 1:03
3. "Baltimore Brothel" – 0:25
4. "Billie Sneaks into Dean and Dean's/Swinging Uptown" – 0:49
5. "'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 1:06
6. "Big Ben/C.C. Rider" – 1:06
7. "All of Me" – 2:19
8. "The Man I Love" – 2:27
9. "Them There Eyes" – 1:03
10. "Gardenias from Louis" – 2:03
11. "Cafe Manhattan/Had You Been Around/Love Theme" – 2:03

Side two

1. "Any Happy Home" – 0:37
2. "I Cried for You" – 0:37
3. "Billie and Harry/Don't Explain" – 0:37
4. "Mean to Me" – 1:18
5. "Fine and Mellow" – 0:45
6. "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" – 2:09
7. "Louis Visits Billie on Tour/Love Theme" – 0:45
8. "Cafe Manhattan Party" – 1:37
9. "Persuasion/'Taint Nobody's Bizness If I Do" – 3:48
10. "Agent's Office" – 1:09
11. "Love Is Here to Stay" – 2:01

Side three

1. "Fine and Mellow" – 2:54
2. "Lover Man" – 3:22
3. "You've Changed" – 2:34
4. "Gimme a Pigfoot (And a Bottle of Beer)" – 2:06
5. "Good Morning Heartache" – 2:21
6. "All of Me" – 2:04

Side four

1. "Love Theme" – 2:53
2. "My Man" – 3:26
3. "Don't Explain" – 2:10
4. "I Cried for You" – 2:13
5. "Strange Fruit" – 3:35
6. "God Bless the Child" – 2:42
7. "Closing Theme" – 1:08

Charts

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)

References

1. "UK Certified Awards Search > Diana Ross". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: R". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 12, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 281. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
4. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4814". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
5. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
6. "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
7. "Diana Ross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
8. "Cash Box Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXIV, no. 41. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. March 31, 1973. p. 37. ISSN 0008-7289.
9. "The Album Chart" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 28, no. 1345. New York: Record World Pub. Co. March 31, 1973. p. 36. ISSN 0034-1622.
10. "The R&B LP Chart" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 28, no. 1345. New York: Record World Pub. Co. March 31, 1973. p. 44. ISSN 0034-1622.
11. "Top Popular Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 22. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. December 29, 1973. p. TA-38. ISSN 0006-2510.
12. "Top Soul Albums" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 85, no. 22. New York: Billboard Publications Inc. December 29, 1973. p. TA-42. ISSN 0006-2510.
13. "Top 100 Albums of 73" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXV, no. 33. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. March 31, 1973. p. 58. ISSN 0008-7289.
14. "Top 100 Albums of 73" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXV, no. 33. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc. March 31, 1973. p. 58. ISSN 0008-7289.
15. "Record World Year-End Awards" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 29, no. 1384. New York: Record World Pub. Co. December 29, 1973. p. 18. ISSN 0034-1622.
16. "Record World Year-End Awards" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 29, no. 1384. New York: Record World Pub. Co. December 29, 1973. p. 19. ISSN 0034-1622.
17. "British album certifications – Diana Ross – Lady Sings The Blues". British Phonographic Industry.

• Biographical film soundtracks
• 1972 soundtrack albums
• Motown soundtracks
• Diana Ross soundtracks
• Albums arranged by Benny Golson
• Albums arranged by Oliver Nelson
• Albums arranged by Michel Legrand
• Albums produced by Gil Askey
• Vocal jazz soundtracks