Ross (1983 album)

Ross is the fourteenth studio album by the American singer Diana Ross, released on June 9, 1983, by the RCA label. It was her third of six albums to be released from the label. It was released shortly before Ross gave a pair of free concerts in New York's Central Park. The album reached #32 on the US charts, #14 on the US R&B charts and #44 in the UK. The album's highest international chart position was in Sweden, where it reached #7.

Ross
Studio album by Diana Ross
Released	June 9, 1983
Recorded	1982–1983
Genre	R&B, adult contemporary, post-disco, soul
Length	35:50
Label	Capitol (Europe) RCA (North America)
Producer	Gary Katz, Diana Ross, Ray Parker Jr
Diana Ross chronology
Silk Electric (1982) Ross (1983) Swept Away (1984)
Singles from Ross
"Pieces of Ice" Released: June 17, 1983 "Up Front" Released: September 9, 1983 "Let's Go Up" Released: November 18, 1983

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	(unfavorable)[2]

Five of the eight tracks were produced by Gary Katz, two by Ray Parker Jr and one by Ross. The album's first single, "Pieces of Ice", peaked at #31 on the US charts. Subsequent singles "Up Front" (US R&B #60, UK #79) and "Let's Go Up" (US #77) - also recorded by Helen Reddy the same year - were also minor hits. "Up Front" was remixed by Jolley & Swain for its European release.

The album cut "You Do It" had previously been recorded by Sheena Easton and subsequently Rita Coolidge and Deborah Allen. The album's final US sales were slightly higher than 250,000 copies.[3]

The album was remastered and re-released in September 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, as an "Expanded Edition" with bonus material.[4]

Track listing

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"That's How You Start Over"	Ed Sanford, Michael McDonald	4:12
2.	"Love Will Make It Right"	Donald Fagen	4:46
3.	"You Do It"	Deborah Allen, Eddie Struzick, Rafe Van Hoy	4:32
4.	"Pieces of Ice"	John Capek, Marc Jordan	4:58

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
5.	"Let's Go Up"	Franne Golde, Peters Ivers	4:06
6.	"Love or Loneliness"	Ray Parker Jr.	4:18
7.	"Up Front"	Ray Parker Jr.	4:00
8.	"Girls"	Bill Wray, Marc Jordan, Diana Ross	4:03

2014 expanded edition bonus tracks (Funky Town Grooves)

No.	Title	Length
9.	"Pieces of Ice" (7" Mix)	4:08
10.	"Pieces of Ice" (12" Mix)	7:16
11.	"Pieces of Ice" (12" Instrumental)	7:16
12.	"Up Front" (7" Radio Mix)	3:41
13.	"Up Front" (Special Club Mix)	7:00
14.	"Up Front" (12" Mix)	5:44
15.	"Up Front" (Tony Swain And Steve Jolley European 12" Remix)	5:43
16.	"Let's Go Up" (7" Mix)	3:14

Personnel

• Diana Ross – lead vocals
• Jeff Porcaro – drums (1-5)
• Ray Parker Jr. – drums (6, 7), bass (6, 7), guitar (6, 7), acoustic piano (6, 7), synthesizer (6, 7), backing vocals (6, 7), arrangements (6, 7)
• Yogi Horton – drums (8)
• Ollie E. Brown – percussion (6, 7)
• Jack Ashford – tambourine (7)
• Neil Jason – bass (8)
• Jimmy Haslip – guitar (1-5)
• Steve Lukather – guitar (1)
• Domenic Troiano – guitar (1-5)
• Larry Carlton – guitar (3, 4)
• Joe Walsh – guitar (4)
• Randy Hall – guitar (7)
• Bob Kulick – lead guitar (8)
• Eric Gale – guitar (8)
• Jeff Mironov – guitar (8)
• Michael McDonald – keyboards (1), backing vocals (1)
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (1-5), keyboard bass (4)
• Donald Fagen – synthesizer (2)
• David Paich – synthesizer (3, 5)
• Jullian Marshall – Hammond organ (3)
• Steve Porcaro – synthesizer (5)
• Rob Mounsey – Fender Rhodes (8)
• Ray Chew – acoustic piano (8)
• Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (1), trumpet (4), flugelhorn (4), synthesizer arrangement (5)
• Jim Horn – saxophone (4), flute (4)
• Gene Page – strings (6)
• Clydie King – backing vocals (1, 3)
• Shirley Matthews – backing vocals (1, 3, 5)
• Myrna Matthews – backing vocals (5)
• Alex Brown – backing vocals (6, 7)
• Anita Sherman – backing vocals (6, 7)
• Arnell Carmichael – backing vocals (7)
• J.D. Nicholas – backing vocals (7)
• Valorie Jones – backing vocals (7)

Production

• Producers – Gary Katz (Tracks 1-5); Ray Parker Jr. (Tracks 6 & 7); Diana Ross (Track 8).
• Engineers – Daniel Lazerus (Tracks 1-5); Ray Parker Jr. (Tracks 6 & 7); Larry Alexander (Track 8).
• Assistant Engineers – Robin Lane, Michael Morongell and Eddie Orsario (Tracks 1-5); Michael Christopher, Steve Hallquist and Steve Rinkoff (Tracks 6 & 7).
• Additional Overdubs (Tracks 1-5) – Andy Hoffman and Wayne Yurgelun
• Digital Technician (Tracks 1-5) – Wayne Yurgelun
• Vocal Engineer (Tracks 6 & 7) – Andy Hoffman
• Recorded at Soundworks Digital Audio/Video Studios, Media Sound and the Power Station (New York, NY); Sound City Studios and The Village Recorder (Los Angeles, CA); Ameracyan Studios (North Hollywood, CA).
• Tracks 1, 2, 3 & 5-8 mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk (New York, NY).
• Track 4 mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
• Cover Design – Ria Lewerke
• Photography – Uwe Ommer

Charts

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5]	59
UK Albums (OCC)[6]	44
US Billboard 200[7]	32
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8]	14

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. ISBN 9780743201698.
3. http://www.greasylake.org/the-circuit/index.php?%2Ftopic%2F116321-the-supremes-diana-ross-stevie-wonder-and-ray-charlesusa-album-sales%2F
4. "Ross (Expanded Edition)". FunkyTownGrooves.com. FunkyTownGrooves.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 259. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
6. "Diana Ross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
7. "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
8. "Diana Ross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2020.