DIANA ROSS - Ross (1983-2005) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A noble, if failed, experiment. Diana Ross teamed up with Steely Dan producer Gary Katz for this, her third outing on RCA. Katz brought in the usual suspects, not only buddies like Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen (each of whom contributed a song and keyboards), but also session aces like Jeff Porcaro and Greg Phillinganes. The result, on the five tracks Katz handled, has that precise, icy sound those guys always get, not a sound that meshes well with Ross. No better are the two tracks contributed by Ray Parker, Jr., or Ross' own effort, "Girls," which closes things out. As a result, Ross was Diana Ross' first album since 1978 not to even go gold. (Not to be confused with Diana Ross' 1978 album [Motown 907] of the same name.) by William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1    That's How You Start Over 4:10
Arranged By [Horn Arranger] – Jerry Hey
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Michael McDonald, Shirley Matthews
Guitar – Steve Lukather
Keyboards – Michael McDonald
Producer – Gary Katz
Written-By – Ed Sanford, Michael McDonald
2    Love Will Make It Right 4:44
Producer – Gary Katz
Synthesizer – Donald Fagen
Written-By – Donald Fagen
3    You Do It 4:31
Backing Vocals – Clydie King, Shirley Matthews
Guitar – Larry Carlton
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Julian Marshall
Producer – Gary Katz
Synthesizer [Synthesizer Organ] – David Paich
Written-By – Deborah Allen, Eddie Struzick, Rafe Van Hoy
4    Pieces Of Ice 4:55
Flute, Alto Saxophone – Jim Horn
Guitar – Larry Carlton
Guitar [Guitars] – Joe Walsh
Keyboards [Keyboard Bass] – Greg Phillinganes
Producer – Gary Katz
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jerry Hey
Written-By – John Capek, Marc Jordan
5    Let's Go Up 4:02
Arranged By [Synthesizer Arranger] – Jerry Hey
Backing Vocals – Merna Matthews, Shirley Matthews
Producer – Gary Katz
Synthesizer [Synthesizers] – David Paich, Steve Porcaro
Written-By – Franne Gold, Peters Ivers
6    Love Or Loneliness 4:16
Arranged By – Ray Parker Jr.
Backing Vocals – Alex Brown, Anita Sherman, Ray Parker Jr.
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Synthesizer [Synthesizers], Piano – Ray Parker Jr.
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Michael Christopher, Steve Hallquist, Steve Rinkoff
Engineer [Vocal Engineer] – Andy Hoffman
Percussion – Ollie E. Brown
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Ray Parker Jr.
Strings – Gene Page
Tambourine – Jack Ashford
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
7    Up Front 3:57
Arranged By – Ray Parker Jr.
Backing Vocals – Alex Brown, Anita Sherman, Arnell Carmichael, J.D. Nicholas, Ray Parker Jr., Valorie Jones
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Synthesizer [Synthesizers], Piano – Ray Parker Jr.
Engineer [Assistant Engineer] – Michael Christopher, Steve Hallquist, Steve Rinkoff
Engineer [Vocal Engineer] – Andy Hoffman
Guitar – Randy Hall
Percussion – Ollie E. Brown
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Ray Parker Jr.
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
8    Girls 3:58
Bass Guitar – Neil Jason
Drums – Yogi Horton
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Rob Mounsey
Engineer – Larry Alexander
Guitar – Eric Gale, Jeff Mironov
Lead Guitar – Bob Kulick
Lyrics By – Bill Wray, Diana Ross, Marc Jordan
Music By – Diana Ross, Ray Chew
Piano [Acoustic Piano] – Ray Chew
Producer – Diana Ross