Never been a fan of her two Central Park performances. I was there for both, and still feel it was an overblown spectacle with half-finished songs and too many strange additions (like reading from Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet"). Much of what she was trying to do went right over the head of many of the inner-city youth who attended the free show. STILL, it is nice to see any forward movement on bringing more of Diana's specials to the marketplace on formal DVD. People have been clamoring for this for years.

From The Second Disc:

Time and taste have been kind to Diana Ross, recent recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. From the moment The Supremes broke into the national consciousness, it was clear there was something special about that pretty lead singer with the unmistakable voice.

And believe it or not, nothing can stop her – not even the elements, as a classic 1983 live event, bowing on DVD this spring from Shout! Factory, is quick to prove.

On July 21, 1983, Miss Ross – at the time, two years into a recording contract with RCA, after decades with Motown – came to New York City to perform a show in Central Park to raise money for a new playground. The show, recorded under the title Diana Ross: For One and For All for the Showtime cable network, was going to be like any other, featuring plenty of classic cuts from her years with The Supremes and as a solo artist on Motown alongside current hits like “Muscles” and “Mirror, Mirror.” But high winds and rain soon posed a major problem for Ross and the concertgoers. Diana became a stunning embodiment of “the show must go on” that night, refusing to vacate the stage until absolutely necessary and making good on a spontaneous promise to perform the next day. That sunny set was punctuated by covers of hits by Stevie Wonder (“Ribbon in the Sky”) and “Muscles” writer Michael Jackson (“Beat It”) in addition to performances of “Upside Down,” “Endless Love” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

The first official DVD edition of this concert – which will be commemorated on public television stations starting this month with encore broadcasts of the original Showtime special – features the complete footage from both concerts as well as a new commentary by Steve Binder, who directed the special as well as countless other legendary music programs for film and television (The T.A.M.I. Show, Elvis Presley’s ’68 Comeback Special). Regardless of the weather outside, any fan of Ross will want to pick this disc up when it’s released on May 15.

Diana Ross, Live in Central Park (Shout! Factory, 2012)

Night 2: July 22, 1983
1.I’m Coming Out
2.Home
3.Family
4.It’s My House
5.Let’s Go Up
6.Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)
7.Supremes Medley: Reflections/Baby Love/Stop! In the Name of Love/Love is Like an Itching in My Heart
8.God Bless the Child
9.Mirror, Mirror
10.Maniac
11.You Can’t Hurry Love
12.Upside Down
13.So Close
14.Why Do Fools Fall in Love
15.Ribbon in the Sky
16.Beat It
17.Muscles
18.Endless Love
19.Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)
20.Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
21.All for One

Night 1: July 21, 1983 (ended midway due to weather)
1.Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
2.Home
3.Family
4.It’s My House
5.Let’s Go Up
6.Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)
7.Supremes Medley: Baby Love/Stop! In the Name of Love/Love is Like an Itching in My Heart
8.Endless Love
9.Ain’t No Mountain High Enough