Right on the very heels of the new Hip-O 2-disc Supremes Lost & Found comp, comes word that Diana's second solo LP, "Everything Is Everything" will be released on April 22. The LP has never been one of my favorites; mostly outtakes deemed unacceptable for the debut release and also too many bland Beatles covers in an attempt to possibly get a hit off the heat of the recent original. She's also mentioned in old interviews that the LP was a forgettable one. But an important release just the same when you consider the state of disarray her CD catalog is in, PLUS it has never been issued in the U.S. Wish they would devote an entire year to her catalog exclusively, much like the old "Motown Master Series" did with Marvin Gaye back in the '90's.

Here's the e-mail I received:

DIANA ROSS: EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING [Expanded Edition]
Pre-Order due April 22
Item# B000809302
$21.99
Product Description

You asked for it and here it is: Everything Is Everything, Diana Ross’s 1970 sophomore solo album, is finally available on CD in the U.S. for the first time.

Released even as her debut solo album was still on the charts, EIE featured productions by Deke Richards, the leader of the “Corporation” team responsible for the Jackson 5 hits. The album didn’t produce a major hit along the lines of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Ross’s big smash that year, but “I’m Still Waiting” became a U.K. No. 1. “I Love You (Call Me),” a cover of Aretha Franklin’s hit, was nominated for a Grammy® (it lost to Aretha herself). The complete, fascinating story is all here in this beautiful, expanded edition that includes seven bonus tracks from the Motown vault.


Among the stunning bonus tracks are unreleased covers of the Beatles “Something” and the Oscar®-nominated song “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life,” alternate lyrics to “Ain’t No Sad Song,” a remix of “Come Together” – plus the hit U.K. remix of “I’m Still Waiting.”


In the booklet, Deke himself tells fascinating stories of the album’s genesis. Why, even as Ashford & Simpson were cutting the tracks that became the hits, Berry Gordy asked him to make this album. How, months after the album’s release, the U.K. embraced “I’m Still Waiting.” How the longest title in Diana’s repertoire came to be. How Deke wished to get Burt Bacharach to write a song for Diana, and what resulted instead. What happened to the bonus tracks—and where in all this fits Motown’s west coast guru Hal Davis.


Featuring stunning never-before seen photos, detailed annotations, digitally remastered audio, and never-before heard studio chatter, this collection is a must-add for every Diana Ross fan.


Order fast: the expanded edition of Diana Ross’s Last Time I Saw Him is nearly sold out, and this will go fast too.


Original Album + Bonus Tracks. Tracks 12-17 previously unreleased
1. My Place
2. Ain't No Sad Song
3. Everything Is Everything
4. Baby It's Love
5. I'm Still Waiting
6. Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoobe, Doobedood'ndoo
7. Come Together
8. The Long And Winding Road
9. I Love You (Call Me)
10. How About You
11. (They Long To Be) Close To You
12. Wish I Knew
13. What Are You Doing
14. Something
15. Ain't No Sad Song - alternate lyrics
16. Baby It's Love - alternate vocal
17. Come Together - 1982 "Revelations" remix
18. I'm Still Waiting - 1990 Phil Chill remix

$21.99?? Ouch...kind of pricey for a single CD release, even from Hip-O Select.

Check that...the website says $14.98 and not the $21.99 that was posted above. That's better.

I was surprised to see this as inexpensive as $14.98 -- if I'm not mistaken, that price point was used in the past for bare-bones reissues. This seems like quite a bargain, and it's long overdue. Kuds to Hip-O Select for these amazing Motown packages -- each one is a real labor of love. I've placed my order!

Sorry about the pricing mistake, Walter; it was mispriced in the original e-mail I received but you have the correct price. You've known me all these years and know as far as my purchase goes, it's DIANA ROSS, so cost doesn't even come into play! (smile)

$14.98 is definitely better, however, for an album that barely makes the 35-minute mark.

"I'm Still Waiting" will always remind me of the night my Godmother died - about 16-17 years ago. Actually it was the Courtney Pine cover that I was playing at the time, but that version I've long since parted with. An achingly beautiful song either way.

P:S.: I've already snagged my Supremes Lost and Found and will move on to these two Diana Ross titles next month.

Oh yeah Mr. Elitist...I knew you'd be all over this! With the price, I just figured that perhaps they'd initially rolled it out at the higher price and then thought better of it. The thing that gets me is that the $21.99, if it was the price, was higher than their already high prices for single discs and it marked an alarming trend in my mind. Thankfully, that's not the case and I'll also be ordering this title.

So tell me Mr. Elitist...when are we going to get together and have a Diana Ross listening party?

Even $21.99 for the previously unreleased (at least domestically) "Everything is Everything" would be a bargain. I spent more than that years ago to get an officially released import version. "My Place" is one of my favorite Ross romps, good for many an exercise session. I like this "glitz-o-rama" way better than the closely following "Surrender".

Are they using jewel boxes for the packaging or have they reverted back to cardboard sleeves. The Joe Walsh Barnstorm CD from a couple of years ago was a jewel box.

Hip-O seems to vary its packaging from title to title, even concerning reissues from the same artist; the 2-disc Marvin Gaye HERE, MY DEAR was in a digipak, while IN OUR LIFETIME? was in a jewelcase. I'd predict a digipak for EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING, but that's pure conjecture...

Who is Ross?

(Wrong board for that joke, hon. The Ross you're referring to never ventures downstairs to ICE.)