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Diana Ross

“Blue”

MOTOWN RECORDS

Most mothers soothe their newborns to sleep with nursery rhymes or seemingly innate lullaby standards. In 1971, just months after leaving The Supremes, Diana Ross lulled her month-old Rhonda to dreamland by singing light-hearted versions of songs about domestic violence, depression and betrayal popularized by Billie Holiday.

“Blue,” the ultra-jazzy companion piece to the “Lady Sings the Blues” soundtrack, slept for three decades. Now finally available, Ross’ sweet, airy rendition of classics supplies a far more appropriate background for dinner parties than Holiday’s versions, lacking the vocal and compositional variance evident in the original versions.

Although pleasing to the ear, Ross waters down the Gershwin classic “I Loves Ya Porgy,” which Holiday crafted into a sensuous desperation. The song’s bouncy frivolity is mostly attributed to the pianist’s forceful pounding on major chords and Ross’ short attempt at scatting. To her credit, Ross held Holiday in such high regard that this album does not attempt to simply regurgitate hits, but twists them into cheerful jazz lullabies.

One highlight is “Let’s Do It,” an infectious, humorous sing-along which begins with a whimsical xylophone arrangement and an ambiguous proposition for sex, but manifests into an invitation for true love. Ross’ superb pacing only complements the Cole Porter classic.

Finishing off the album in the big band style, “T’Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do” changes its tempo halfway through, creating the kind of style variation that should have also appeared elsewhere on the album.

Despite its flaws, mothers would do well to follow Ross’ example, and “Blue” is a pleasant lullaby.

– Skye Mayring