Red Hot Rhythm & Blues

Last updated
Red Hot Rhythm & Blues
Red-hot-r&b.jpg
Studio album by
Diana Ross
ReleasedMay 8, 1987 (1987-05-08)
Recorded1986–1987
Genre R&B
Length43:56 (US: 38:11)
Label
Producer
Diana Ross chronology
Eaten Alive
(1985)		Red Hot Rhythm & Blues
(1987)		 Workin' Overtime
(1989)
Singles from Red Hot Rhythm & Blues
  1. "Dirty Looks"
    Released: April 29, 1987
  2. "Tell Me Again"
    Released: July 18, 1987
  3. "Shockwaves"
    Released: July 18, 1987 (U.K. release only)
  4. "Mr. Lee"
    Released: January 12, 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Red Hot Rhythm and Blues is the seventeenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on May 8, 1987, by RCA Records and EMI Records. It was Ross' last of six albums released by the label during the decade. It was produced by veteran Atlantic Records producer Tom Dowd with one track contributed by Luther Vandross.

Contents

Overview

The album made the charts in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria, as well as reaching the Top 20 in Sweden and Norway. It was Ross's final album for RCA Records, after a six-year stint with the label since Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1981). The album charted inside the top eighty of the Billboard 200 album chart, peaking at No. 73 position.

The album included "Dirty Looks" (US R&B No. 12, UK No. 49), originally recorded by Motown outfit Warp 9, and the retro-flavoured "Shockwaves" which was released as a Shep Pettibone remix in the UK and peaked at No. 76.

A number of major contemporary songwriters contributed new songs to the project including Luther Vandross who also produced "It's Hard for Me to Say" (and later cut the track for his 1996 album Your Secret Love ). It also included the first recording of Leonard Cohen's "Summertime" as well as Mick Hucknall's "Shine" (also released on Simply Red's concurrent album Men and Women ).

The album also included cover versions of several R&B classics, including the Bobbettes' "Mr. Lee" (UK No. 58), Jackie Ross' "Selfish One", Etta James' "Tell Mama", and the Drifters' "There Goes My Baby".

The album was promoted with a TV special that aired on ABC on May 20, 1987 titled Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and Blues. The special featured guests such as Etta James, Little Richard, Billy Dee Williams, Leslie Nielsen, LL Cool J, Bernadette Peters and Wolfman Jack.

The tracks "Mr. Lee" and "Tell Mama" were not included on the US version of the album and the mix of "Dirty Looks" on the UK version differs from the mix on the US version.

The cover photography was by Herb Ritts.

Re-release in 2014

The album was remastered and re-released in September 2014 by Funky Town Grooves, as an "Expanded Edition" with bonus material on a second CD. [2] This reissue was licensed from RCA, which owns rights to the album in the U.S. and Canada and is available in these countries (plus, through imports from Solid Records, also in Japan, even when actually Warner Music owns rights here [3] ).

Track listing

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dirty Looks" (US Album Mix)
4:09
2."Stranger in Paradise"
3:59
3."Summertime"
4:05
4."Shine" Mick Hucknall 3:31
5."Tell Me Again" Wintley Phipps 3:14
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Selfish One"
  • Carl Smith
  • Wilfred McKinley
3:23
2."Cross My Heart" Sharon Robinson 4:11
3."There Goes My Baby"
3:03
4."It's Hard for Me to Say" Luther Vandross 4:46
5."Shockwaves"
3:49
European Version - Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dirty Looks" (European Album Mix)
  • Richard Scher
  • Lotti Golden
3:21
2."Stranger in Paradise"
  • John Capek
  • Amy Sky
3:59
3."Summertime"
  • Leonard Cohen
  • Sharon Robinson
4:05
4."Shine"Mick Hucknall3:31
5."Tell Me Again"Wintley Phipps3:14
6."Mr. Lee"
  • Emma Pought
  • Jannie Pought
  • Helen Gather
  • Laura Webb
  • Reather Dixon
3:06
European Version - Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tell Mama"
3:39
2."Selfish One"
  • Carl Smith
  • Wilfred McKinley
3:23
3."Cross My Heart"Sharon Robinson4:11
4."There Goes My Baby"
  • Jerry Leiber
  • Mike Stoller
  • George Treadwell
  • Lover Patterson
3:03
5."It's Hard for Me to Say"Luther Vandross4:46
6."Shockwaves"
  • Diana Ross
  • Mark Cawley
  • Bill Wray
3:49
2014 Expanded Edition CD1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dirty Looks"
  • Richard Scher
  • Lotti Golden
4:09
2."Stranger in Paradise"
  • John Capek
  • Amy Sky
3:59
3."Summertime"
  • Leonard Cohen
  • Sharon Robinson
4:05
4."Shine"Mick Hucknall3:31
5."Tell Me Again"Wintley Phipps3:14
6."Selfish One"
  • Carl Smith
  • Wilfred McKinley
3:23
7."Cross My Heart"Sharon Robinson4:11
8."There Goes My Baby"
  • Jerry Leiber
  • Mike Stoller
  • George Treadwell
  • Lover Patterson
3:03
9."It's Hard for Me to Say"Luther Vandross4:46
10."Shockwaves"
  • Diana Ross
  • Mark Cawley
  • Bill Wray
3:49
11."Mr. Lee"
  • Emma Pought
  • Jannie Pought
  • Helen Gather
  • Laura Webb
  • Reather Dixon
3:06
12."Tell Mama"
  • Clarence Carter
  • Marcus Daniel
  • Wilbur Terrell
3:39
13."Sweet Soul Music"
2:12
2014 Expanded Edition CD2
No.TitleLength
1."Dirty Looks" (12" Mix)7:49
2."Dirty Looks" (12" Instrumental)5:52
3."Dirty Looks" (Bonus Beats)2:47
4."Dirty Looks" (European Album Mix)3:20
5."Shockwaves" (12" Mix)6:40
6."Shockwaves" (12" Instrumental)3:57
7."Shockwaves" (7" Remix)3:56
8."Mr. Lee" (Swing Mix)6:58
9."Mr. Lee" (Rare Groove Version)6:47
10."Mr. Lee" (Swing Mix Edit)3:10

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Red Hot Rhythm & Blues liner notes. [4]

Performers

Production

Charts

Chart (1987)Peak
position
Canada Top Albums ( RPM ) [5] 78
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [6] 53
European Albums ( Music & Media ) [7] 34
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [8] 55
Italian Albums ( Musica e dischi ) [9] 21
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [10] 20
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [11] 12
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] 22
UK Albums (OCC) [13] 47
US Billboard 200 [14] 73

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Endless Love (song)</span> 1981 single by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross

"Endless Love" is a song written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet between Richie and singer/actress Diana Ross. It is Richie's first single after leaving Commodores. In this ballad, the singers declare their "endless love" for one another. It was covered by Luther Vandross with R&B-pop singer Mariah Carey, and also by country music singer Shania Twain. Richie's friend Kenny Rogers also recorded the song. Billboard has named the original version as the greatest song duet of all time.

<i>The Night I Fell in Love</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Luther Vandross

The Night I Fell in Love is the fourth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released on March 8, 1985, by Epic Records. In 1986, Vandross garnered a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and two American Music Awards, Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album. The first single "'Til My Baby Comes Home" is notable for featuring Billy Preston on organ.

<i>Jump to It</i> 1982 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Jump to It is the twenty-eighth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, produced by Luther Vandross and released on July 26, 1982, by Arista Records.

<i>Paid Vacation</i> (album) 1994 studio album by Richard Marx

Paid Vacation is the fourth studio album by American singer/songwriter Richard Marx, released in 1994.

<i>Songs</i> (Luther Vandross album) 1994 studio album by Luther Vandross

Songs is the ninth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross. It was released by Epic Records on September 20, 1994. The album, a collection of cover versions, produced the singles "Endless Love", "Always and Forever", and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". According to an interview both Vandross and Mariah Carey gave in Japan following the release of their duet "Endless Love", there was mention that Carey had given advice as to what songs Vandross would cover on this album.

<i>Why Do Fools Fall in Love</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Diana Ross

Why Do Fools Fall in Love is the twelfth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 14, 1981, by RCA Records. It was Ross' first of six albums released by the label during the decade. It peaked at No. 15 in the United States, No. 17 in the United Kingdom and the top ten in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.

<i>Silk Electric</i> 1982 studio album by Diana Ross

Silk Electric is the thirteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 10, 1982, by RCA Records. It was Ross' second of six albums released by the label during the decade. It reached No. 27 on the US Billboard 200, No. 33 in the UK Albums Chart and the Top 20 in Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. The album cover was designed by Andy Warhol.

<i>Ross</i> (1983 album) 1983 studio album by Diana Ross

Ross is the fourteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on June 9, 1983 by RCA Records. It was Ross' third of six albums released by the label during the decade. It was released shortly before Ross gave a pair of free concerts in New York's Central Park. The album peaked at No. 32 on the US charts, No. 14 on the US R&B charts and No. 44 in the UK. The album's highest international chart position was in Sweden, where it reached No. 7.

<i>Swept Away</i> (Diana Ross album) 1984 studio album by Diana Ross

Swept Away is the fifteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 13, 1984, by RCA Records in North America and by Capitol Records in Europe. It was Ross' fourth of six albums released by the label during the decade.

<i>Eaten Alive</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Diana Ross

Eaten Alive is the sixteenth studio album by American R&B singer Diana Ross, released on September 24, 1985, by RCA Records in the United States, with EMI Records distributing elsewhere. It was Ross' fifth of six albums released by the label during the decade. Primarily written and produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, with co-writing from his brothers Andy, Maurice, and Robin, the album also includes a contribution from Ross' friend Michael Jackson who co-wrote and performed on the title track.

<i>Workin Overtime</i> 1989 studio album by Diana Ross

Workin' Overtime is the eighteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on June 6, 1989, by Motown Records. Her first Motown album with new material since To Love Again (1981) after a short stint with RCA Records, Ross reunited with frequent collaborator Nile Rodgers, chief producer of her most successful album to date Diana (1980), to make this album which was an attempt to gear her to a much younger audience bringing in new jack swing productions and house music.

<i>The Force Behind the Power</i> 1991 studio album by Diana Ross

The Force Behind the Power is the nineteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 10, 1991, by Motown Records. The album reached No. 11 on the UK Albums chart and became the biggest selling studio album of her career there, selling over half a million copies in the UK alone.

<i>Any Love</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Luther Vandross

Any Love is the sixth studio album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released by Epic Records on September 20, 1988, in the United States. Produced by Vandross and Marcus Miller, the album features a cover of Major Harris' hit single "Love Won't Let Me Wait" as well as "The Second Time Around," a re-recording of a song featured on Vandross's band Luther's 1976 album of the same name.

<i>Power of Love</i> (Luther Vandross album) 1991 studio album by Luther Vandross

Power of Love is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released in North America by Epic on April 26, 1991, following the critical and commercial success of his sixth album Any Love (1988). Power of Love received critical acclaim from most critics, earning Vandross a number of awards and accolades including two American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards. It reached number seven on the US Billboard 200 album chart, while topping the Top R&B Albums chart for five nonconsecutive weeks. On the latter chart, it was Vandross's last number one for twelve years until Dance with My Father was released. The album was later certified double platinum by the RIAA.

<i>Your Secret Love</i> 1996 studio album by Luther Vandross

Your Secret Love is the tenth studio album by American R&B recording artist Luther Vandross, released by Epic Records in October 1996. The album's title track won the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997. The album served as Vandross's final album under Epic Records after being part of the record label for fifteen years.

<i>Never Let Me Go</i> (Luther Vandross album) 1993 studio album by Luther Vandross

Never Let Me Go is the eighth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released on May 26, 1993, in the US by Epic. It was his first studio album not to debut at #1 on the R&B Albums chart.

<i>Hearsay</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Alexander ONeal

Hearsay is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Alexander O'Neal. It was released on July 29, 1987 by Tabu and Epic as the follow-up to O'Neal's critically and commercially successful studio album Alexander O'Neal (1985). Hearsay explores similar genres to those of Alexander O'Neal including pop, R&B, soul, post-disco, funk, and adult contemporary music, while also incorporating a newer genre, new jack swing. The songs were recorded from 1986 to 1987 in sessions that took place at Flyte Time Productions, Inc. Studio A & B in Minneapolis, Minnesota, assisted by R&B songwriting and record production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It features contributions from guest musicians, including Cherrelle, David Eiland, and Lisa Keith, and is generally regarded as the culmination of the smoother, more adult-oriented sound of O'Neal's early work.

<i>Aretha</i> (1986 album) 1986 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Aretha is the thirty-first studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, originally released on October 27, 1986, by Arista Records. It is the third album with the Aretha title to be released by Franklin, following her 1961 album and 1980 album.

<i>Through the Storm</i> (Aretha Franklin album) 1989 studio album by Aretha Franklin

Through the Storm is the thirty-second studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was released on April 25, 1989, by Arista Records.

<i>How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye</i> 1983 studio album by Dionne Warwick

How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye is a studio album by the American singer Dionne Warwick. It was released by Arista Records on September 29, 1983, in the United States. Recorded during the spring of 1983, Warwick worked with the singer and songwriter Luther Vandross, who also appears on the hit title track. The album includes the original version of the song "So Amazing", which Vandross would record later for his Give Me the Reason album, and a remake of The Shirelles' 1960 hit "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", featuring the original group on guest vocals.

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ "Red Hot Rhythm And Blues (2 CD Deluxe Edition)". FunkyTownGrooves.com. FunkyTownGrooves.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Diana Ross - Red Hot Rhythm & Blues (2014, Expanded Edition, CD)". Discogs.com. Discogs contributors. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Red Hot Rhythm & Blues (CD booklet). Diana Ross. RCA Records. 1987.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ↑ "RPM - Library and Archives Canada" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca. August 1, 1987. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Diana Ross – Red Hot Rhythm And Blues" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. June 27, 1987. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Diana Ross – Red Hot Rhythm And Blues" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  9. ↑ Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Album 1964–2019 (in Italian). ISBN   978-1094705002.
  10. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Diana Ross – Red Hot Rhythm And Blues". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Diana Ross – Red Hot Rhythm And Blues". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Diana Ross – Red Hot Rhythm And Blues". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Diana Ross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.