Diana Ross - Upside Down

I have more sources for the LP version than I did nine years ago.

The oldest is likely Motown's Compact Command Performance 14 Greatest Hits (1984). It sounds pretty good here, with an excellent dynamic range, reasonable EQ, seemingly low-generation source tapes, and no evidence of added noise reduction on the fade. The same analog transfer is used on:

• Motown's Biggest Pop Hits (1986)
• Motown's Forever Diana (1993)
• Priority's Mega-Hits Dance Classics Vol. 12 (1993)
• Diana Ross's Ultimate Collection (1994)
• Rebound's Disco Nights Vol. 9 Motown Dance (1995)
• Time-Life's 2-CD Rhythm + Grooves Groove Is In The Heart (2002)

There's a new analog transfer on on the 2003 2-CD Diana Deluxe Edition. It's more compressed than those I listed above, but not brickwalled. The added compression really emphasizes the reverb; listen to the intro. In my opinion, the added compression and EQ choices make Diana's vocals a little more distant and less immediate than on Compact Command Performance 14 Greatest Hits.

Motown's All The Great Hits (copyright 1981) and Warner Special Products' 2-CD Good Times (1991) sound like they used the same high-generation source tape. Avoid for this track.

I haven't heard the 1999 reissue, or the hi-rez/MQA mastering.

Of the batch I listed above, Motown's Compact Command Performance 14 Greatest Hits (1984) is a clear winner for the LP version.

Edited by crapfromthepast