"Let's Go Up" by Diana Ross

Song#:  1732
Date:  12/17/1983
Debut:  85
Peak:  77
Weeks:  6
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Ross' album Ross was definitely in need of resuscitation. It's first single, "Pieces of Ice," was locked out of the Top 30 at Pop and couldn't hit Top 10 at R&B. Her next single, "Up Front," fared even worse by peaking at #60 at R&B while missing the Pop chart completely. There were hopes that perhaps this third single would help rescue the album, but it just wasn't going to happen. Although the song did get on the Pop chart, it was only for a few weeks. It stalled early on the R&B chart as well peaking at #52. With lackluster single results, the album tanked and failed to even get close to gold level.

ReduxReview:  This is not too bad of a tune and is actually one of the better ones on a very dull album (and one of the very few of her LPs not issued digitally, which speaks volumes). However, it's better as an album track rather than a single. There is really nothing here that would make this song stand out on radio. It's got a nice shuffle groove and Ross actually sounds engaged, but other than that there is nothing here to hook an audience. Pleasant, but in the end, forgettable.

ReduxRating:  4/10

Trivia:  In July of 1983, Ross was set to perform a free concert in New York's Central Park. The show would be filmed as a special to be aired on Showtime. Proceeds from the show/taping were to benefit a children's park that was going to be built in Ross' name. But not long after the concert began a torrential downpour started. Ross famously continued on wanting to stay (getting drenched in the process), but the rains proved too much and the concert had to be shut down. She vowed to return the next night, which she did, and the show was completed. However, after all was said and done, the proceeds from the first night had to be used to do the show on the second night and most all the merch that had been for sale was destroyed in the rain. With no profits from anything, there was no money for the park. To make matters worse, her reps refused to just go ahead and pay for the park. When this was discovered, Ross was dogged with poor publicity. She then decided the best thing to do was to go ahead and pay for the project herself, which she did. The Diana Ross Playground was built in Central Park and opened in 1986. It remains there today.

_________________________________________________________________________________