Take Me Higher


Take Me Higher is a studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 5, 1995 by the Motown label. The album features production from urban producers such as Narada Michael Walden, Brenda Russell, Jon-John and the Boom Brothers, the latter two coming from Babyface's production company.
The album yielded the UK hits "Take Me Higher", "Gone" and Ross' dance cover of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive", which featured club mixes by Steve Rodway of Motiv8 and Grammy Award-winning Remixer Hex Hector.
Photographer Ruven Afanador shot the album cover and the fashion forward video shoot which Ross used for promotional purposes. He also shot the video compilation for the single, "Don't Stop". Motown created a special promotional box for the album that included the video, touring schedule and postcards.

Chart performance and single releases

Take Me Higher reached #10 in the UK Albums Chart and #114 on the US Billboard 200, where it sold a little over 100,000 copies. The title track "Take Me Higher" hit #1 on the US 'Dance' charts, also reaching the UK Top 40. Ross' cover of "I Will Survive" reached #14 in the UK Singles Chart. Her version got an extra boost from being played at a key scene in the $65 million grossing Kevin Kline film, In & Out. She also performed it during a "Take Me Higher" megamix at her acclaimed Super Bowl XXX Half-Time show as she was whisked away in a helicopter. " Gone" written and produced by Jon-John Robinson, was also another Top 40 UK hit single, and "If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right" appeared at #67 on the US R&B charts, while "Voice of the Heart" reached #28 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
She also shot several promotional videos including a stylised black and white narrative driven one for "Gone", a video recreating the West Hollywood LGBT Pride parade featuring RuPaul for "I Will Survive" and a fashion compilation video for the single, "Don't Stop". Motown used the special promotional box for the album that included the "Take Me Higher" video that debuted on Vevo, an elegant touring schedule on elegant vintage paper and fashion postcards.

Critical reception

The critical reaction for the album proved quite fortifying. The London Times deemed it in her finest work in years. Television personality Arsenio Hall said essentially the same: "It was the best Diana had done in years". This came after a ratings breaking appearance introducing her previous album, The Force Behind the Power on his show in the late summer of 1991. USA Today gave it 3.5 stars out of 4. As of 2016, it stands as her last album to reach the top 10 in the UK.

Track listing

US Edition
  1. "Take Me Higher" - 4:18
  2. "If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right" - 4:41
  3. "Voice of the Heart" - 4:18
  4. "Let Somebody Know" - 4:55
  5. "Keep It Right There" - 4:50
  6. "Don't Stop" - 3:48
  7. "Gone" - 5:15
  8. "Only Love Can Conquer All" - 4:10
  9. "I Never Loved a Man Before" - 4:55
  10. "I Thought That We Were Still in Love" - 4:52
  11. "I Will Survive" - 4:48
International Edition
  1. "Take Me Higher" - 4:20
  2. "If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right" - 4:41
  3. "I Never Loved a Man Before" - 4:54
  4. "Swing It - 4:14
  5. "Keep It Right There" - 4:33
  6. "Don't Stop" - 4:07
  7. "Gone" - 5:16
  8. "I Thought That We Were Still in Love" - 4:52
  9. "Voice of the Heart" - 4:54
  10. "Only Love Can Conquer All" - 4:10
  11. "I Will Survive" - 4:50
  12. "If We Hold On Together" - 4:09

    Charts

Album

Singles