THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

28-Diana Ross-Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

1970-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 4.36. Eat your heart out ‘Lhotse,’ ‘Kangchenjunga,’K2,’ and ‘Everest,’ because when it comes to hitting the heights, this song towers above them all.

Diana Ross (see also best songs 900-519-365 and 183) was born on March 26th, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, her mother named her Diane, but the birth certificate was mistakenly filled out with the name Diana, her family and friends have called her Diane all of her life. It wasn’t until 1965 that she began using the name ‘Diana’ professionally, from the mistake on her birth certificate, surprising her fellow ‘Supremes’ (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) group members, Florence Ballard, (1943-1976) and Mary Wilson, (1944-2021) who had only ever known her as Diane.

Since leaving the Supremes at the request of Motown supremo Berry Gordy in 1970, Diana Ross has released 25 solo studio Albums between 1970-2021, and 91 singles between 1970-2022. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles top 40 chart, away from the Supremes she has achieved 27 hits, with six of those songs reaching Number 1. In total on Billboard she has had 18 Number 1 singles, as she also had 12 as a member of the Supremes. In the UK Diana Ross has had 47 top 40 hit singles away from the Supremes, with ‘I’m Still Waiting,’ (1971) and ‘Chain Reaction,’ (1985) both reaching Number 1. For the discography of the Supremes see best songs 148.

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ was originally written in 1966 by Nikolas Ashford, (1941-2011) and Valerie Simpson, (see also best songs 1001-703-359 and 228 ) the pair would eventually marry in 1974. As well as writing for others they have also recorded as a duo, and also as solo artists, they are probably best remembered for their 1984 hit ‘Solid,’ which reached Number 12 on Billboard, and Number 3 in the UK.

The British Soul singer Dusty Springfield (1939-1999) (see also best songs 882 and 171) had heard ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ and wanted to record it for herself, but Ashford and Simpson who wanted to work for Motown records, and knowing that they had a good song on their hands, turned down Springfield’s request, and waited for Motown to come calling. They didn’t have to wait too long, as in 1967 the Motown duo of Marvin Gaye, (1939-1984) (see also best songs 723-183 and 114) and Tammy Terrell, (1945-1970) recorded the song, and took it to Number 19 on Billboard. Ashford and Simpson would go on to write further hits for the duo including ‘Your Precious Love,’ (Billboard Number 5) and ‘You’re All I Need to Get By’ (Billboard Number 7, and UK Number 19.)

In 1968 Diana Ross & the Supremes recorded a version of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ as a duet with fellow Motown group The Temptations for their collaborative Album ‘Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations,’ (see also best songs 1031-1001-777 and 569) the song appears as track 3 on side 1 of the Album, with the lead vocals being shared by Diana Ross, and Dennis Edwards (1943-2018.) In 1970 Diana Ross was in need of a big hit in order to kick start her solo career, and Ashford and Simpson talked her into recording a radical re-make of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ with new lyrics written by Nikolas Ashford, and featuring a style similar to Gospel, with elements of Classical Music strings, and horns, with spoken word passages from Diana Ross. The backing singers on the track included Ashford and Simpson, and Motown’s female session singers ‘The Andantes,’ (see also best songs 1001-823-650-411 and 114) with the songs instrumentation being provided by Motown’s in house band the ‘Funk Brothers’ (see also best songs 948-650-569-414-382-212 and 148.)

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ was the second of two singles released from Diana Ross’ self titled debut solo studio Album from 1970, and was produced by Ashford and Simpson. The song was the follow up to her debut solo single ‘Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand’) which was also written by Ashford and Simpson. Whereas ‘Reach Out and Touch’ stalled at Number 19 on Billboard, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ did indeed prove the breakthrough, by making the Number 1 spot, and proving that Diana Ross could be every bit as successful as a solo artist as she had been with the Supremes.

‘And if you should miss my lovin’ one of these old days. If you should ever miss the arms that used to hold you so close, or the lips that used to touch yours so tenderly. Just remember what I told you, the day I set you free.’