THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
365-Diana Ross-I’m Still Waiting.
1971-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 0.46. I suppose the moral of the story is, if you’re a five year old girl, don’t fall in love with a 10 year old boy, because it will mess the rest of your life up.
Diana Ross, who as a solo artist (see also best songs and 900-519 and 28) and as a member of the Supremes, (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) was born on March 26th, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. She was first a member of the Supremes, originally called ‘The Primettes,’ between 1959-1970, where she achieved 12 American Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 singles, then she launched her solo career, and has had a further six chart toppers on Billboard, including ‘Endless Love,’ a duet with Lionel Richie, (1981) and ‘We Are the World,’ (1985) as part of the charity single recorded by the ‘supergroup’ ‘USA for Africa.’ For the solo discography of Diana Ross (see beast songs 28) and for the discography of the Supremes (see best songs 148.) Diana Ross is best known as a singer, but she has also had a successful career as an actress in films, and on television. Her first role was her ‘Golden Globe Award’ winning portrayal of Billie Holiday (1915-1959) (see also best songs 624) in the film ‘Lady Sings the Blues,’ (1972) becoming the first African-American actress to receive an ‘Academy Award’ nomination for a debut film performance, she also recorded its soundtrack, which became her only solo Album to reach Number 1 on the American ‘Billboard 200’ chart. She also starred in two other feature films, Mahogany, (1975) and The Wiz, (1978), and later appeared in the television films ‘Out of Darkness,’ (1994) for which she was nominated for a ‘Golden Globe Award,’ and ‘Double Platinum’ (1999.)
‘I’m Still Waiting’ was the first of two singles released from ‘Everything Is Everything,’ the second solo studio Album by Diana Ross, from November 1970, the song was written and produced by Deke Richards (1944-2013.) The Album was rush released in order to keep up the momentum of promoting Diana Ross as a solo artist, after the success of her debut release ‘Diana Ross’ less than five months earlier. ‘I’m Still Waiting’ was initially not intended for single release, but after the British DJ Tony Blackburn promised ‘EMI’ (the label distributors of all Motown tracks at that time) that he would play the song every morning on his BBC Radio 1 radio programme, they were persuaded. Blackburn was proved right as ‘I’m Still Waiting’ went on to spend four weeks at Number 1, becoming the best selling Motown song in the UK up to that time. In 1978 The Commodores, with the Lionel Richie penned ‘Three Times a Lady,’ which spent five weeks at Number 1, surpassed ‘I’m Still Waiting’ for sales, and became Motown’s best selling single in the UK. ‘I’m Still Waiting’ didn’t meet with the same success in the States, where it stalled a Number 63 on Billboard. The spoken part in ”I’m Still Waiting’ (‘Love has never shown his face…’) is not uncommon in Diana Ross’ songs, and dates back to her time in the Supremes. A good example is the Supremes song ‘Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone’ (1967-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 17.)
‘I’m Still Waiting’ was written and produced by Deke Richards, who was born Dennis Lussier on April 8th, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, United States, he died of esophageal cancer on March 24th, 2013, at the age of 68. When the star Motown writing team of ‘Holland Dozier Holland’ (see also best songs 969-823-650-553-411-212 and 148) left the label in 1967, Richards was one of the songwriters brought in by Berry Gordy to replace them, initially working with Frank Wilson, (1940-2012) (see also best songs 97) R Dean Taylor, (1939-2022) (see also best songs 969) and Pam Sawyer (see also best songs 519) as ‘The Clan,’ they worked together until 1969. In that time they were responsible for the two Diana Ross and the Supremes Billboard Number 1 singles, ‘Love Child,’ and ‘I’m Living in Shame,’ (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148.) After ‘The Clan’ disbanded, Richards stayed on at Motown, charged with writing and producing for the labels next big stars,’The Jackson 5.’ The new team of songwriters who Richards joined were known as ‘The Corporation,’ which also included Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren (1943-2004) (see also best songs 514) and Alphonso Mizell (1943-2011.) They guided The Jackson 5 (see also best songs 249 and 137) to early success with the songs ‘I Want You Back,’ ‘ABC,’ and ‘The Love You Save,’ ‘The Corporation’ disbanded in 1972. In the liner notes to the ‘Everything Is Everything’ Album reissue, Deke Richards said he wanted ‘I’m Still Waiting’ to be ‘simple and unassuming,’ adding, ‘Diana liked the song but the soft, vulnerable style took her by surprise.’
In 1990 ‘I’m Still Waiting’ was remixed by the British music producer ‘DJ Phil Chill’ (see also best songs 520) as an uptempo ‘Dance’ track, and released as a single, reaching Number 21 in the UK chart.
‘Love has never shown his face since the day you walked out that door. You filled my life with empty space, come back can’t you see it’s you I’m waiting for.’