Yearly Most Successful Female Album: The beginning (1960-1982)

1970 – Diana Ross – Diana Ross

Although several previous releases by the Supremes credited Diana Ross explicitely, her eponymous LP from 1970 was her true solo debut.  The lead single Reach Out and Touch peaked at #20 in the US and #33 in the UK, quite disappointing considering the standards of her former group. The second single was a cover of Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. It may seem surprising nowadays, but the original Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrell duet wasn’t so big, peaking at #19 in the US and failing charts in the UK. Ross version popularized the track, hitting #1 for 3 weeks in the US and #6 in the UK.

This million selling single boosted the album Diana Ross which made the Top 20 in both the US and the UK. The single was later surpassed by bigger hits like Endless Love, Upside Down and I’m Coming Out, but it always stood on track lists of the diva’s compilations, generating several millions of sales in the process. Considering the lack of serious competition from this year, it settles her spot at the top of 1970. Nice start!