Diana Ross: Ain't No Mountain High Enough (ashf... -

: The performance earned Ross her first solo Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Vocal Performance, Female. III. Deeper Meanings and Inspiration

The song’s unconventional structure initially met resistance from Motown chief , who disliked the spoken-word sections and wanted the chorus at the beginning. Because of the song’s six-minute length, it was not initially released as a single. However, after radio DJs began playing the album cut and creating their own edits, Motown was forced to release a shortened three-minute version. Diana Ross: Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Ashf...

: Ashford suggested Ross use her "sexy speaking voice" to recite the verses rather than sing them, a move that added an intimate, confessional quality to the track. : The performance earned Ross her first solo

: The songwriters radically rearranged the melody so the triumphant chorus was held back until the very end of the song, creating a sense of mounting tension and eventual release. Because of the song’s six-minute length, it was

: Released in July 1970, it became Ross’s first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, staying at the top for three weeks.

When Ashford and Simpson were tasked with producing Ross’s self-titled solo debut, they chose to rework their own composition, which had already been a Top 20 hit for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in 1967. Unlike the original’s upbeat, direct love-song approach, the 1970 version was built on drama and suspense: