Time for the first of Billy’s Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions.  For the next few weeks, I will be suggesting items which would make great gifts for you and yours.  Our first suggestion is something both old and new.  When the film of The Wiz came out at the end of 1979, most critics felt it was lacking.  But nobody had any problems with the vocal performance of Miss Ross.  The musical generated a two-LP soundtrack, but what many people don’t know is that Diane also recorded most of the songs from the show for a solo album.  When the film tanked, the solo was scrapped and forgotten.  The new television version helped revive interest in Ross’ renditions, so you can now buy Diana Ross Sings Songs from The Wiz.  The bad news is that the recording is only being sold as a digital download – which is ironic, since Miss Ross is still trying to figure out where to insert the crank from her Victrola into an MP3 player.

Every year, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS releases additions to their Broadway Legends ornament collection.  This year, Barbra Streisand joins the previously-released renderings of Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews and Gwen Verdon.  Not only is it a great gift, but it helps a great cause.  Check them out at BroadwayCares.org.