Mahogany was the first movie to use Paramount's "Blue Mountain" logo, which was used until December 1986. The role of Tracy Chambers was originally written for Liza Minelli but was eventually offered to Diana Ross. Ross and Billy Dee Williams previously co-starred in Lady Sings the Blues (1972). Diana Ross designed some of the costumes in the fashion show sequence herself. Producer Berry Gordy fired original director Tony Richardson and then took over direction of the picture himself. Screenwriter John Byrum also wrote and directed the X-rated film, Inserts, starring Richard Dreyfuss, in the same year (1975). The theme song, "Do You Know Where You're Going To," was at first considered not acceptable "because of quality standards" for being an Oscar contender, but Berry Gordy successfully lobbied the Academy into nominating it.