пятница, 1 июня 2007 г.

Dimitri From Paris presents Cocktail Disco


Dimitri From Paris
Dimitri From Paris presents Cocktail Disco

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

CD 1

01. The Blue Velvets - Summertime (4:26)
02. The Vast Majority - Ocean’s apart (5:25)
03. Ms Victoria Barnes - Never too late (5:39)
04. Astrud Gilberto - The girl from Ipanema (5:52)
05. Orquestra Novel - My cherie amour (7:52)
06. Darcus - It’s got to be love (7:35)
07. Marty Linn - Who can I turn to [when nobody needs me] (7:58)
08. Paul Mauriat Plus - The joy of you (4:07)
09. J: Elliott Group - Disco village (7:02)
10. Charlie’s Roots - Let me show you the way (4:47)
11. The Band That Fell To Earth - Starflight (17:37)

CD 2

01. Cindy Rodriguez - What you need is my love (7:42)
02. Jobel and The Orchestra De Salsa - Never gonna let you go (4:59)
03. Ralfi Pagan - Take me with you (3:48)
04. The Ritchie Family - Frenesi (7:51)
05. Ray Martinez and Friends - Lady of the night (11:32)
06. Serenade - Canteen (5:30)
07. Nightfall - Keep it up (5:26)
08. Private Pink - Little high things (3:16)
09. Moses - Something about you (5:01)
10. The Night People - Again (4:57)
11. Jonelle Allen - Baby, I just wanna love you (5:59)

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Dimitri From Paris Presents Cocktail Disco (2007, BBE)
From Disco Delivery


It seems that suave, jet-setting disco connoisseur extraordinaire, Dimitri from Paris, has done it once again.. The amount of rarities on the tracklist is pleasantly surprising, to say the least. Not to mention the artwork, which looks absolutely stunning. Though really, one can't expect anything less from a Dimitri compilation. Rest assured, unlike the last disco compilation he was involved with, Super Disco Friends (with DJ Muro), this collection is not a mix, but a completely unmixed collection of either full, or rare 12" versions. Although I've only been collecting for a relatively short time, even some of the more seasoned collectors I've come across manage to get a pleasant surprise or two from a Dimitri set.. Out of all of the tracks on here, there are only two that I know of: "Frenesi" by The Ritchie Family and "It's Got To Be Love" by Darcus (which also involves The Ritchie Family's namesake, Richie Rome), and I didn't even know there was a seven minute 12" version of the Darcus track..

Evidently this double disc set can probably be described as Dimitri's take on disco's still relatively unexplored (at least as far as these sorts of compilations go) 'sleaze' subgenre. There's a thread on discomusic.com and an installment of Joe.My.God's Instant Disco History which both give a good outline of it.. For the record though, Dimitri's own background info describes his affinity for sleaze as well as his own 'cocktail disco' approach this way:

One of many such sub genres I grew up to love over the years, is a type of Disco that I could best describe as Cocktail Disco.... I believe this style was called Sleaze back in its days, from roughly 1976 to 1979. There were even DJs specialized in the Sleaze sound which was usually played after hours, in spots with a strong sex oriented drive...Cocktail Disco has that ubiquitous 4/4 beat and flying open high hat, complemented by rich orchestrations, campy over the top vocals, and an often tropical latin vibe. Something that wouldn't feel out of place in a broadway musical..

Judging from the rarity of the selections however, I'm sure this will be less of a trip down memory lane, and more of a journey through relatively unexplored territory with Dimitri's own personal take on this sub-genre..

Although whenever a set so focused on rarities comes along, there's bound to be a bit of skepticism as to whether the tracks themselves are actually quality selections and not just gratuitous collections of obscurities.. For what it's worth though, I've been told by a few people with advance copies that Cocktail Disco does indeed deliver on rarity, quality and concept.. Judging from The Determined Dillettante's tasty lil' teaser and from the tracks that I do know of, I certainly think this'll be one awesome collection!

Anyway, in case you can't tell by now, I'm pretty excited for this and hope to do a review when I finally get myself a copy... For more info, check BBE's website as well as Dimitri's own Myspace blog where both the tracklist along with Dimitri's own liner notes/annotations have been posted..

четверг, 31 мая 2007 г.

The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer

The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer

Label: UTV Records
Catalog#: B0001009-02
Format: 2 x CD
Country: US
Released: 2003
Genre: Electronic
Style: House, Synth-pop, Disco
Credits: Producer - Giorgio Moroder (tracks: 1.02 to 1.10, 1.12, 1.13, 1.19, 1.20, 2.01, 2.02, 2.04) , Pete Bellotte (tracks: 1.01 to 1.10, 1.13, 2.01, 2.02)
Notes: Limited edition 2xCD release with bonus remix disc.

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

1.01 Love To Love You Baby (3:22)
1.02 Could It Be Magic? (3:54)
1.03 I Feel Love (3:46)
1.04 I Love You (3:18)
1.05 Last Dance (3:19)
1.06 MacArthur Park (3:56)
1.07 Heaven Knows (3:39) Vocals - Brooklyn Dreams
1.08 Hot Stuff (3:50)
1.09 Bad Girls (3:57)
1.10 Dim All The Lights (3:58)
1.11 No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (4:48) Vocals - Barbra Streisand
1.12 On The Radio (4:05)
1.13 The Wanderer (3:46)
1.14 Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger) (4:19) Producer - Quincy Jones
1.15 State Of Independence (4:25) Producer - Quincy Jones
1.16 She Works Hard For The Money (4:10) Producer - Michael Omartian
1.17 This Time I Know It's For Real (3:36) Producer - Stock, Aitken & Waterman
1.18 I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiró) (4:08) Producer - Bruce Sudano , Donna Summer , Hex Hector
1.19 That's The Way (3:45)
1.20 Dream-A-Lot's Theme (I Will Live For Love) (4:54)
2.01 I Feel Love (12" Single Remix) (8:15)
2.02 Hot Stuff (12" Single Remix) (6:40)
2.03 This Time I Know It's For Real (12" Extended Remix) (7:22) Producer - Stock, Aitken & Waterman
2.04 Dream-A-Lot's Theme (I Will Live For Love) (12" Extended Mix) (9:16) Remix - Chris Cox , Giorgio Moroder
2.05 You're So Beautiful (The Ultimate Club Mix) (10:50) Producer - Nathan DiGesare , Tony Moran

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The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer is a compilation of the American singer's hits released in 2003. It features most of her best known songs from the 1970s disco era, during which she became the most successful female of that genre, plus some of her hits from the 1980s, during which time she experimented with different genres.

Donna Summer - 1999 - Live & More Encore


Donna Summer - 1999 - Live & More Encore

Label: Epic
Catalog#: EPC 494532 2
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 1999
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Disco

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

1 MacArthur Park (6:38)
2 This Time I Know It's For Real (3:12)
3 I Feel Love (3:50)
4 On The Radio (4:29)
5 No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (4:21)
6 Dim All The Lights (6:03)
7 She Works Hard For The Money (4:31)
8 Bad Girls (3:06)
9 Hot Stuff (4:19)
10 My Life (5:58)
11 Last Dance (7:08)
12 Love Is The Healer (3:23)
13 I Will Go WIth You (Con Te Partiró) (4:10)

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Live & More Encore is a live album released by Donna Summer in 1999. Released on the Epic label, it featured a live concert which had been filmed especially for the VH-1 channel, and also two new dance tracks, including a re-working of "Time To Say Goodbye", a semi-classical song previously made popular by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. Summer's dance version of the song was entitled "I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiro)". Both songs (the other being "Love Is The Healer") performed reasonably well on the dance charts, with "I Will Go With You" receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording.

Throughout the concert Summer performs some of her biggest hits both from the 1970s disco era through to the 1980s. The song "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," originally a duet with Barbra Streisand, is performed with Australian singer Tina Arena. The song was one of the concerts highlights, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Donna Summer - 1994 - Christmas Spirit

Donna Summer - 1994 - Christmas Spirit

Label: PolyGram
Catalog#: 314 522 694-2
Format: CD
Country: US
Released: 1994
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Gospel, Synth-pop
Credits: Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra] - Ronn Huff (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Bass - Danny O'Lannerghty (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Choir - Butch Curry (tracks: 3, 5, 10) , Dave Williamson (2) (tracks: 3, 5, 10) , David Holloway (tracks: 3, 5, 10) , Gary Robinson (tracks: 3, 5, 10) , Guy Penrod (tracks: 3, 5, 10) , Mark Ivey (tracks: 3, 5, 10) , Michael Mellett (tracks: 3, 5, 10) , Russell Mauldin (tracks: 3, 5, 10)
Choir [Children] - Heritage Children's Choir (tracks: 3, 4, 10)
Conductor [Children's Choir] - Mary P. Stephenson
Drums - Chester Thompson (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Engineer [Additional] - James Dineen III
Engineer [Assistant] - King Williams , Larry Jefferies , Robert Charles , Scott Link
Engineer, Mixed By - Terry Christian
Guitar - Dann Huff (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10) , Jerry McPherson (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Orchestra - Nashville String Machine, The (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Piano - Michael Omartian (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 to 10)
Producer - Michael Omartian
Synthesizer - Michael Omartian (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 10)

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

1 White Christmas (2:55) Written-By - Irving Berlin
2 The Christmas Song (4:20) Written-By - Mel Torme* , Robert Wells (2)
3 O Come All Ye Faithful (4:40) Choir - Chuck Sullivan , Michael Omartian , Rick Gibson , Travis Cottrell Written-By - John Francis Wade
4 Christmas Is Here (3:22) Vocals [Additional] - Akil Thompson , Amanda Omartian , Rachel Gaines Written-By - Donna Summer , Michael Omartian , Stormie Omartian
5 Christmas Medley (5:20) Choir - Ellen Musick , Leah Taylor , Lisa Glasgow , Mary George , Mel Tunney , Sarah Huffman , Stephanie Hall , Tammy Janson
5a What Child Is This Written-By - William Chatterton Dix
5b Do You Hear What I Hear Written-By - Gloria Shayne , Noel Regney
5c Joy To The World Written-By - George Frederick Handel*
6 I'll Be Home For Christmas (3:30) Keyboards - Michael Omartian Written-By - Buck Ram , Kim Gannon , Walter Kent
7 Christmas Spirit (4:53) Vocals - Kim Fleming , Lisa Bevill , Michael Mellett
Written-By - Bruce Sudano , Donna Summer , Michael Omartian
8 Breath Of Heaven (6:04) Written-By - Amy Grant , Chris Eaton
9 O Holy Night (4:12)
Choir [Gospel] - Angelo Petrucci , Donna McElroy , Guy Penrod , Kim Fleming , Michael Mellett , Roz Thompson , Scat Springs , Susanne Schwartz , Veronica Petrucci
Organ - Michael Omartian Written-By - Adolphe Charles Adam*
10 Lamb Of God (7:24)
Choir - Ellen Musick , Leah Taylor , Lisa Glasgow , Mary George , Mel Tunney , Sarah Huffman , Stephanie Hall , Tammy Janson Written-By - Donna Summer , Michael Omartian

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Christmas Spirit is a Christmas-themed album by Donna Summer, released in 1994. Summer's Gospel music background is very evident on this album which consists of traditional and well-known Christmas songs and carols, as well as new original songs and a cover of Amy Grant's "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)".

Production credit for the album was given to Michael Omartian, who had produced for Summer in the 1980s. He is also credited as writing "Christmas Is Here" and "Lamb of God" alongside Summer, and "Christmas Spirit" alongside Summer and her husband Bruce Sudano. Traditional carols "O Come All Ye Faithful," "What Child Is This," "Do You Hear What I Hear?," "Joy To The World" and "O Holy Night" are featured alongside "White Christmas", "The Christmas Song" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas," all of which are famous Christmas songs.

Donna Summer - 1993 - Shout It Out!


Donna Summer - 1993 - Shout It Out!

Label: Tring International PLC
Catalog#: JHD022
Format: CD
Country: Europe
Released:
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco
Credits:
Remix, Technician [Additional Overdubs] - Romano Bais
Written-By - Richard Palmer-James (tracks: 3 to 6, 9)
Veit Marvos (tracks: 3 to 6, 8, 9)
Notes: Licensed from Intertape Ltd, CH-8753 Mollis, Switzerland.
Licenced from Long Island Music Co. Ltd.

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

1 Na Na Hey Hey (5:56) Written-By - Frashuer* , De Carlo* , De Leka*
2 They Can't Take Away Our Music (6:07)
Written-By - Dickerson* , Miller* , Brown* , Scott* , Goldstein* , Oscar* , Jordan* , Allen*
3 Jeannie (5:05)
4 Little Marie (6:06)
5 Shout It Out (6:00)
6 Funstreet (5:37)
7 Back Off Boogaloo (5:28) Written-By - Richard Starkey
8 Nice To See You (5:44) Written-By - Ralph Siegel
9 Do What Your Mother Do (Spend The Day The Funky Way) (5:51)

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Donna Summer - 1991 - Mistaken Identity


Donna Summer - 1991 - Mistaken Identity

Released 1991
Genre Pop, Dance, Soul, Urban, R&B
Length 54:59
Label Atlantic
Producer(s) Keith Diamond

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track Listing

Get Ethnic (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Paul Chiten, Anthony Smith, Larry Henley) 5:21
Body Talk (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Eve Nelson, Anthony Smith, Larry Henley) 4:48
Work That Magic (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Eve Nelson, Anthony Smith, Larry Henley) 5:00*
When Love Cries (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Eve Nelson, Anthony Smith, Larry Henley) 5:15
Heaven's Just A Whisper Away (Keith Diamond, Larry Henley, Anthony Smith) 4:06
Cry Of A Waking Heart (Betsy Cook, Bruce Woolley) 4:36
Friends Unknown (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Anthony Smith, Vanessa Smith) 3:44
Fred Astaire (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Anthony Smith, Donna Wyant) 4:40
Say A Little Prayer (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Anthony Smith, Donna Wyant) 4:07
Mistaken Identity (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Anthony Smith, Donna Wyant) 4:08
What Is It You Want (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Donna Wyant, Anthony Smith, Vince Lawrence, Dave Resnik) 4:40
Let There Be Peace (Donna Summer, Keith Diamond) 3:59
(*)The UK edition of this album contained the "ISA full-length remix" of this track

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Personnel

Donna Summer - vocals, rap vocals, composer
'Kaydee' - rap vocals, drums, percussion, assorted funkiness, "Intro Madness" on "Mistaken Identity"
Carl James - rap vocals, bass
Neil Thomas - rap vocals
'Wrong Way' Smith - "Intro Madness" on "Mistaken Identity"
Keith Diamond - composer, producer, keys
Paul Chiten - composer
Eve Nelson - composer, keys, piano
Anthony Smith - composer, keys
Larry Henley - composer
Betsy Cook - composer
Bruce Woolley - composer
Vanessa Smith - composer
Donna Wyant - composer
Vince Lawrence - composer, keys
Dave Resnik - composer, "vibe" on "What Is Is You Want"
Joe Taylor - guitars
Vicki Genfan - guitars
Rafe van Hoy - guitars
Skip McDonald - guitars
Paul Pesco - guitars, acoustic guitars
Ira Siegel - guitars
Joe Hornoff - drums
J.T. Lewis - drums
O.C. Rodriguez - drums
Bob "Mr Shaker" Conti - percussion
Steve McLoughlin - "on a Harley D" on "Body Talk"
Danny Wilensky - saxophone
The 'Heart' Strings (Suzie Schumway, Sally Schumway, Suzanne Ornstein, Ann Labin and Cathy Metz) - strings
Background vocals: Donna Summer; The New York crew: Craig Derry, Yogi Lee, Cliff Dawson, Biti Straughn, Lauren Kinham, Tracy Amos, 'Sabelle'; The Los Angeles crew: Marry Ellen Bernard, Gene Miller, Susan Macke
Album art concept: Donna Summer
Album cover coordination: Tracy Nicholas Bledsoe
Design: Bill Smith Studio, London
Photography: Harry Langdon, L.A.
Stylist: Gina Delgado

Production

Produced and arranged by Keith Diamond
Strings on "Friends Unknown" arranged by Keith Diamond and Eve Nelson
Engineered by George Karras
Additional engineers: Bob Rosa, Acer Key, Peter Robbins, J.C. Convertino
Assistant engineers: Shawn 'Fido' Berman, Steve McLoughlin, Andy Udoff, Adam Yellin, Carl Glanville, Jeff Lippay, Danny & Steve, Welcome, Darien Sahanaja, Joe Seta
Recorded at Unique Studios, NY; Hit Factory, NY; Electric Lady, NY; Rumbo Studios, LA; Encore Studios, LA; Track Record Studios, LA; American Studios, LA; Presence Studios, CT; R.P.M. Studios, NY; Interface Studios, NY; My Blue Heaven Studios, NY
Studio managers: Tony Drootin - Unique, NY; Vicki Camblin - Rumbo, LA; Troy Germano - Hit Factory, NY; Bob Mason - R.P.M., NY; Daryl - Encore, LA; John Russell - Presence, CT
Mastered at The Hit Factory by Herb Powers

Mistaken Identity is an album released in 1991 by Donna Summer. Since making her name as the biggest female star of the disco era in the 1970s, Summer had experimented with different musical genres throughout the 1980s with some degree of success. By 1991 she was signed with Atlantic Records and two years prior to this had released an album with production team Stock Aitken Waterman. SAW's unique "hit factory" sound (their own brand of 1980s synth/sampled pop/dance) had been particularly evident on that album and had given Summer several hits, but for her new album she was keen to adopt a more Urban style, and the result was indeed a very far cry from the previous album. Sounds range from a Lisa Stansfield "All Around The World" and Soul II Soul-esque style to current 90s House - especially in the track "What Is It You Want?" (opening spoken intro: House? Whose house?? MY house!!! - no doubt a reference to her role as Queen of All Things Danceable) but audiences expecting HI-NRG dance melodies and chord progressions of her earlier works were disappointed.

Donna Summer - 1989 - Another Place and Time


Donna Summer - 1989 - Another Place and Time

Released 1989
Genre Pop, Dance
Length 37:36
Label Atlantic/PWL
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

I Don't Wanna Get Hurt
When Love Takes Over You
This Time I Know It's for Real
Only One
In Another Place and Time
Sentimental
Whatever Your Heart Desires
Breakaway
If It Makes You Feel Good
Love's About to Change My Heart

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Another Place and Time is an album by Donna Summer released in 1989. Originally a huge star during the disco era in the 1970s, Summer had experimented with different styles of music during the 1980s and had released several albums with Geffen Records. During this period Summer had experienced both success and failure with her work. She left Geffen after the release of her 1987 album All Systems Go, following a turbulent eight years during which time the label had refused to release much of her material including this album. Ahmet Ertegun, president of Atlantic Records at the time bought Donna Summer out of her contract with Geffen and released the album Another Place and Time.

Having signed to Atlantic Records, Summer's management suggested that she do an album with production team Stock Aitken Waterman ("S/A/W"), who at the time were the hottest producers on the planet. Since 1987 they had scored countless hits all over the world. They were famous for their unique "hit factory" sound, which was basically their own brand of 1980s synthpop/dance.

The resulting album, Another Place and Time was released in 1989. S/A/W wrote and produced all ten of the tracks, with Summer being credited as co-writer on three of them. The album contained the typical "hit factory" sound for which S/A/W were famous, as well as a couple of ballads. It was a worldwide success, and made the UK. Top 20. Many fans see it as Summer's "comeback" album, as she had had no real success in the album stakes since She Works Hard for the Money back in 1983. Despite its success, it has been criticised by fans for being overproduced and some feel that too many singles were released from it (five in total).[citation needed]


The first single, and the most successful, from this album was "This Time I Know It's For Real" which went top-ten on both sides of the atlantic. This was also, coincidentally, Summer's first Top 10 entry in the UK in ten years, since No More Tears (Enough is Enough) in 1979. It was followed there by another Top 10 entitled "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt" (also a hit in Europe) and a Top 20 - "Love's About To Change My Heart." "When Love Takes Over You" was also a UK single, as was "Breakaway", the latter to coincide with the release of a European compilation album released in 1990.

A second album was planned with S/A/W however Summer fell out with S/A/W and the tracks that later would be recorded by Lonnie Gordon.

Donna Summer - 1987 - All Systems Go


Donna Summer - 1987 - All Systems Go

Label: WEA Musik GmbH
Catalog#: 252 953-1
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Germany
Released: 1987
Genre: Funk / Soul, Pop
Style:
Credits: Producer - Harold Faltermeyer

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Tracklisting:

A1 All Systems Go
A2 Bad Reputation
A3 Love Shock
A4 Jeremy
A5 Only The Fool Survives
B1 Dinner With Gershwin
B2 Fascination
B3 Voices Cryin Out
B4 Thinkin Bout My Baby

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All Systems Go is an album by Donna Summer released in 1987. Best remembered for her disco hits during the 1970s, Summer had been signed to Geffen Records since 1980 and this became her final album with them.

During her time with Geffen, Summer's work had often been turned down for release by them. In 1981 she had recorded an entire double album entitled I'm a Rainbow which had been completely shelved. Her hit 1983 album She Works Hard for the Money had also been turned down by Geffen and was instead released by Polygram. By 1987, it had been three years since Summer's last Geffen release Cats Without Claws. There have been rumours among fans for years that more unreleased material had been recorded since then, but nevertheless All Systems Go was issued in 1987.

This album was a fusion of typical 1980s synth-style pop/dance with soul and R&B elements, including both upbeat songs and ballads. Most tracks were produced by Harold Faltermeyer, though Peter Bunetta, Rick Chudacoff, Richard Perry, Keith D. Nelson, Jeff Lams and Summer herself were also given production credits on certain songs. Summer was credited as co-writer on seven on the nine tracks. Other writers credited were Faltermeyer, Bunetta, Lams, Nelson, Joe Erickson, Bruce Sudano (Summer's husband), Andy Slovic, Hannes Treiber, Pit Floss, Michael Omartian (who had produced Summer's two previous albums), Virgin Weber, John Bettis, Eddie Schwartz and Dave Tyson. The album also included a cover of Brenda Russell's song "Dinner With Gershwin" and a ballad duet with Mickey Thomas entitled "Only The Fool Survives".

Although the album itself did generally not perform very well, Summer's version of "Dinner With Gershwin" gave her her highest UK chart placing (Number 13) since the end of the 1970s. The title track also became a minor hit, and both cuts were released in 12" Disco Single format.

Donna Summer - 1984 - Cats Without Claws


Donna Summer - 1984 - Cats Without Claws

Released 1984
Recorded 1984
Genre Pop, Dance, Soul, R&B, Gospel
Length 36:36
Label Geffen
Producer(s) Michael Omartian

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track Listing

Supernatural Love (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian, Bruce Sudano) 3:33
It's Not The Way (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian) 4:22
There Goes My Baby (Benjamin Nelson, Lover Patterson, George Treadwell) 4:05
Suzanna (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian) 4:29
Cats Without Claws (Donna Summer), Michael Omartian) 4:20
Oh Billy Please (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian) 4:55
Eyes (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian) 4:45
Maybe It's Over (Donna Summer) 4:43
I'm Free (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian, Bruce Sudano) 4:29
Forgive Me (Reba Rambo, Dony McGuire) 4:30

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Personnel

Donna Summer - vocals, composer
Michael Omartian - composer, producer, keyboards, additional drums & percussion
Bruce Sudano - composer
Michael Baird - drums
Nathan East - bass
Michael Landau - guitars
Paul Jackson, Jr. - guitars
Paulinho da Costa - percussion
Gary Herbig - sex solos
Erich Bulling - synthesizer programs
Ronnie Puccinelli - production coordinator
Background vocals: Dara Bernard, Mary Ellen Bernard, Gene Van Buren, Cydney Davis, Siedah Garrett, Kahliq Glover, Portia Griffin, Susannah Melvoin, Bruce Sudano, Charles Vassy, Terry Williams
Management: Susan Munao Management Co. Inc.
Photography: Harry Langdon
LP Art Direction: Chris Whorf for Art Hotel
Design: Jeffrey Fey for Art Hotel

Production

Produced and arranged by Michael Omartian
Engineered and mixed by John Guess. "It's Not The Way," "Suzanna" and "Oh Billy Please" mixed by Juergen Koppers
2nd engineers: Larry Fergusson, Dave Ahlert, Tom Fouce, Ross Palone
Recorded at Lion Share Studios, Los Angeles; United Western Studios, Hollywood; Rhema Studio, Los Angeles
LP mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood

Cats Without Claws is an album by Donna Summer released in 1984. Summer had achieved monumental fame during the disco era of the 1970s, and by now was signed to Geffen Records. She had had some degree of success with them, though her previous album (which had been her most successful since the disco era) had been released on another label.

Due to the success of the previous She Works Hard for the Money album, producer Michael Omartian was also asked to produce the new album too. As with its predecessor, the majority of tracks were written by Summer and Omartian, though a couple of other writers were credited including Summer's husband Bruce Sudano. As with the previous album, this one was pop/dance orientated but too included soulful ballads. The album also contained a cover of "There Goes My Baby", originally made popular by The Drifters, and a gospel song written by Reba Rambo and Dony McGuire entitled "Forgive Me", for which Summer would win a Grammy award for Best Inspirational Performance. (Indeed, producer Michael Omartian was well-known at the time for his work with contemporary Christian superstar Amy Grant.)

Cats Without Claws did not follow the success of its predecessor, reaching only Number 40 on the U.S. album chart. It produced three singles - the aforementioned "There Goes My Baby", "Supernatural Love" (also released as a 12" Disco Single) and "Eyes". Of these, only the first had reasonable success, just missing the U.S. Top 20. Further 12" dance remixes included "Eyes" and "I'm Free".

Donna Summer - 1983 - She Works Hard for the Money


Donna Summer - 1983 - She Works Hard for the Money

Released 1983
Genre Pop, Dance, Soul, R&B
Length 42:06
Label Mercury
Producer(s) Michael Omartian

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

She Works Hard For The Money (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian) 5:19
Stop, Look and Listen (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian, Greg Phillinganes) 5:52
He's A Rebel (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian, Jay Graydon) 4:22
Woman (Donna Summer, Bruce Sudano, Michael Omartian, Jay Graydon) 4:19
Unconditional Love (Donna Summer, Michael Omartian) 4:42
Love Has A Mind Of Its Own (Donna Summer, Bruce Sudano, Michael Omartian) 4:16
Tokyo (Donna Summer, Bruce Sudano, Michael Omartian) 4:19
People, People (Donna Summer, Bruce Sudano, Michael Omartian) 4:06
I Do Believe (I Fell In Love) (Donna Summer) 4:35

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Personnel

Donna Summer - vocals, composer
Musical Youth - vocals
Matthew Ward - vocals
Michael Omartian - producer, composer, piano, synthesizer, Simmons drum programming, guitars, accordion
Greg Phillinganes - composer
Bruce Sudano - composer
Jay Graydon - composer, guitars
Marty Walsh - guitars
Gary Herbig - sax
Mike Baird - drums
Nathan East - bass
Ray Parker, Jr. - rhythm guitars
Lenny Castro - congas
Michael Boddicker - synthesizer programming
John Gilston - Simmons drum programming
Assa Drori - concert master
Horns: Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Dick Hyde, Charlie Loper
Background vocals: Dara Lynn Bernard, Mary E. Bernard, Roberta Kelly, Matthew Ward
Art direction and design: Chris Whorf/Art Hotel
Photography: Harry Langdon
Compact disc design by: Rick Hunt

Production

Produced and arranged by Michael Omartian
Recorded and mixed by John Guess
Recorded and mixed at Lion Share Studios, Los Angeles, CA.; Hollywood Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA.; Rhema Studio, Beverly Hills, CA.
Assistant Engineers: Larry Ferguson, Ross Pallone
Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc Systems, Hollywood, CA.; Bernie Grundman A&M Mastering Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Production coordinator: Yvonne Garcia

She Works Hard for the Money is an album by Donna Summer released in 1983. Summer had made her name as the biggest female star of the disco era during the 1970s. Having signed to Geffen Records in the early 1980s, she had gained some success during the post-disco era but had encountered problems in that Geffen had refused to release some of her material. The She Works Hard For The Money album was initially turned down by Geffen, so Polygram Records were approached.[citation needed] Polygram had taken over Casablanca Records, to which Summer was signed at the height of her fame the previous decade. She had left them after a dispute which by now was resolved, so they agreed to release the album on their Mercury label.

This project became Summer's most successful since the disco era. She Works Hard For The Money was more pop/dance orientated than her last couple of albums, but also contained some soulful ballads including "Love Has A Mind Of Its Own", a duet with gospel singer Matthew Ward. It also contained a reggae-styled song called "Unconditional Love" which also featured vocals by young black British group Musical Youth. Lyrically, the album dealt with subjects such as social injustice ("Stop, Look and Listen"), Jesus Christ ("He's a Rebel") and missing children ("People, People"). Many fans saw the album as a "return to form" for Summer - she was once again presented as a strong, powerful woman very much in control. During the 1970s, Summer's management had worked hard to portray her as a powerful, sexual fantasy figure to the point where they had become too involved in her personal life (which led to a period of depression for Summer before becoming a born-again Christian and filing a lawsuit against her record label). Since the disco era, Summer had experimented with different genres including New Wave and rock, and some felt she had got a little "lost" in trying to find her musical place in the new decade. She Works Hard for the Money firmly established her place as a 1980s pop/dance diva.

Summer was credited with writing or co-writing every track on the album, mostly alongside Michael Omartian, who was also given production credits. It became her first Top 10 album in the U.S. since 1979 and produced a massively successful hit single in the form of the title track. The sleeve of the single and album pictured Summer as a waitress who "works hard for the money" and the song was a tribute to "the working woman." It was accompanied by a high-profile music video which became the first by a black artist to be heavily promoted on MTV. The song shot to Number 3 on the Hot 100 American singles chart, making it her biggest hit there since "The Wanderer" three years previously. The song was also given a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Three more singles were released from the album - firstly the aforementioned "Unconditional Love" which gave Summer her fourteenth U.K. Top 20 hit (and also a Number 3 placing on the U.S. R&B chart), followed by the more moderate hits "Stop, Look and Listen" and the soulful duet "Love Has A Mind Of Its Own" with Matthew Ward.

The song "He's A Rebel" gained Summer the Grammy award for Best Inspirational Performance, her first win since 1979.

Donna Summer - 1982 - Donna Summer

Donna Summer - 1982 - Donna Summer

Released 1982
Recorded 1982
Genre Pop, Soul, R&B, Gospel, Rock
Length 41:09
Label Geffen
Producer(s) Quincy Jones

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Label: Warner Bros. Records
Catalog#: 299 163
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic
Style: Disco
Credits: Mixed By - Bruce Swedien
Producer - Quincy Jones
Notes: All tracks produced by Quincy Jones.
Recorded and mixed by Bruce Swedien. 4 contains samples of 'Vangelis'.
(P)(C) Warner Bros.

Tracklisting:

A1 Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)
A2 Mystery Of Love
A3 The Woman In Me
A4 State Of Independence
B1 Livin' In America
B2 Protection
B3 (If It) Hurts Just A Little
B4 Love Is Just A Breathe Away
B5 Lush Life

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Donna Summer is the self-titled album released by the American singer in 1982. Having left Casablanca Records, with whom she had had some of the biggest selling and most popular hits of the disco era in the 1970s, Summer had signed to Geffen Records in 1980 and had continued working with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, with whom she had written the vast majority of her hits. However, Geffen were unhappy with the second album she made for them and decided to shelve it. Instead she was paired up with Quincy Jones and made this self-titled album. It was the first time she had worked with a producer other than Moroder and Bellotte since 1974.

Since the disco era, Summer's work had covered a variety of musical genres and this album was no exception. It had quite a strong soul and R&B influence, and featured a couple of gospel-styled tracks, namely "(If It) Hurts Just A Little" and a version of Vangelis's "State of Independence", which featured an all-star choir. Rock music was also found in the form of the Bruce Springsteen-penned "Protection", which would gain Summer a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. She was also nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)". The album finished on a Billy Strayhorn number entitled "Lush Life".

Several very popular songwriters were used on this album. As well as the aforementioned Springsteen and Vangelis, Quincy Jones himself contributed to the writing, as did other names such as Rod Temperton, Merria Ross, John Lang, Richard Page, Bill Meyers, Michael Clark, John Bettis, Jon Anderson, David Foster, Steve Lukather, Michael Sembello, Dan Sembello and David Batteau. This made it the largest number of songwriters ever to contribute to a Donna Summer album.

Summer has stated that this was one of the hardest albums ever to record - some of the songs were quite challenging, plus she was pregnant with her daughter Amanda Grace at the time. It has also been reported that she found producer Quincy Jones to be rather boistrous and controlling. Nevertheless, the album sold well and went Top 20 in both the U.S. and the UK. The single "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" went Top 10 in the U.S. and Top 20 in the UK, and was followed by another UK. Top 20 in the form of "State of Independence", which reached Number One in the Netherlands. Both cuts were also released in the resurgent 12" Disco Single format, though the word "disco" soon disappeared in the discophobic early 80's. The third and final single from this album was the soulful ballad "The Woman In Me".

Donna Summer - 1981 - I'm a Rainbow

Donna Summer - 1981 - I'm a Rainbow

Released 1996 (original 1981 double album was never officially released. Released on single CD format in 1996)
Recorded 1981
Genre Pop, Dance, Soul, R&B
Length 72:50
Label Geffen (unreleased), Mercury (1996 CD issue)
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Tracklisting

1. I Believe (In You)
2. True Love Survives
3. You To Me
4. Sweet Emotion
5. Leave Me Alone
6. Melanie
7. Back Where You Belong
8. People Talk
9. To Turn The Stone
10. Brooklyn
11. I'm A Rainbow
12. Walk On (Keep On Movin')
13. Don't Cry for Me Argentina
14. A Runner With The Pack
15. Highway Runner
16. Romeo
17. End Of The Week
18. I Need Time

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I'm a Rainbow is a double album recorded by Donna Summer in 1981 that remained unreleased until 1996. After making her name as the biggest selling and most important female artist of the disco era in the 1970s, Summer had signed to Geffen Records in 1980 and released the New Wave-influenced album The Wanderer and I'm a Rainbow, a dance-orientated double album, was set to be its follow-up (Summer had gained much success during the 1970s with double albums). However Geffen were unhappy with the resultant effort and insisted that Summer part company with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte who had produced and co-written, and with whom Summer had been working since the early 1970s. She was instead paired up with producer Quincy Jones and begun work on the 1982 self-titled album.

Over the years, certain songs from I'm A Rainbow began to appear. Two tracks recorded for the album appeared on film soundtracks during the 1980s - "Highway Runner" appeared on the soundtrack to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and "Romeo" appeared on the Flashdance soundtrack. Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA recorded "To Turn The Stone" on her solo debut "Something's Going On." Remixes of two further tracks appeared on the 1993 compilation album The Donna Summer Anthology - the title track (written by Summer's husband Bruce Sudano), and a version of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from Evita.

Bootleg copies of the album circulated among fans for years before the full album was finally released by Mercury Records, a division of Polygram, in 1996. While dance-oriented music was a theme throughout the album, this was combined with several different musical styles, making it one of Summer's more diverse albums. Styles explored included 80's Brit synth-pop like Human League and Duran Duran, pop/rock, and ballads. It included a duet with Joe "Bean" Esposito, writing credits from Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey, Sylvester Levay, Summer's husband Bruce Sudano as well as the usual Summer/Moroder/Bellotte team. Had it been released in 1981, it's quite possible that certain tracks released as singles would have given rock manstays like Blondie, The Pretenders, and Pat Benatar competition on the charts, though radio and MTV were increasingly drawing lines based on race and musical styles. Many recognised Disco artists did not get further airplay as radio scrambled to capture the "new sound", whatever it would be. As it turned out, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Cheryl Lynn, and Teena Marie would take over the dance queen roles that year.

Donna Summer - 1980 - The Wanderer


Donna Summer - 1980 - The Wanderer

Released October 1980
Recorded 1980
Genre Pop, Rock, New Wave, Gospel
Length 39:17
Label Geffen
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

The Wanderer (Moroder, Summer) 3:47
Looking Up (Bellotte, Moroder, Summer) 3:57
Breakdown (Bellotte, Faltermeyer) 4:08
Grand Illusion (Moroder, Summer) 3:54
Running for Cover (Summer) 4:01
Cold Love (Bellotte, Faltermeyer, Forsey) 3:38
Who Do You Think You're Foolin' (Bellotte, Levay, Rix) 4:18
Nightlife (Bellotte, Moroder) 4:00
Stop Me (Bellotte, Forsey) 3:44
I Believe in Jesus (Summer) 3:37

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The Wanderer is a 1980 album by Donna Summer. Summer had made her name the previous decade as the most successful female artist of the disco genre, releasing a vast selection of hit singles and albums on Casablanca Records. During this period however, Summer had felt that the label had expolited her and made her portray a sexually orientated image ("the first lady of love") with which she never felt comfortable. The label had also taken over other elements of Summer's personal life, to the point where she felt she had no control over her life or career. Having come out of a period of depression and rediscovering her Christian faith, Summer had made the decision to break away from Casablanca and file a lawsuit against them. After the lawsuit was eventually settled, Summer became the first artist to be signed to the new Geffen Records.

Musically, disco was starting to experience a backlash. Rock, New Wave, and punk had started to become more popular, and people were starting to feel that the original "edge" to the disco culture had now vanished and that it had become a "safe product." Others felt that the disco scene had become too associated with drugs, while others resented its exclusivity (doormen would often expect people to look or be dressed a certain way before being allowed into a disco). By 1980, banners reading "disco sucks" were seen everywhere and disco records became flops. Fans wondered what direction Summer (who was seen as "the Queen of disco") would now take. Her previous full-length album, Bad Girls, had combined elements of rock, soul and R&B with the traditional disco sound, so it had become apparent that she had already evolved in some way. Some artists continued with the disco sound despite the backlash, including Diana Ross who had a Number One hit with the disco flavoured "Upside Down" in the summer of 1980. Summer however decided to leave the disco sound completely behind and The Wanderer turned out to be a very rock and New Wave-influenced affair. The album was co-written and produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, who had produced the vast majority of Summer's hits since their partnership with her began in 1974.

Tracks such as "Cold Love" and "Nightlife" consisted of a very strong rock sound, the former gaining Summer a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Summer's new rediscovered Christian faith was documented in the gospel song "I Believe In Jesus", for which she also received a nomination for Best Inspirational Performance. As a child Summer had sung in gospel choirs, so this song was a chance for her to go back to her roots.

Summer's new style obviously went down well with fans, as the album went to Number 13 on the U.S. album chart, and the title track hit Number 3 on the singles chart. The two follow-up singles - "Cold Love" and "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'" also went Top 40. Rumours abound that all three tracks were remixed into unreleased 12" Dance/Disco Singles, but due to the fear of the times, never released. As of 2006, "Who Do You Think..." has been remixed to a current house/techno beat, and was a minor gay disco hit.

Rolling Stone Magazine ranked The Wanderer as the #2 album of the year behind Bruce Springsteen's "The River" on the 1980 year-end critics tally.

Donna Summer - 1979 - Bad Girls


Donna Summer - 1979 - Bad Girls

Released May 1979
Recorded 1978-1979
Genre Disco, Pop, Rock, Soul, R&B
Length 71:27
Label Casablanca
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

"Hot Stuff" (Donna Summer, Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer, Keith Forsey) – 5:14
"Bad Girls" (Donna Summer, Joe "Bean" Esposito, Edward "Eddie" Hokenson, Bruce Sudano) – 4:55
"Love Will Always Find You" (Pete Bellotte, Giorgio Moroder) – 3:59
"Walk Away" (Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer) – 4:29
"Dim All The Lights" (Donna Summer) – 4:40
"Journey To The Center Of Your Heart" (Donna Summer, Pete Bellotte, Giorgio Moroder) – 4:36
"One Night In A Lifetime" (Pete Bellotte, Giorgio Moroder) – 4:12
"Can't Get To Sleep Tonight" (Bob Conti) – 4:42
"On My Honor" (Donna Summer) – 3:32
"There Will Always Be A You" (Donna Summer) – 5:07
"All Through The Night" (Donna Summer, Bruce Roberts) – 6:06
"My Baby Understands" (Donna Summer) – 3:58
"Our Love" (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder) – 4:52
"Lucky" (Donna Summer, Joe "Bean" Esposito, Edward "Eddie" Hokenson, Bruce Sudano) – 4:37
"Sunset People" (Donna Summer, Harold Faltermeyer) – 6:27

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Credits

Donna Summer - lead and background vocals, composition, production
Giorgio Moroder - bass, synthesizer, guitar, composition, production
Pete Bellotte - bass, composition, production
Harold Faltermeyer - composition, drums, keyboards, synclavier
Charles Sudano - synthesizer and composition
Joe Esposito - background vocals and composition
Keith Forsey - background vocals, drums, percussion, and composition
Bob Conti - drums and composition
Edward "Eddie" Hokenson - composition

Production

Producers: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte, Harold Faltermeyer
Engineer: Jason Corsaro
Production manager: Budd Tunick
Drum programming: Jimmy Bralower
Art direction: Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff
Design: Jeffrey Kent Ayer, Jeri McManus

Grammy Awards and nominations

As well as the aforementioned Grammy Award for "Hot Stuff" (Best Female Rock Vocal Performance), the song "Bad Girls" was also nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Disco Recording. "Dim All The Lights" was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the album itself was nominated for Album of the Year.

Bad Girls is the eighth album by Donna Summer and her third consecutive double album. It was released in 1979 by Casablanca Records, who had had been distributing her work in the U.S. since 1975, and had had full control over distributing her work worldwide since 1977.

By the time Bad Girls was released, Summer felt that Casablanca were exploiting her. Since the release of her breakthrough, the sexually explicit "Love To Love You Baby", Summer had been named "the first lady of love" and her record label were keen for her to keep this image up, despite the fact that she was never truly comfortable with it. She was told to act a certain way, dress a certain way, and had pretty much lost any control she had had over her career. Summer became very depressed and suffered with insomnia for a time. She visited healers and begun taking tablets to aid her sleep. In early 1979, she collapsed from exhaustion.

Upon Summer's recovery, her sister took her to see a Priest and she became a born-again Christian. The depression came to an end as a result and Summer set to work on her new album with long-time partners Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, as well as various others she had not worked with before. By this time, although disco music was still popular, other styles such as punk and heavy metal were also achieving well, so the team decided to incorporate a rockier sound into some of the tracks. Other songs had a more soul/R&B feel to them, and in all it was probably Summer's most diverse album to date. It became her biggest selling album ever, achieving triple platinum status in the US and shifting about seven million copies worldwide. It also became her second consecutive Number One album in the U.S.

The fusion of rock and disco was particularly evident in the first two tracks on the album - "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls", which also became the first two singles to be released from the album. Both were huge hits and made Number One on the American singles chart. The former also won Summer a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and became popular again in the 1990s when used in the British film The Full Monty. "Dim All The Lights" also became a huge hit, peaking at Number Two in the U.S.

1979 ended with Casablanca releasing a compilation of Summer's work plus a couple of newly recorded tracks. At this point, due to the aforementioned feelings that the label was exploiting her, Donna quit the label and signed a new deal with Geffen Records. Her new material with them was more rock/New Wave orientated, due to the disco backlash that had occurred. Due to its popularity, many rock DJs had gone out of business and people begun opposing disco music - around that time many banners were seen with "disco sucks" written on them. As a result Summer left the disco tag behind, but in an effort to compete with her new label, Casablanca chose to release more singles from the Bad Girls album - namely "Sunset People" and "Walk Away". Both were flops while her new rock-oriented dance material climbed the charts. Casablanca also released a special edition compilation entitled Walk Away, which featured a selection of her hits from the Bad Girls

Donna Summer - 1978 - Live and More


Donna Summer - 1978 - Live and More

Released 1978
Recorded 1978
Genre Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B
Length 65:45 (CD version)
Label Casablanca
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Track Listing

Once Upon A Time (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 3:03
Fairy Tale High(Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 2:20
Faster And Faster To Nowhere (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 2:09
Spring Affair (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 2:34
Rumour Has It (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 2:34
I Love You (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 3:38
Only One Man (Donna Summer, Bob Conti, Virgil Weber) 2:06
I Remember Yesterday (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 3:52
Love's Unkind (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 2:37
My Man Medley: The Man I Love (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin), I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster), Some Of These Days (Shelton Brooks) 6:25
The Way We Were (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch) 3:23
Mimi's Song (Donna Summer, Virgil Weber) 4:28
Try Me, I Know We Can Make It (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 4:14
Love To Love You Baby (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 3:23
I Feel Love (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) 6:54
Last Dance (Paul Jabara) 5:50
MacArthur Park Suite: MacArthur Park (Jimmy Webb), One Of A Kind (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte), Heaven Knows (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte), MacArthur Park (Reprise) (Jimmy Webb) 16:45

NB: When Live and More was released on CD format, "MacArthur Park Suite" was replaced with an extended version of "Down Deep Inside" which Summer had recorded for the film soundtrack "The Deep" the previous year. As well, the Suite released on CD (The Dance Collection; Bad Girls remaster digipac disc 2) is the 1978 12" Disco Single version, NOT the original 16:45 album version, which can only be found on vinyl or the Various Artists album "The Casablanca Records Story". The difference: "Heaven Knows" was later extended to incorporate the strings intro and bridge horn solo of the radio single, and "One of a Kind" was trimmed of percussion breaks to accommodate these changes.

Personnel

Donna Summer - vocals
Keith Forsey - drums
Richard Adelman - drums
Sal Guglielmi - bass
Ken Park - percussion
Bob Conti - percussion
Peter Woodford - rhythm guitar
Mike Warren - lead guitar
Doug Livingston - keyboards
Virgil Weber - synthesizer
Greg Mathieson - moog & clavinet
Bobby Shew - trumpet
Rich Cooper - trumpet
Dalton Smith - trumpet
Bruce Paulson - trombone
Bob Payne - trombone
Dick "Slide" Hyde - bass trombone
Dick Spencer - alto sax
Don Menza - tenor sax
Joe Romano - baritone sax
John Santulis - concert master, violins
Pauel Farkas - violins
Mari Tsumura - violins
Teri Schoebrua - violins
Jay Rosen - violins
Lya Stern - violins
Leonard Selic - viola
Alfred Barr - viola
Victor Sazer - cello
Robert Adcock - cello
John Fresco - contractor
Sheri Wish - production manager
Keith Robertson - stage manager
Bryan Rooney - assistant stage manager
Background vocals: Sunshine (Carlena Williams, Dara Bernard, Mary Ellen Bernard)
Mike North - equipment
Marc Figueroa - equipment
Stanal Sound (Bob Ludwig, Jim Fox, John Taylor) - sound
Lighting designed by Patrick Woodroffe for TFA Electrosound
Graphics: Stephen Lumel, Henry Vizcarra
Photographs by Francesco Scavullo
Photography assistant: Sean Byrnes
Donna Summer logotype: Tom Nikosey
Costumes: David Picon
Management: Susan Munao Management & Joyce Bogart Management Co.

Production

Produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte
Recorded live at the Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, CA. except "MacArthur Park Suite," a studio recording
Engineered by: Juergen Koppers, Gary Ladinsky, Steve Smith
Mixdown engineer: Juergen Koppers
Mixed at Westlake Studios and Rust Studios
Conducted by: Michael Warren

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Live and More is the seventh album by Donna Summer and her second double album. The live concert featured on the first three sides of the LP was recorded in the Universal Ampitheater, in Los Angeles, CA in 1978. The album was released in 1978 by Casablanca Records, who had started to have increasing control over Summer's career, which by now she was starting to resent.

During the concert, Summer performs a substantial amount of her disco songs - both her hit singles plus a selection of tracks from her previous Once Upon a Time album. However, she is also heard experimenting with other styles such as jazz ("I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good") and a Gershwin number ("The Man I love"). She also performs a version of the ballad "The Way We Were", originally recorded by Barbra Streisand for the film of the same name, and a self-penned ballad called "Mimi's Song", dedicated to her four-year-old daughter. Mimi was present at the concert for Summer to sing this song to her, and is heard on the recording saying goodnight to the audience. The concert ends with one of Summer's best-known disco tracks in the U.S. - "Last Dance". Though the studio version was not included on an original Summer album, it had been used in the film Thank God It's Friday, in which Summer had also starred. Composer Paul Jabara received an Academy Award for Best Song from a motion picture and Summer herself won her first Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance with the song. A personal favourite of Summer's, it was one of the first disco songs to also feature slow parts, both at the beginning and during the middle. This would become a format which Summer would use again several times during the disco era. Although the single version of "Last Dance" removed some of the slow parts, the full version is performed in this concert.

The final side of the LP contains a new studio recording entitled "MacArthur Park Suite" which is a medley of four songs including the main song "MacArthur Park", originally made popular as a ballad by Irish actor Richard Harris. Summer's disco version was edited and released as a single, and became one of her biggest hits - her first Number One on the U.S. Hot 100 singles chart, and a Top 5 in the U.K. It also gave Summer a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Another song in the medley entitled "Heaven Knows" was a U.S. Top 5, and featured vocals by the Brooklyn Dreams. The group included Bruce Sudano, who Summer would become romantically involved with and later marry.

Live and More would become Summer's first Number One double album in the US eventually achieving double platinum status in the US.

Donna Summer - 1977 - Once Upon a Time


Donna Summer - 1977 - Once Upon a Time

Released November, 1977
Recorded 1977
Genre Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B
Length 69:21
Label Casablanca
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

Act One

"Once Upon A Time" – 4:02
"Faster And Faster To Nowhere" – 3:34
"Fairy Tale High" – 4:25
"Say Something Nice" – 4:44

Act Two

"Now I Need You" – 6:09
"Working The Midnight Shift" – 5:07
"Queen For A Day" – 5:59

Act Three

"If You Got It Flaunt It" – 4:43
"A Man Like You" – 3:34
"Sweet Romance" – 4:31
"(Theme) Once Upon A Time" – 0:48
"Dance Into My Life" – 4:10

Act Four

"Rumour Has It" – 4:57
"I Love You" – 4:43
"Happily Ever After" – 3:51
"(Theme) Once Upon A Time" – 1:42

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Once Upon a Time is the sixth album by American singer Donna Summer. It was her first double album and, like her previous few albums, was a concept album, this time telling a modern-day Cinderella-themed story through means of disco music. Summer's previous material had been distributed in different countries by different record labels, including Casablanca in the U.S. Once Upon A Time marked the first occasion where Casablanca would be responsible for distributing her work in most countries (though other labels would still be used for distribution in some nations, namely Philips in The Netherlands), as would remain the case until she would break off her contract with them in 1980.

Unlike previous albums, which had portrayed Summer as a fantasy/sexual figure both in their artwork and material, Once Upon A Time showed her in a white wedding-style dress against a plain light blue background, giving more of an image of a fairytale character. The four sides of the double album were dubbed "Act One," "Act Two" etc, and the inner sleeve was printed in the style of a libretto. The album's gatefold sleeve opened to reveal a full-length picture of Summer in the white dress against a beautiful night sky filled with stars.

Throughout the album, the songs tell the story of a girl who goes from having nothing and leading a lonely life dreaming of what could be, to finally having the man she loves enter her life. The "rags to riches" story is brought into the modern day via the use of the electronic disco sound which is found constantly throughout the album. This would confirm Summer's status as the leading female artist within the disco genre.

Although it did not become Summer's best-selling album, it sold reasonably well upon its release, making the Top 20 in the US, and being certified Gold by the RIAA that same year. It spawned the European hit single "I Love You", which became her fifth Top 10 in the UK in less than two years and hitting the Top 40 in the US. "Rumour Has It" was also a UK. Top 20.

среда, 30 мая 2007 г.

Donna Summer - 1977 - I Remember Yesterday


Donna Summer - 1977 - I Remember Yesterday

Released May 1977
Genre Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B
Length 35:24
Label Casablanca
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

I Remember Yesterday
Love's Unkind
Back In Love Again
I Remember Yesterday (Reprise)
Black Lady
Take Me
Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)
I Feel Love

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I Remember Yesterday is the fifth original album by American singer Donna Summer. Like her previous three albums, it was a concept album which saw Summer combining the recent disco sound with various sounds of the past.

Side One of the LP saw Summer "remembering yesterday" by combining the electronic disco sound with sounds of the 1940s ("I Remember Yesterday"), 1950s ("Love's Unkind") and 1960s ("Back In Love Again"). Side Two consisted of two pop/disco tracks, a ballad and finished with a disco song supposedly representing "the future" that would become one of the most famous songs of that genre - "I Feel Love".

As with Summer's last few albums, different record labels distributed her work in different nations. Some of the labels chose to release the ballad "Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)" as the first single, with "I Feel Love" as the B-side. However, the impact of the song was so huge that it was soon released internationally as an A-side. Previous disco tracks had usually been backed by an acoustic orchestra, and it has been reported that this was the first ever track to use an entirely synthesized backing track, which would later help develop genres of music such as dance and techno. Summer's repetitive vocals over the backing track helped make the song a massive hit. It finally gave her a follow-up in the U.S. to her initial hit ("Love To Love You Baby"), and made Number Six on the Hot 100 singles chart. It was also a huge hit in Europe, and became a Number One hit in the UK. "I Feel Love" firmly put Donna Summer in her place as the leading female artist of disco music.

Summer's sexually-orientated image seemed less prominent on this album, perhaps due to the slight departure from the regular disco sound and the fusion of this sound with the older sounding songs. In fact the lyrics to "Love's Unkind" in particular were very non-sexual compared to many of the love-themed songs Summer had recorded (the songs tells the story of a schoolgirl with a crush on one of her classmates). A couple of the "newer" styled songs on Side Two were slightly more of a sexual nature - namely "Take Me" and "I Feel Love". Around the same time as the album's release, Summer would further her reputation as a serious and credible artist when she was asked to record the theme song for the film The Deep by famous British composer John Barry. The song, "Down Deep Inside" was also released as a single and became another hit for Summer (Top 5 in the UK).

No doubt helped by the phenomenal success of "I Feel Love", the I Remember Yesterday album became her biggest so far. It went Top 10 in the U.S. being certitfied Platinum by the RIAA and made Number 3 in the UK. (to this day her highest chart placing for an album in that country). Not only that it produced several more hit singles in Europe, notably the title track (a UK Top 20 hit) and "Love's Unkind", which became a Number 3 hit in the UK, making it one of her biggest and mostly remembered hits there. "Back In Love Again" was also a European single and became a Top 30 in the UK.

Donna Summer - 1976 - Four Seasons of Love


Donna Summer - 1976 - Four Seasons of Love

Released 1976
Recorded 1976
Genre Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B
Length 32:23
Label Casablanca
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Four Seasons of Love was produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. It was released by Casablanca Records in the U.S., and various other labels in other countries.

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Tracks:

Spring Affair
Summer Fever
Autumn Changes
Winter Melody
Spring Affair (reprise)

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Four Seasons of Love is the fourth album released by singer Donna Summer. Released in 1976, this concept album became her third consecutive successful album to be certified gold in the US. It peaked at #22 [1] on the Billboard 200.

This was the fourth concept album Summer had made, though unlike the previous two which had contained one long track on Side One and a small selection of slightly shorter ones on Side Two, Four Seasons Of Love was more equally balanced. The album told the story of a love affair by relating it to the four seasons. Side One contained "Spring Affair" and "Summer Fever", both disco tracks, and Side Two contained "Autumn Changes" (a slightly slower disco number) and "Winter Melody" (which had an even slower beat), plus a reprise of "Spring Affair". This concept was reflected in the four photos of Summer, one for each season of the year, in a pull-out calendar included with the original LP album. The photo on the cover was, fittingly, the Summer photograph. Summer's "first lady of love" image came across strongly on this album, though her trademark moans and groans were slightly less evident than on previous work. Pics included "Winter" in a GORGEOUS fur with a tear on her cheek; "Spring" in a Scarlet O'Hara style hoop skirt on a swing; and "Autumn" as a black Marilyn Monroe re-enacting the white skirt billowing up - an allusion to her song "Love to Love You, Baby", which she's quoted as using Monroe for inspiration on her recording of it.

As with the previous two albums, Four Seasons Of Love was distributed by different record labels in different countries, including Casablanca Records in the U.S. Edited versions of "Spring Affair" and "Winter Melody" were released in various places, but neither had a big impact on any charts (although the latter made the Top 30 on the UK singles chart).

Donna Summer - 1976 - A Love Trilogy


Donna Summer - 1976 - A Love Trilogy

Released March 1976
Recorded 1976
Genre Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B
Length 33:59
Label Casablanca
Producer(s) Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

"Try Me, I Know We Can Make It" (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) – 17:59
"Prelude To Love" (Donna Summer, Pete Bellotte, Giorgio Moroder) – 1:06
"Could It Be Magic" (Adrienne Anderson, Barry Manilow) – 5:15
"Wasted" (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) – 5:09
"Come With Me" (Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte) – 4:22

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Personnel

Donna Summer – vocals, composer
Giorgio Moroder – bass guitar, composer, producer and synthesizer
Pete Bellotte – composer, producer
Backing vocals: Madeline Bell, Sunny Leslie, Sue Glover (the Midnite Ladies)
Other musicians on this album were known collectively as "Munich Machine" and worked on a variety of Moroder/Bellotte productions from this period.

Production

Producers: Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte
Engineer: Juergen Koppers, Mack & Hans
Musical arrangements: Giorgio Moroder and Thor Baldurson

A Love Trilogy is the third album by Donna Summer. It was released in the spring of 1976, just a couple of months after her international breakthrough with the single and album of the same name - Love To Love You Baby. The raunchy and sexual nature of that particular song had earned Summer the title "The first lady of love." By now Summer's work was being distributed in the U.S. by Casablanca Records, and they in particular were keen for her to continue portraying this image, despite her not being completely comfortable with it. As such, the Love Trilogy album continued in the same vain with the first side being taken up entirely by one long disco track - in this case "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It". Side Two contained the actual "love trilogy" with a further three sexually-orientated disco songs, including a cover of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic". The album's artwork showed Summer floating light-heartedly through the clouds, again adding to the image of her as a fantasy figure.

While the album sold well across the world, it failed to produce a successful follow-up single to "Love To Love You Baby". Edited versions of "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It" and "Could It Be Magic" charted in some nations, but sales figures did not come close to those of her breakthrough single.

Donna Summer - 1975 - Love to Love You Baby


Donna Summer - 1975 - Love to Love You Baby

Released 1975
Genre Disco, Pop, Soul, R&B
Length 36:36
Label Casablanca
Producer(s) Pete Bellotte
Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing

1. Love To Love You Baby Listen Listen
2. Full Of Emptiness Listen Listen
3. Need- A- Man Blues Listen Listen
4. Whispering Waves Listen Listen
5. Pandora's Box Listen Listen
6. Full Of Emptiness ( Reprise)

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Love to Love You Baby is the second album by Donna Summer, and her first to be released internationally.

Summer's previous album had only been released in selected European countries where she had also had a couple of hit singles. In 1975 she was still a complete unknown in her home country of America. Summer had been working with writing/production team Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte for some time and one day approached them with an idea for a song. Moroder and Bellotte had been helping to develop the new "disco" sound which was just starting to become popular, and turned the song which had begun with Summer's idea into a slowbeat electronic disco track. Their idea for her vocals were that they should be raunchy and sexy, but she was at first unsure if she was capable of this. She was later persuaded to record the track lying on the floor of a pitch dark studio and imagined herself as an actress (Marilyn Monroe to be precise) playing the part of someone in that role. The song was recorded and entitled "Love to Love You." It was released as a single in some European countries and became a moderate hit.

As a result the album sold relatively well, making the Top 10 in the U.S. and the Top 20 in the U.K.

The other songs on the album had a more pop/soul/R&B feel to them. Side Two consisted of four more original songs, plus a reprise of one of them. Two of the songs, "Full Of Emptiness" and "Whispering Waves" were ballads, while "Need-A-Man Blues" was in a slightly more pop/disco vain, and "Pandora's Box" was more mid-tempo.

Donna Summer - 1974 - Lady of the Night


Donna Summer - 1974 - Lady of the Night

Label: Groovy
Catalog#: LGR 8301
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: Netherlands
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock
Style: Soft Rock
Credits: Producer - Pete Bellotte
Written By - Giorgio Moroder (tracks: A1 to A4, B1 to B3) , Pete Bellotte
Notes: (P)1974 Basart Records International B.V.

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Track listing:

A1 Lady Of The Night (3:58)
A2 Born To Die (3:24)
A3 Friends (3:31)
A4 Full Of Emptiness (2:26)
A5 Domino (3:14)
B1 The Hostage (4:16)
B2 Wounded (2:43)
B3 Little Miss Fit (3:06)
B4 Let's Work Together Now (3:58)
B5 Sing Along (Sad Song) (3:20)

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Donna Summer's debut album from 1974, produced by Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte, is significantly different from "Love To Love You Baby" that she was to record the year later, although side 2 of that album is a lot in the vein of these folk/rock songs found here, mostly telling stories about people, like - obviously - a girl who's the lady of the night ("It's just a job and she'll do the best she can"), the cheesy phone conversations and dramatic string arrangements in "The Hostage", the girl who goes to a carnival and meets an attractive man behind a mask but never gets to find out who it was ("Domino"), another girl who wants her boy friend to be more than "Friends", etc. etc. Although it really is nothing special, I find myself liking this simple album surprisingly much indeed, and it's one of Donna's most enjoyable vocal performances. We're not that lucky to get Donna's debut single "Denver Dream" / "Something's In The Wind" + another non-album track "Virgin Mary" included as bonus tracks but it's great that this album has become available on CD.

Donna Summer - English

Donna Summer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Donna Summer (born LaDonna Adrian Gaines) is an American singer, songwriter, and artist, best known for a string of dance hits in the 1970s that earned her the title "Queen of Disco" and as one of the few disco-based artists to have longevity on the charts into the late-1980s. Even though she is one of the best-known artists of the disco era, Summer has covered different genres - notably R&B, rock, and gospel, earning her Grammy Awards in those categories. Summer is also known for her exquisite vocal range and power. It has been estimated that Summer's album and single sales total more than 150 million, easily making her part of the list of best-selling music artists.

Biography

Early life and career

Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, she was one of seven children raised by devout Christian parents. She sang in church and later joined a rock group called The Crow as a teenager. It was named such because Donna was the only black member of the group. At eighteen, Gaines left home and school to take up a supporting role in the Broadway musical, "Hair". The show moved to Germany shortly afterwards and Gaines eventually became a German resident and performed in the German versions of several musicals including "Godspell" and "Show Boat". She settled in Munich and also performed with the Viennese Folk Opera.

In 1971, Gaines released a single in Europe entitled "Sally Go 'Round the Roses", her first solo recording. The single was unsuccessful, however, and she had to wait until 1974 to launch a solo career. Gaines married Austrian actor Helmut Sommer ("Summer" is an Anglicization of his last name) in 1972 and gave birth to daughter Mimi the following year. Summer did various musical jobs in studios and theaters for several years, including the pop group FamilyTree from 1974-75.

Early success and notoriety

While singing back-up for groups such as Three Dog Night, she met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. With these producers, Summer signed a contract in the Netherlands and issued her first album, Lady of the Night, which included the European hit, "The Hostage", which made #1 in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and #2 in Germany. Its follow-up, the title track of the album, also gained some degree of European success.

In the late summer of 1975, Summer approached Moroder and Bellotte with an idea for a song. She came up with the lyric "Love To Love You Baby" as the possible title for the song. Moroder in particular was interested in developing the new disco sound that was becoming more and more popular and used Summer's idea to develop the song into a raunchy disco track. He had the idea that she should moan and groan in an orgasmic way, but Summer was unsure of the idea. Eventually she agreed to record the song as a demo to give to someone else (possibly singer Penny McLean). She has stated that she was not completely sure of some of the lyrics, and parts of the song were improvised during the recording (she later stated on a VH-1 "Behind The Music" program that she pictured herself as Marilyn Monroe acting out the part of someone in sexual ecstasy). Moroder was astounded with Summer's orgasmic vocals and her imaginative moans and groans that he insisted she should release the single herself. Summer reluctantly agreed and the song, titled "Love To Love You", was released. While originally a modest success in Europe, it reached America and the hands of Casablanca president Neil Bogart, who was so ecstatic over the demo that he requested Moroder to produce a twenty-minute version of the song. Summer, Moroder and producer Pete Bellotte cut a seventeen-minute version and with that, renamed it "Love To Love You Baby" and Casablanca signed Summer and issued the single in November 1975. Casablanca distributed Summer's work in the U.S., while other labels distributed it in different nations during this period.

The "Love To Love You Baby" single was Summer's first big hit in America reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in February 1976 and becoming her first number-one Hot Dance Club Play chart hit. The seventeen-minute version became one of a recurring trend of single song, side-long disco versions, with French disco acts Cerrone, the Alec. R. Costandinos helmed Love And Kisses and many others following suit. The album (side one of which was completely taken up with the full-length version of the title track) was also released in 1975 and was soon certified gold. The song was branded "raunchy" by some rock critics and was even banned by some radio stations for its graphic content. Time magazine later reported that a record 22 orgasms were reached in the making of the song. In some areas of the music press, Summer was dubbed "the first lady of love." Two successful, gold-selling concept albums followed - A Love Trilogy featured the moderate hits, Try Me (I Know We Can Make It) (#80 on the Hot 100)", and Could It Be Magic (#52 on the Hot 100); and Four Seasons of Love which featured the disco hit, "Spring Affair", (#58 on the Hot 100), as well as Winter Melody, (#43 on the Hot 100) Both albums placed high on the Billboard 200, and had a reasonably high sensual/fantasy content, although Summer felt uneasy with her image.

The 1977 album I Remember Yesterday, another concept album, showed the Summer/Moroder/Bellotte team combining the disco sound with sounds of the past, present and future. The song representing the future, "I Feel Love" , originally released as a "B" side to the R&B ballad "Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)", became a landmark recording, reaching number-six on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and number-one in the UK and various other European countries. The song was arguably the first song to use techno and electronic sounds in dance music. A version of I Feel Love released in 1982, with additional overdubs by Disco lightman turned synthesist and producer, the late Patrick Cowley, took the eight minute and thirteen second extended version and overlayed new elements, causing an underground sensation. Summer released another album in 1977 called Once Upon a Time, a concept album telling a modern-day "rags to riches" story through the means of electronic disco and is regarded by many fans as some of her best work.

Continued success in music

In 1978, Summer acted in the film Thank God It's Friday, and released the hit single, "Last Dance". Written by Paul Jabara who also co-wrote "It's Raining Men", "The Main Event (Fight)" and "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)", the song became another monumental hit for Summer reaching number-three on the Billboard Hot 100 and resulted in her first Grammy win while Jabara took home the Oscar after the song was nominated for Song of the Year. Summer also recorded a side-long version of Serge Gainsbourg's "Je T'Aime (Moi Non Plus)" which was very similar in style to "Love To Love You Baby", initially shelved and later released as a part of the Thank God It's Friday soundtrack.

That same year, she released her first live album, Live and More. A double-album, it was also Summer's first number-one album and included her first number-one American pop single, a cover of the Jimmy Webb-penned "MacArthur Park", originally made famous by Irish singer/actor Richard Harris. The version found on the Live and More album was a longer version and incorporated two other tracks, including "Heaven Knows" which also featured vocals by Joe Bean Esposito of the Brooklyn Dreams. Group member Bruce Sudano would become romantically involved with Summer, and "Heaven Knows" became another top five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

Bad Girls and the break from disco

In 1979, she released the landmark double album, Bad Girls. Unlike other disco albums, it mixed rock, blues, and soul into electronic disco beats. It yielded three top ten singles: the back-to-back number-one hits, "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls", plus the number-two hit "Dim All the Lights". "Hot Stuff" won Summer a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Bad Girls became Summer's second #1 album and her most successful one, selling over seven million copies worldwide. Once again, Summer's music was years ahead of its time, and elements of Bad Girls would surface in the 1980s from such artists as the Eurythmics, New Order, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Madonna, Bronski Beat, and many other New Wave and techno bands. Several different artists were involved in the writing of Bad Girls including Bruce Sudano, who Summer had worked with the previous year on her "Heaven Knows" single. The two grew closer during the making of this album and became engaged. During this period, Donna Summer became the first woman ever to have two songs on Billboard's top three of the Hot 100 during the same week with "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff". Just a few months later, she accomplished the same feat again with "No More Tears" and "Dim All the Lights" both in the top three slots of the Billboard Hot 100 during the same week.

Summer's first main international compilation album, On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & 2, was her third number-one U.S. album. With this, Summer became the first artist to have three consecutive number-one double-albums. The album also contained two new tracks - "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", a duet with Barbra Streisand, and "On the Radio", a song written for the film Foxes. Both were big hits when released as singles, the former becoming Summer's fourth and final number-one pop hit in the U.S. Afterwards, disagreements and fractions between Summer and Casablanca Records led to her exit from the label in 1980. Despite early feelings of retirement, Summer was given a lucrative offer by David Geffen and became the first ever artist to be signed to his new Geffen label in 1980. At this time, Summer's record deal was the highest around for a female artist. She also became a Born Again Christian during this time and used the religion as a new guiding force within her life.


The Wanderer and She Works Hard for the Money

Summer's first Geffen release, 1980s The Wanderer, was a full-fledged rock/New Wave affair. Though two of the songs were hits on the dance charts, songs like the title track, and the accompanying singles ("Cold Love" and "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'") saw Summer reaching the same audience that contemporaries like Blondie and Pat Benatar were dominating. The album sold well, achieving gold sales in the US, and the title track became Summer's eleventh top ten Billboard Hot 100 single in the U.S.

A second release, I'm a Rainbow, a dance-oriented double album which also featured elements of soul, R&B, period British techno-pop and even synth-based disco, was shelved by Geffen (although two of the tracks would surface during the 1980s on the Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Flashdance film soundtracks) because he believed Summer needed fresh production. Reluctantly, Summer left Moroder after seven years of collaboration together, and released her self-titled 1982 album with production from Quincy Jones, who got her back in the top ten of the pop, R&B, and dance charts with "Love Is In Control (Finger on the Trigger)". A second single, "State of Independence", on which Michael Jackson sang background on... along with a veritable "who's who" of the music world also lending vocal support & was ALSO one of the main inspirations for "We Are the World", became a sizable international hit (#1 in The Netherlands), followed by another Top 40 Pop & Top 30 R&B hit The Woman In Me. "State of Independence" had been originally written and performed by the duo Jon & Vangelis (Jon Anderson and Vangelis Papathanassiou), on their second album "The Friends of Mr. Cairo", released in 1981.

In 1983, Summer scored her biggest triumph since Bad Girls with the release of the She Works Hard for the Money single and album. The song became a pro-feminist anthem and was a staple on BET and MTV, making her the first black female artist to have a video air in heavy rotation by the latter channel.. Released on PolyGram's Mercury Records, the success of the She Works Hard for the Money album permanently poisoned Summer's relationship with Geffen, in fact, album liner notes on the "Cats..." album pointedly allude to "thanking David for staying out of the kitchen this time and hopefully enjoying this meal that Donna'd prepared for him". PolyGram would also be responsible for releasing The Summer Collection in 1985, which contained some of her disco classics as well as tracks from the She Works Hard for the Money album, and later The Dance Collection in 1987, which showcased Summer's disco songs in the form of their extended remixes. A second single from the She Works Hard for the Money album, the reggae-flavored "Unconditional Love" (which also featured vocals by black British group Musical Youth), was also an early MTV favorite. The further single and 12" release "Stop, Look and Listen" unfortunately did not have much impact. Despite the album attaining a gold certification from the RIAA in the US, She Works Hard for the Money marked the end of Summer's prime.

Her subsequent Geffen releases also did not fare as well. 1984's Cats Without Claws and 1987's All Systems Go stalled with only minor hit singles ("Supernatural Love" 12" Single, radio and video, "There Goes My Baby" radio and video, "Dinner With Gershwin" radio, video and 12" single, "Fascination" radio, "Only the Fool Survives" radio duet with Mickey Thomas from Starship). Summer left Geffen in 1988 to sign with Atlantic Records. Rumours have circulated among fans that as well as the I'm a Rainbow album, Summer had more unreleased material turned down by Geffen during her time with them. Her disco style was emulated by such singers as Barbara Pennington, Claudja Barry, Irene Cara, Evelyn Thomas, Miquel Brown and Earlene Bentley, singing in the keyboard based dance and Hi-NRG club hits of the early-mid 1980's era. These lesser known, more underrated, independent label singers together filled the void as "Disco Queens", especially with gay audiences. (In fact, it is worth noting that during this period the gay community realized its own heritage as purveyors of Disco music as opposed to the greater straight Rock fan base, and therein may lay some of the reason for Disco's demise.)

Later career

Summer regained her hit luster again in 1989 with her Another Place and Time album. This was a collaboration with England's Top Dance-pop Production Team Stock Aitken Waterman. "This Time I Know It's For Real", became her fourteenth top ten Billboard Hot 100 hit in U.S. . A second single, "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt" was a Top Ten UK hit. The third single, "Love's About To Change My Heart" became a moderate pop chart and dance chart hit. The fourth single was "When Love Takes Over You" and the fifth and final single from the album was "Breakaway." In 1991, she released Mistaken Identity, which was an attempt at incorporating new jack swing and urban adult contemporary R&B into her music. The album failed to chart on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart but did make it to #97 on the Billboard Top R&B Chart. Although, the album scored a moderate Urban chart hit with "When Love Cries" #18 R&B, and an underground club hit with, "Work That Magic." In 1992, Summer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This year also saw her collaborate with Giorgio Moroder for the first time in over a decade with the song "Carry On." This was featured on his Forever Dancing album and the following year would be featured on the double compilation album The Donna Summer Anthology. This anthology also featured two exclusive remixes from the unreleased I'm a Rainbow album recorded back in 1981. It would be a while before her next release as she decided to take some time out to spend with her family. 1994 saw Summer release a gospel-influenced Christmas album entitled Christmas Spirit (her first full-length album for over three years) and a new compilation entitled Endless Summer (both albums were released by PolyGram) which also contained a couple of new tracks including "Melody of Love (Wanna Be Loved)", which became a huge hit on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

In 1995, a re-release of "I Feel Love" (with newly recorded vocals) as a dance remix, became a hit again in the UK reaching #8 there. The following year she would score a Top 20 there with a new remix of "State of Independence". In 1996, Summer's album I'm a Rainbow was finally released in by Polygram's Mercury Records to the delight of her fans. In 1998, Summer was the first artist to receive a Grammy award for Best Dance Recording for her 1992 collaboration with Giorgio Moroder, "Carry On", after the song was remixed and released as a single. In 1999, Summer starred in a televised live concert on the VH1 network entitled 'Donna Summer - Live and More Encore. The special earned the network their highest ratings of the year, second only to their annual Divas concert. Performing a string of her classics and new singles, she also sung "Dim All the Lights" as a tribute to Rod Stewart. Summer acknowledges that she wrote the song for Stewart but recorded it herself. A CD (on the Epic label) and DVD of the special were released, returning the singer back to the U.S. albums chart. Summer scored two #1 dance hits that year with "I Will Go With You" and "Love Is the Healer" (both found as new studio tracks on the album). During that year, Summer recorded the title track for [[Pok�mon: The Movie 2000]] entitled The Power Of One. Around this time, Summer also recorded the song "Dreamcatcher" for the "Naturally Native" Original Soundtrack.

In 2003, Donna Summer released a greatest-hits compilation called The Journey, which rocketed into the UK Top 10 in the following year, thanks to her appearance on ITV1 show Discomania - in which she co-presented & sang a number of her hits: a medley of "Hot Stuff" & "Bad Girls", "MacArthur Park", "Last Dance" & a duet with Westlife on "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" - which appeared on the Discomania soundtrack album.

Current work

On September 20, 2004, Summer was among the first artists to be inducted into the newly formed Dance Music Hall of Fame in New York City. She was inducted in two categories, Artist Inductees, along with fellow disco legends The Bee Gees and Barry White and Record Inductees for her classic hit "I Feel Love". Summer added to her credits in October 2004, when she performed "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch at Game 2 of the 2004 World Series at Boston's Fenway Park. Two of her most recent singles, "You're So Beautiful" (2004) and "I Got Your Love" (2005) reached the Top 10 on both the Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.

Today, Summer and her family make their home in Nashville, Tennessee. In July 2006, Summer joined forces with Pure Tone Music, an A&R consulting and full service independent music company, located just outside of New York City, and Summer's official web site has announced an upcoming CD on the Burgundy label to be released in Spring, 2007. She is touring extensively in mid-2006, and is to be featured in Sade's upcoming album "Pearls." Summer has hinted that her upcoming album will be more political, and is currently fundraising for the incumbent Democratic governor of Tennessee.

Personal life

In 1972, Summer married her first husband, Helmuth Sommer, and permanently moved to Germany to star in musicals, which resulted in her learning to speak fluent German. With Sommer, she gave birth to her first child, Mimi. The couple divorced in 1976 but before then, Donna anglicized Sommer into Summer and began her professional singing career in 1974 as Donna Summer. In 1978, she collaborated with the disco group Brooklyn Dreams for the hit, "Heaven Knows"(lead vocals by Joe Bean Esposito). While at the session recording the single, she met Bruce Sudano. The duo began a romance that culminated in their July 16, 1980 marriage and later the birth of daughters Brooklyn and Amanda. Today, Mimi and Amanda sing alongside their mother while Brooklyn has been seen acting in TV shows, including the since-canceled My Wife and Kids. Summer is still married to Sudano, and she is a grandmother of three.

During her lengthy career, Summer has dealt with controversy both professionally and personally. Her first hit, "The Hostage" was banned in Germany, and other radio stations banned her music for being sexually suggestive, with "Love to Love You Baby" being an example.

In 1991, during the height of the Gulf War, Summer's song "State Of Independence" was banned from US radio play alongside many other songs that were deemed to have an inflammatory effect on the population.

Rumors persisted that Summer was in fact a man in drag and not a woman, a rumour Summer addressed in 1989 on The Arsenio Hall Show. A far more painful incident came in the early 1980s with reports that she had made anti-gay remarks associated with the AIDS epidemic. Her songs were banned for a number of years in some gay establishments over these rumours.

Summer has long denied such allegations, and finally took legal action against a newspaper which printed the rumors during a review of a concert. Summer tearfully stated, "I never said anything that was written about me in that article". To make amends, Summer has since played for AIDS benefits and has donated proceeds to AIDS research. Even in 2006, she is still asked about the rumours, recently by a Canadian newspaper. Summer responded, "So many people in my audiences are gay. I can’t live my life trying to assure people of anything. You have to live knowing who you are. I think that my actions and the person that I am speak louder than somebody else’s misgivings or lies about me", says Summer now. "They print all kinds of things about people all the time but you can’t run after every single lie. You tell people the truth and if they choose to believe you, they do."

Regardless, even among gays, her brilliant talent and musicianship (aided by Giorgio Moroder) are lovingly embraced as the epitome of the disco era, as is her subsequent support in fighting AIDS.

Record Labels

Summer released her first single in 1971 and was credited with her maiden name Donna Gaines. "Denver Dream," released in 1974 was her first single release on which she was credited as Donna Summer. The following is a list of singles released in Europe leading up to her signing to Casablanca Records in 1975:

As Donna Gaines

1971: "Sally Go 'Round the Roses"
1972: "If You're Walkin' Alone"

As Donna Summer

1974: "Denver Dream"
1974: "The Hostage" (#1 in Belgium and France, #2 Germany and The Netherlands),
1974: "Lady of the Night"
1975: "Love To Love You - Part 1"
1975: "Virgin Mary"
1975: "Love To Love You Baby"

Having signed to Casablanca in the USA, Summer's material was released internationally beginning with the single "Love To Love You Baby" in 1975. She remained with this label until early 1980. Following her initial signing to them, various other labels were used to distribute her material in other nations but by 1977, Casablanca was used to do so in almost every country.

Summer left Casablanca in 1980 and became the first artist to be signed to Geffen Records, who released her material through to 1987, with the exception of her 1983 album "She Works Hard for the Money" and the singles from it. These were released by Mercury Records, a division of PolyGram, who had bought out Casablanca.

1989 saw Summer signed to Atlantic Records and remained with them until 1991. Since then she has released singles and albums with varying labels.

Donna Summer discography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


This is a listing of all of the singles and albums released by American R&B singer Donna Summer. Twenty-one of her singles reached the Billboard Top 40 in the US; fourteen reached the top ten and four reached #1.

Albums

Main Albums
(All albums were released internationally unless otherwise stated)

1974: Lady of the Night (Groovy, The Netherlands/Germany/Belgium)
1975: Love To Love You Baby (Casablanca, #8 US; #16 UK)
1976: A Love Trilogy (Casablanca, #18 US; #41 UK)
1976: Four Seasons Of Love (Casablanca, #22 US)
1977: I Remember Yesterday (Casablanca, #9 US; #3 UK)
1977: Once Upon A Time (Casablanca, #16 US; #24 UK)
1978: Live and More (Casablanca, #1 US; #16 UK)
1979: Bad Girls (Casablanca, #1 US; #2 R&B; #23 UK)
1980: The Wanderer (Geffen, #13 US; #4 R&B; #55 UK)
1981: I'm a Rainbow (Geffen, unreleased until 1996 by Mercury)
1982: Donna Summer (Geffen, #20 US; #13 UK)
1983: She Works Hard for the Money (Mercury, #9 US; #28 UK)
1984: Cats Without Claws (Geffen), #40 US; #69 UK)
1987: All Systems Go (Geffen, #122 US)
1989: Another Place and Time (Atlantic, #53 US, #17 UK)
1991: Mistaken Identity (Atlantic, #97 R&B)
1994: Christmas Spirit (Mercury)
1999: Live & More Encore (Epic, #43 US)
2003: "The Journey - The Very Best Of Donna Summer"

Hit Singles

1974 "The Hostage"
1974 "Lady Of The Night"
1975 "Love To Love You Baby"
1976 "Could It Be Magic"
1976 "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It"
1976 "Spring Affair"
1977 "Winter Melody"
1977 "Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)"
1977 "I Feel Love"
1977 "Down Deep Inside (Theme From 'The Deep')"
1977 "I Remember Yesterday"
1977 "Love's Unkind"
1977 "I Love You"
1978 "Rumour Has It"
1978 "Back In Love Again"
1978 "Last Dance"
1978 "MacArthur Park"
1978 "Once Upon a Time"
1979 "Heaven Knows" (With Brooklyn Dreams)
1979 "Hot Stuff"
1979 "Bad Girls"
1979 "Dim All The Lights"
1979 "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (with Barbra Streisand)
1980 "On the Radio"
1980 "Walk Away"
1980 "Sunset People"
1980 "The Wanderer"
1980 "Cold Love"
1981 "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'"
1982 "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)"
1982 "State of Independence"
1982 "I Feel Love" (1982 Remix)
1982 "The Woman In Me"
1983 "She Works Hard For The Money"
1983 "Unconditional Love" (Featuring Musical Youth)
1983 "Love Has A Mind Of It's Own" (With Matthew Ward)
1984 "Stop Look And Listen"
1984 "There Goes My Baby"
1984 "Supernatural Love"
1985 "Eyes"
1987 "Dinner With Gershwin" (remix)
1987 "Only The Fool Survives" (With Mickey Thomas)
1988 "All Systems Go"
1989 "This Time I Know It's for Real"
1989 "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt"
1989 "Love's About To Change My Heart"
1989 "When Love Takes Over You" -
1990 "State Of Independence" (Reissue)
1991 "Breakaway"
1991 "Work That Magic" -
1991 "When Love Cries"
1994 "Melody Of Love (wanna be loved)"
1995 "I Feel Love" (With Masters At Work)
1996 "Whenever There Is Love" (With Bruce Roberts)
1991 "State Of Independence" (1996 Remix)
1997 "Carry On" (With Giorgio Moroder)
1999 "I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiro)
1999 "Love Is The Healer"
2000 "The Power Of One"
2004 "You're So Beautiful"
2004 "Dream-A-Lot's Theme (I Will Live For Love)"
2005 "I Got Your Love"