Customer Reviews

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Donna Summer

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3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I suppose that if you have every other Donna Summer hits collection -- like some of the other reviewers here -- then this collection seems pointless. However, if you're like me and don't have anything else by this artist, the collection -- though yes, not totally inclusive -- is fine. It's been a long time since I've heard "Last Dance," "Hot Stuff" and probably my favorite, "On The Radio". I remember listening to these songs in my pre-teen years, and this collection is cheaper than most of its type. So, if you want some of the essential hits, this should whet your appetite.

I have not bought this because I have all the songs in my own collection. However, I do feel that I do qualify to review the contents of this CD.

Donna Summer has had more worthy songs that did not make it to this collection. I guess for 12 bucks, they thought they could give you a shorter list of songs. One does not have to buy the DONNA SUMMER ANTHOLOGY (though I do recommend it) to hear her best songs. Songs that didn't make it to this 20th Century Master: "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It"; "Heaven Knows"; and "This Time I Know It's For Real."

I never thought "Love Is In Control" was that hot a song. Also, Donna has released some great songs that were big hits on the dance charts in the last 10 years.

Instead of purchasing this collection, here are some strong Greatest hits/compilation recommendations: THE DONNA SUMMER ANTHOLOGY, ON THE RADIO: GREATEST HITS VOL. I and II, and ENDLESS SUMMER: GREATEST HITS. Any of these CD's would satisfy your Donna Summer desires. There are great extended remixes on ON THE RADIO. If you are really into extended dance remixes that don't compromise the integrity of the original song, check out THE DANCE COLLECTION.

I danced to disco in the day, but I didn't listen to the lyrics. That's my story and for the most part I'm sticking to it. Well, really the purpose of dance music is to get you up and moving. That's what I bought this CD for---workout routine music.

But in Donna Summer's case there is some good content in there, too. "She works Hard for the Money" and "MacArthur Park" are two notable songs. Also, her duet "Enough is Enough" with Barbra Streisand is a real standout.

In February of 2003, Donna Summer released her twenty-sixth album entitled, 20TH CENTURY MASTERS: THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION: THE BEST OF DONNA SUMMER., This album is very good, but there are just not enough on here to call it THE BEST OF DONNA SUMMER.

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY
From the album LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (1975). Great song.

I FEEL LOVE
From the album I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (1977). Awesome.

LAST DANCE
From the original motion picture & motion picture soundtrack THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (1978). Still a classic.

MacARTHUR PARK
From the single MacARTHUR PARK (1978). Great song.

HOT STUFF
From the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Awesome.

BAD GIRLS
From the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Awesome.

DIM ALL THE LIGHTS
From the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Great song.

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (performed by Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer)
Original version from Barbra Streisand's album WET (1979). Still the #1 Diva Duet.

ON THE RADIO
From the album ON THE RADIO: GREATEST HITS VOLUMES I & II (1979). Classic.

LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER)
From the album DONNA SUMMER (1982). Great song.

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY
From the album SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (1983). Great song.

There are a crap load of Donna's greatest hits missing from this album and they are: "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It", "Could It Be Magic", "Spring Affair", "Love's Unkind", "I Remember Yesterday", "Once Upon A Time", "I Love You", "Rumour Has It", "MacArthur Park", "Heaven Knows", "The Wanderer", "Cold Love", "State Of Independence", "Unconditional Love" (performed by Donna Summer & Musical Youth), "Supernatural Love", "There Goes My Baby", "All Systems Go", "This Time I Know It's For Real", "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt", "Love's About To Change My Heart", "When Love Cries", "Friends Unknown", & "Carry On". But still a good buy.

Although this compilation contains some of Donna Summer's greatest hits, it does not compare well with other collections like the Donna Summer Anthology with 34 tracks or Endless Summer with 18 tracks or On The Radio with 16 tracks.

Having said that, this Millennium Collection does have her biggest chart hits from the early sensual track Love To Love You Baby, through the electro-disco trance masterpiece I Feel Love, her majestic version of MacArthur Park, her rock-disco hits from 1979 Hot Stuff and Bad Girls, the duet with Streisand and later stuff from the 1980s like Love Is In Control and She Works Hard For The Money.

It showcases her early work with Giorgio Moroder and the later pop direction and includes both sizzling dance tracks and a ballad or two. For a more complete look at this amazing singer, I recommend one of the aforementioned compilations or her classic album Bad Girls which is a timeless masterpiece.

Donna Summer must have had a really bad lawyer or else she's overmilked her catalog because this CD is probably the 10th or 11th "Greatest Hits" CD. Yes, her music is fun to listen to. And yes, many of her songs have stood the test of time. But to keep rehashing "Best of" collections is just demeaning to fans who have waited for years for new material! Sorry, Donna, enough is enough!

Donna Summer herself can hardly be blamed for yet another greatest hits compilation - this is entirely down to the record company who owns her back catalogue. If there was anything she could do to stop it, I am sure she would. Like every other hard-core fan, I am waiting patiently for the new album. I wouldn't splash out for this and I bet Donna wouldn't either. Save your money and buy Josiah Howard's Donna Summer biography instead!!!

It is true that this is Summer's umpteenth Compiliation CD,
however, to some how blame her for the releases, is crazy.
Major labels milks profitable catalogs every day.
The songs are a solid collection of Donna hits.
There is nothing new in the package, but its a good primer to her past hits. With a new CD coming out later this year, I think it's a good reminder why she has so many passionate fans.
The last greatest hits, I bought was "Endless Summer".
The Anthology and Endless Summer CD's are the ones to buy if you want Classic Summer. This package could have been made interesting if Universal included her more "Underground" ... smashes, like "Try Me I know We Can Make" or "Summer Fever".
BTW, the new Donna Summer song "Beautiful" is super hot, heard it last night:)
I want more of that! As a CD, this one has the commercial hits,
not very interesting, but I am sure the newbies to Summer, can get with it.

Please, give Donna a break! She does not have control of these 'greatest hits' that pop out every other year. The fact that the cover is recycled is the giveaway on how this CD came to be. As she expresed on her recent VH1 concert, the extended DVD version superior to the one seen on TV, she can't get all her songs to make it to the album because she is not the one who decides that. If we see the same songs again and again is because the record industry is trying to make bucks at her expense on the hits she does not own the right to.
I'm sure if it was up to her she would be making a CD a year, all with new songs. So, please don't attack her for things she has no control of like these 'greatest hits' we see so often using her name and recycled pictures on the cover.
And, Donna, if you are reading, please do for all your fans a Jazz/Blues album with old songs. Your powerful voice is more incredible on ballads than on dance songs.

I don't get this CD... and I won't because I already have it!. There's no new song here, it's just ANOTHER compilation of Our Lady's songs. I have had enough of this. Please, Donna, stop this kind of things and give us the music of your show, Ordinary Girl. We want to hear your voice again, telling us about your life that is part of ours, too.