Customer Reviews

Donna Summer

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have read all of the customer reviews of this album and wonder if people have even listened to it. So many of them seem bitter about the fact that it broke up the team of Summer/Moroder/Bellotte and delayed the release of the 1981 (as yet incomplete) album 'I'm A Rainbow' for fifteen years. It is a great shame that such a wonderful album as rainbow was never properly completed and released when it was recorded, but Summer was already an artist in her own right and was never going to be reliant on that original team to deliver her hits. More importantly, her music defied category. People will tell you she is more Pop than R&B and yet she has amassed 27 Top 40 R&B hits against 20 on the Pop chart. When I Feel Love became her second Top 40 single on the Hot 100, it became her seventh on the Soul chart. Like Dionne Warwick before her and Whitney Houston after her, she crossed over and back again. So to team her up with the greatest Jazz, Pop and Soul producer of all time was always going to be a stroke of genius. Well documented circumstances may have prevented it from being perfect but what we have here is not far from it.

1) LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER):
The lead single and now a classic. Quincy speeds up his trademark sound to evoke earlier Summer hits and creates one of her best in the process. (Pop #10, R&B #4, UK #18)

2) MYSTERY OF LOVE :
One of the standouts with James Ingram joining Donna on the second verse with a harmony vocal. This was a prime candidate for single release but James Ingram wanted a duet credit which was not agreed to so single release was cancelled.

3) THE WOMAN IN ME :
From the writers of the Pointer Sisters' Slow Hand comes a fair ballad that although well sung, was perhaps an ambitious choice for single release. (Pop #33, R&B #30, UK #62)

4) STATE OF INDEPENDENCE :
A true masterpiece by anyone's standard. Quincy Jones has often cited this recording which features an all-star choir as a warm up for We Are The World. US radio programmers found this new world anthem a little confusing, but in the UK it's slow burning sales meant that the 12" single version was not deleted until 1990 when it was reissued as the first single from The Best Of Donna Summer. (Pop #41, R&B #31, UK #14 - 1990 reissue #45 - 1996 remix #13)

5) LIVIN' IN AMERICA :
A patriotic singalong to Life in 1982 USA. It should be naff and embarrassing, well it is a little but it's also fantastic! Should have been a single.

6) PROTECTION :
Bruce Springsteen was about to give Donna his song Cover Me for this album but decided on this rock track which they originally recorded as a duet. If anything, this one is a little under-produced but the performances are first-rate.

7) (IF IT) HURTS JUST A LITTLE :
Classic funky Quincy Jones here with Donna reminding us why her black audience remains her most loyal.

8) LOVE IS JUST A BREATH AWAY :
Atmospheric synth-pop that picks up where Moroder and Bellotte left off. Laura Branigan would have killed for this.

9) LUSH LIFE :
This is quite simply one of the best readings of a jazz standard I have ever heard. Donna says that this is the most difficult track she has ever recorded but the production and performance here is unparalleled. Just before the song begins to fade you'd swear that Donna Summer had turned into the alto-sax accompanying her and back again. Spine-chilling.

This album is a classic Quincy Jones album. It's a classic pop and soul album. Believe me when I tell you that it's one of THE classic Donna Summer albums.

even though it seems others didn't like this album. It's definitely all over the place, but because Donna is such a talent, she helps bring it all together. There is a little something for everybody. "Love is in Control" is an example of the R&B of the day. "Protection" allows her to "rock on," with a little help from the BOSS. "If It Hurts Just a Little" is a little funky and "Love is Just a Breath Away," a little disco. To me the song that lets Donna show off her gorgeous voice is "Lush Life," a classic jazz standard. Yes, this album has Quincy Jones written all over it but come on, that's not such a bad thing. I guess sometimes two very creative and strong willed people have a hard time getting it together. Like I said though, I LIKED THIS ALBUM A LOT and I feel it's one of Donna's better efforts during the '80's. If anything, it was a chance for her to show off her voice. And believe me, that's a GOOD THING!

Regardless of the flak this album received, this, along with 'Bad girls', are my all time favourite Donna Summer albums. It showcases her vocals in a way never heard before then, deep, rich and powerful, to a diverse array of songs.

Produced by Quincy Jones, it was recorded while Donna was pregnant with her third Daughter Amanda Grace, when she says she was low on creativity. This shows in the fact that only 2 of the 9 tracks are co penned by her.

This album was an attempt to move into the R&B direction which Donna had never really done before. It wasn't such a huge commercial success (number 20 on the hot 200 and certified gold); it however incorporated R&B, Rock, euro pop and Jazz to great effect. Every track was perfect.

The opening cut and lead off single 'Love is in control (finger on the trigger)' was a top 10 hit on the hot 100, as well as making the top 20 in places like the UK and Germany. With blaring horns, a funky rhythm, a little rap, and a danceable beat, it has Donna's vocals racing along to the beat. Nominated for a Grammy for best R&B song.

'Mystery of love', a gentle R&B dance number with a great piano intro, James Ingram providing backing howls, and a break before the final chorus, is another dazzling number.

'The woman in me', a beautiful synthesizer laced ballad with sexy vocals and a mesmerising male backing chorus made it to number 33 on the hot 100.

'State of independence' is the magnum opus of the album. A delightful lilting Caribbean laced number with an awesome anthemic chorus and chanting provided by Michael Jackson, Kenny Loggins, Brenda Russel, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, and Christopher Cross among others. Thematically, it is a song about universal love, peace, and unity. This song was cited by Quincy Jones as being the precursor to 'We are the world'. It only made it to 41 on the hot 100.

'Livin' in America' is a cheerful declaration of life in the USA, living the American dream, complete with a children's chorus at the end. Sung in a lower register to a sparse, deep synthesizer bass, with lashings of vocoder and blaring horn, it was co penned by Donna.

'Protection' was written for Donna by Bruce Springsteen. It is a galloping number, with Donnas vocals recorded to self harmonize, which gives the song a girl group feel. Great wailing guitar and a racing beat combine to make this one of her best rock songs. It also garnered her third Grammy nomination for best rock song by a female (to date) of her career.

'If it hurts just a little' is a gentle slice of synthesized R&B with excellent male backing vocals. This song was sampled a couple of years ago by a European group called Cassius to give them a European hit.

'Love is just a breath away' is the only song that really sounds like Donna of old. A synthesizer driven number that starts off on a hesitant beat before galloping to an accompaniment of tweeting and swirling electronics, it has Donna singing in towering forlorn vocals about a love that is far away. You can feel the longing in her voice above the strumming synthesizers. This was the second song co penned by Donna.

'Lush life' in my opinion is the best ever version of this song. Every other version sounds the same, only with different singers. Written in 1948 by Billy Strayhorn, it is a lush torch number. Donna states that this was one of the most difficult songs she's ever had to sing, with Quincy urging her to sing it over and over till she got it right. Giving it a unique feel are excellent subtle synthesizers, lush strings, horns, and Donna's vocals powering away through every note, especially towards the end where her voice and the sax blend into one long powerful blast. In fact, she duets with the sax in the tracks closing minute.

The cover photography by David Alexander is very colourful with Donna's hair thrown over her face, and a rainbow background. Beautiful!

This album is an essential item for every music lover.

Quincy Jones produced Donna Summer's self-titaled 1982 album with the same musicians and generally the same style as he
would a mounth later on MJ's blockbuster "Thriller" LP.But on
"Donna Summer" is just didn't earn as much commercial success.
It's a pity because Donna gives her best,most impassioned genuine
soulful singing on this album,notably on dance smashes such as
"Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)","The Woman In Me","Livin' In America" and the Bruce Springsteen guitar-whipped "Protection"-also to be noted are the reggae-flavoured epic "State Of Independance" and her smoldering
interpretation of the standard "Lush Life".Now let me think of a duff track on this album......I can't,sorry.You'll just have to listen and see what I mean.

Although this release contains only 9 cuts it is a must have for summer fans. from "love is in control" to springsteens' awesome "protection" to "the woman in me" summer warmly grooves through jones' stylish production. listen to "love is in control" and flashback to hot summers past and future.

Aw, come on...this album wasn't all that bad. In fact, time has allowed me to appreciate the different styles and tracks laid out by Summer and Jones. No one knows for sure the personal viewpoint or conviction (or lack of) Summer had for making this album. Years later we (the fans and public) have discovered that there were some personal changes and challenges in Summer's life circa 1982. The challenge was the major disappointment of being told by the business end of the music industry that Donna was not going to have her double-opus and introspective album I'm A Rainbow released;It ended up being vaulted until 1996. Then, she was recording the Donna Summer album while she was pregnant;I'm sure this was the extreme opposite of her earlier disappointment ! She sure knew how to still hit those notes despite her condition (pressure on the diaphragm-pregnancy phase)...

The end result is that the album does indeed have a polished (maybe too polished sound) by the hands of Quincy Jones. Still,it is one of my favorite Summer albums for it's R & B frenetic-dance number Love Is In Control, the sultry and steamy Woman In Me, the Vangelis re-make State of Independence (which Summer's version had a more "spiritual" feel). Also, Springsteen's penned and guitar driven rocker Protection allowed Summer to use her throaty rock vocals to sound similarly to Springsteen's. If It Hurts Just A Little is typical Jones' style of R&B for the 80's;Patti Austin or James Ingram could have sang this one flawlessly, also. Lush Life allows Summer to croon and belt out her sensualness...

Enjoy this so-called "mis-matched","over produced","too formulaic", project for what it's really worth;Top quality vocals and music for 1982 ! Don't expect a remarkable revelation or consider this to be the best album you have ever heard. It's a great album...and that's all...

This was the actual album that Donna Summer released which was produced by Quincy Jones and included the hit singles Love Is In Control, The Woman In Me and State of Independence. Originally, Summer worked with Giorgio Moroder and recorded and album (I'm A Rainbow) but it was shelved as her label wanted her to do something with Quincy Jones.

Well here it is in all it's spendor and glory with some great guest artists.

Track listing
1. Love Is In Control (Finger On Trigger)
2. Mystery Of Love - (w/ James Ingram)
3. The Woman In Me
4. State Of Independence - (feat. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson & Dionne Warwick)
5. Livin' In America - (with the H.B. Barnum Choir)
6. Protection - (feat/ Bruce Springsteen)
7. If It Hurts Just A Little
8. Love Is Just A Breath Away
9. Lush Life

I think this is one of donna biggest flops, but then maybe she didnt have a choice? Im a rainbow, with only 11 tracks and not the 18 that are on the cd would have been alot better, this cd is over produced, and kinda dull. its like donna had nothing to do with it, they just told her to sing. and someone is asking 159.00 dollars for this....CRAZY. go to i tunes and download it for under nine dollars. if you want good or great geffen donna, get the wanderer, or cats without claws, or Im a rainbow, but not the marcury reissue, get the Geffen one.....this had to be donna weakest release.....

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS CD FOR YEARS NOW. I HAD PURCHASED THE ACTUAL RECORD FROM A MEMBER, BUT WHEN IT ARRIVED ,IT WAS BROKEN.......NOW I CAN HAVE THE CD..........THERE ARE SONGS ON THIS CD THAT HITS DIRECTLY HOME AND THAT;S WHY ME SEEING THIS ITEM HAS MADE ME SOOOO VERY HAPPY....IF I COULD RATE IT ANY HIGHER,IT'S A TOTAL 10......

In 1981, Donna Summer began working on her next album entitled, I'M A RAINBOW. She finished off the album and was gearing up for the album's 1981 release. But Giorgio Moroder, who had been Donna Summer's longtime producer since 1975's LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY, declined the release of I'M A RAINBOW, where the album was shelved, and would never see the light of being Donna Summer's twelfth album. Because of this action, I'M A RAINBOW would be the last album for Donna Summer to work with Giorgio Moroder. After ridding herself of Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer then teamed up with producer, Quincy Jones, who has produced Michael Jackson's 1982 album, THRILLER, as well as Michael Jackson's 1987 album, BAD.

In October of 1982, Donna Summer released her self-titled album simply entitled, DONNA SUMMER, which became her twelfth album. Although the album was a major success, Donna Summer claimed that she was unhappy with the final result of the album, and this is because of the fact that she was pregnant, and she claimed that is was very difficult to sing while being pregnant. Whether she was happy with the final result of the album or not, the album still became an instant success and it gave her, yet, another smashing hit single.

LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER)
The first single from the album. This turned out to be a really big hit for Donna Summer, whether or not she was happy with the album's final result. This is a great song with a real catchy sound.

MYSTERY OF LOVE
Great song with a great sound.

THE WOMAN IN ME
Great. Just so you all know, HEART had covered this song for their 1993 album, DESIRE WALKS ON. And let me tell you all that HEART did it exact to this here Donna Summer original, only they made it a little bit more saultry and sexy, and a little harder.

STATE OF INDEPENDENCE
The second single from the album. This track was, yet, another hit for Donna Summer, although, I don't think it was a major hit, but a minor hit. Still a great song.

LIVIN' IN AMERICA
Nope. Not a cover of James Brown's hit song. But still a great song.

PROTECTION
Great.

(IF IT) HURTS JUST A LITTLE
Great song.

LOVE IS JUST A BREATH AWAY
I wish it was. Great song.

LUSH LIFE
Great song.

Whether or not Donna Summer was unhappy with the final result of this album, I found the album to be very entertaining and fun. A copy of this album should be owned by everyone in the circle of Donna Summer fans.