Customer Reviews

On The Radio: Greatest Hits Vol.1 & 2

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This set is incredible and full of Donna Summer's blockbusters, but I don't even know that I would truly consider it a greatest hits for that timespace. "On The Radio" goes through Donna's amazing career and touches on many of her biggest hits. The only true argument I have with the set is that it just skips over the "4 Seasons Of Love" hits "Spring Affair" and "Winter Melody". Also odd is the glazing over of "Love's Unkind" for "I Remember Yestreday" although both are great "flashback" tracks. The remixed edits are done very well. While some might massacre the originals, Girgio and Pete craftily make them even better in these small sizes adding nice new sounds. The edited versions of the songs are great. I mostly like "Bad Girls" and "Sunset People" in these compact mixes. If you liked the originals, you'll just love these edits that keep it very fun and make the set move. The best transition is a simple few humming notes between "Heaven Knows" and "Last Dance". It was just something I noticed and really liked.

As for "new" songs, "On The Radio" appears as a radio version and a long version that includes more lyrics. Both are great. Here's a little over kill for you. An extremely long "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with Barbara Streisand. More words and more music that just took the song for a ride. Still enjoyable and in fact, once you've heard it, you really can't go back to the single edit. In all, not the perfect "Greatest Hits" (it just doesn't exist for people with catlogs like Summer's), but an awesome mix of standards.

While listing to this cd, I forgot that along with being the queen of disco, Donna had (has) an amazing voice. With that sheer vocal power, true tone and amazing range, she could have easily settled for a career singing AOR, R&B or broadway tunes, but she obviously knew where the big bucks were at that time, which is good for us. Generally speaking, after a while too much disco music can be too much and headache driven for me, so what I like about this collection is it gives me just enough to enjoy it and want more of it, and I don't mind listing to it when it's presented as well as it is here. Vocally speaking, one of the standouts for me would be MacArthur Park; each time the song modulated to a higher key, Donna went right up there with it and managed to not get drowned by the music. Another standout is of course her duet with Barbra Streisand (Enough is Enough). This is the greatest diva duet I heard in my life. Both women are singing at the top of voices and their obvious attempt to outsing each other only adds spark and drama to the song. Donna's one of the few people who can hold a torch to Streisand (sorry Celine). Altogether, you get the best of both worlds with this cd; good disco music, and music that's vocally outstanding.

This is an excellent, but brief example of Donna's triumph reign of the disco error. I wanted to point out that Rob O'Conner from Amazon noted that songs were edited to fit in the cd. The length of these songs, however, are exactly the same on the original double lp that was made years ago. I played those albums over and over again until they are imbedded in my head, so I have a pretty good idea as to how long the songs are, and after listening to the cd, found nothing different

Forget what you have heard that Donna Summer was merely some silly "Queen of Disco," this girl could sing and these songs still sound incredible! Donna's voice is easily as great as Aretha or Gladys Knight, but she never got any ink for her pipes, just for fronting the disco era.

"Love to Lose you Baby" is the sexiest song of all time, hand's down. "On the Radio" is one of the catchiest pop songs of the past 25 years and her version of "MacArthur Park" blows Richard Harris' crummy version out of the water.

If you want to listen to two discs of solid, catchy, wonderful music, look no further than this.

Oddly, I never got round to reviewing this Donna Summer collection. Better late than never! "On the radio" came out when I was a kid and all I could afford to buy were sweets and Marvel comics, so I had to listen to it on the radio (pun intended), and lustfully eye my aunt's vinyl copy until I was big and "rich" enough to get mine. Much later on, it was the first CD I ever bought.

There have been hundreds of compilations of Donna Summer's music (she deserves an entry in the Guinness book of world records for that, lol!), but this was the first official hits collection from Summer's then record label Casablanca, with creative input from Summer (in the form of two new studio tracks). It comprised her (then) 10 US top ten million selling singles edited and segued into one another, much the way her seventies albums were. "Love to love you baby" (#2), "I feel love" (#6, though this electronic classic was mercilessly truncated here), "Last dance" (#3, winner of a Grammy and winner of the Academy award for best song), "McArthur Park" (#1), "Heaven knows" (#4), "Hot Stuff" (#1, first ever winner of the Grammy for best rock song by a female), "Bad girls" (#1), "Dim all the lights" (#2), and the pair of newcomers, "On the radio" (#5, and theme song from the Jodie Foster movie "Foxes" available here in long and short versions), and the superstar duet with Barbra Streisand "No more tears (Enough is enough)" (#1, available here in the 11 minute extended version).

Also included were songs like "Try me", "I remember yesterday" (a UK top 20 hit), "I love you" (UK #10), and two album cuts from her landmark "Bad girls" album, "Our love" and "Sunset people" (in a very nice edit). Every song is a gem and the feel one gets playing this album is of being at a non-stop disco party.

The cover photography (by Harry Langdon) is simply stunning, and was meant to make Donna look like some glamorous fifties movie star. This album became Summer's third #1 double disc in a row (a feat nobody else has managed) and was certified double platinum. There have been other, more extensive catalogues of her work (I especially recommend The Donna Summer Anthology from 1993, or Gold from 2006, both are double CDs, each with over thirty songs in their unedited original form and excellent booklets) but this one holds a magical place in my heart, and is the only hits collection of Summer's I have in its entirety on my iPod.

Summer releases her first studio album in 17 years, Crayons, on May 20th.

In October of 1979, Donna Summer released her ninth album entitled, ON THE RADIO: GREATEST HITS VOLUMES I & II. This album is to be first-ever greatest hits compilation, as well as being her last album of the 1970s. This is a great album, featuring fourteen of Donna's greatest hits, as well as a new studio track.

ON THE RADIO
New song. From the original motion picture, FOXES (1979). The first & final single from the album. This is an awesome song, and I pretty much tear up the dance floor when this song is played at parties.

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

TRY ME, I KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT
From the album A LOVE TRILOGY (1976). Great song.

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

OUR LOVE
From the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Classic.

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY
From the album I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (1977). Great.

I LOVE YOU
From the album ONCE UPON A TIME... (1978). Classic.

HEAVEN KNOWS
From the single HEAVEN KNOWS (1978). This song has finally made it's debut on a Donna Summer album, where back in 1978, the song was released as a single, and was never on a Donna Summer album...well, on its own, with not having to be in the "MacArthur Park Suite". This is a classic song.

LAST DANCE
From the original motion picture & motion picture soundtrack THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (1978). Classic song that is always played as the last song at parties.

MacARTHUR PARK
Original version from the single MacARTHUR PARK (1978). This here is the radio version of Donna Summer's classic 1978 cover. When the song was released in 1978 as a single, the song ran over 8:30 (eight and a half minutes). That full-length eight and a half minute version has even started off "MacArthur Park" suite. Towards the end of the song, the track flowed into "One Of A Kind". After "One Of A Kind", the track flowed into a slightly mixed version of "Heaven Knows" (where the song was not in its entirety). After "Heaven Knows", the track slipped in to the reprise of "MacArthur Park". The reprise consisted of only one chorus, and that chorus was picked from this hear radio version. I don't care which version of this song I hear: The full-length version, the medley, or this radio version, I cannot get on with my day if I do not listen to this song.

HOT STUFF
From the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Great song, but I like to hear either the album version (5 minutes and 15 seconds) or the 12" Single version (6 minutes 45 seconds). But still a great song.

BAD GIRLS
From the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Classic song, talking about woman who "Work on 42nd Street" or "Hollywood Boulevard", if you know what I mean.

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

SUNSET PEOPLE
From the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Classic.

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (performed by Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer) (Extended 12" Version)
Original version from Barbra Streisand's album WET (1979). This is a classic Diva duet between Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer. Right after Donna Summer released BAD GIRLS, Barbra Streisand began working on her album entitled, WET, a concept album describing Water in different variations. When Barbra and Donna hooked up for this duet, the title of the song was only called "Enough Is Enough", and the ballad introduction did not exist. When it came down to choosing what song will go on to the album, the producers did not want the duet between Barbra and Donna on the album, for the title did not fit in with the "Water" concept. Barbra, however, wanted the duet on the album, and she meant to have it that way. So she changed the title to "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", and decided to add on the ballad introduction, where both she and Donna are saying "It's raining, it's pouring", and so forth. The finalized track that is now featured on Barbra Streisand's 1979 album runs to eight minutes and twenty-two seconds, but the single/radio version only runs to four minutes and forty-three seconds, not giving the single any justice. When Donna put this album togetehr, she decided to use the three minute, twenty-two second version, but she also decided to add on another Three minutes and twenty-one seconds, making it run to a full eleven minutes and forty-three seconds. Not only did she add the 3+ minutes, she even added a Disco mix to it, making the song even...dancier. Great song.

ON THE RADIO (Long Version)
While the album/single/radio version runs only four minutes long, this here long version runs to five minutes and fifty seconds, just one minute and fifty seconds longer than that of the original version. What makes this one longer is the extended instrumental bridge, as well as having a hidden third verse that plays right after the instrumental bridge, where Donna sings it in a ballad passage, just like the first verse. Great way to end the album.

This is another one of Donna Summer's greatest albums, featuring nothing, but the very best of Donna Summer's greatest hits of the '70s. This is a great album that should most definitely be owned already by every single Donna Summer fan around the world.

"On The Radio - Greatest Hits (Vol. 1 & 2)" summerizes Donna's work of disco of the 1970's. Her well-known hits are included from the breathy "Love To Love You Baby" to the futuristic dance song of "I Feel Love" to her "Bad Girls" hits!

Perhaps what's missing is that there are no songs from "Four Seasons Of Love" [like "Spring Affair" and "Winter Melody" (my all-time favorite Donna ballad)]! In addition, when the album was put on CD it was missing up-to-date liner notes, but at least there was a never before seen picture of Donna, sitting in a car!

However, this album remains entertaining! If you enjoyed her "disco era hits" but was dissappointed in her 1980s and 1990s music, then this album is just for you! If you are a casual fan and want just one Donna CD, then you may want "Endless Summer" which contains her 80s music hits "She Works Hard For The Money" and "This Time I Know It's For Real".

Donna Summer is the undisputed queen of disco. She is defintely one of THE female greats of the last century ranking right up there with Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey. This collection represents her 70's disco material very well. All of her disco classics are here. "I Feel Love" is probably my favorite disco song of all time and is definitely a Donna standard. And of course you have the oddly appealing "Love To Love You Baby." Of course, we can't forget her dancefloor classics "Dim All the Lights" and the famous last call "Last Dance." The hits don't stop there. You can't have a disco/dance party without the anthem "Hot Stuff" and no Donna Summer collection woul be complete without "Bad Girls." Donna's #1 duet with Barbra Streisand "Enough Is Enough" is ranked right up there with some of the most dynamic and classic pairings of all time *put two talents like them together and it's explosive.* And of course, the title track "On the Radio" is a favorite as is the stunning "MacArthur Park" which shows off her mind-boggling range and is sure to have everyone dancing.

As said, this is a good compilation of Donna's 70's dancefloor standards, but if you're looking for more, I recommend "Endless Summer." It includes her 80's hits as well such as "She Works Hard For the Money" and "The Wanderer." Disco may have been a fad but one listen of this woman's music will show you Donna Summer was not.

When I am just not in the mood to clean the house, I pop in this incredible CD and I just start dancing around with the vaccuum, dust rag, mop, whatever... it has been my "cleaning" music since the album was first released. A classic must-have for Donna Summer fans!

As the hot summer of 79 came to an end, Donna Summer was on the top of the pop charts. She celebrated that victory with "On The Radio: Greatest Hits". Here are all the best loved Summer tracks, plus the title tune "On The Radio" and the long version of that dueling Diva duet with Barbra Streisand."No More Tears" The album sounds like a non-stop Disco bash. But what it doesn't have is the hits from 76 & 77, like "Could It Be Magic", "Spring Affair", "Winter Melody" and "Rumour Has It". Some of the mixes on the album, "Love To Love You", "Try Me" and "I Feel Love" are raw, murky and incomplete. Not as polished as in later compilations. But the groove is hypnotic and if you love Donna & love to dance to her tunes, you'll want this album in your Summer collection.