Ultimate Collection [Import, Original recording remastered]

Donna Summer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 6, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Universal
• ASIN: B0000DZP5X
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #175,291 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Hostage

2. Lady Of The Night

3. Love To Love You Baby

4. Full Of Emptiness

5. Could It Be Magic

6. Try Me I Know We Can Make It

7. Spring Affair

8. Winter Melody

9. I Feel Love

10. Down Deep Inside

11. I Remember Yesterday

12. Loves Unkind

13. Back In Love Again

14. I Love You

15. Rumour Has It

16. Last Dance

17. MacArthur Park

18. Hot Stuff

19. Bad Girls

20. Dim All The Lights

See all 39 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

32-bit digitally remastered collection in a digipak with bonus CD featuring 9 tracks 'Love To Love You Baby' (live), 'Last Dance' (live), 'Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus' (from the soundtrack Thank God It's Friday), 'Heaven Knows' feat. Brooklyn Dreams, 'No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)' feat. Barbra Streisand 'Unconditional Love' feat. Musical Youth, 'State Of Independence' (New Radio Millennium Mix), 'I feel Love' (Masters At Work 86th St. Mix) & 'I Will Go With You' (Con Te Partiro). Tri-fold digipak. Universal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No So Ultimate As One Would Hope..., March 6, 2004

By 

dep1701 "dep1701" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

I bought this set based on the fact that it contained several tracks not included on the earlier American "Anthology" release that are either rare, out of print, or hard to find. I'd like to say that I got my money's worth, but overall it's a disappointment.

Things were off to a fine start on disc one with the first two tracks, originally released only in Europe : "The Hostage" and "Lady Of The Night". I had previously only ever heard these on vinyl, so the digital mastering on them sounded superb to me. Next I was duly impressed that the full 16 minute version of "Love To Love You Baby" was included, as well as the non-edited version of "Could It Be Magic", so I felt confident that all was going to be terrific. However, by track nine my hopes were dashed.

I was flabbergasted that, on a collection of this scope, the perrenial megahit "I Feel Love" was presented as a three minute edit... abruptly fading out immediately after the second chorus! In another inexplicable display of editing stupidity, the tracks "I Remember Yesterday", "Love's Unkind" and "Back In Love Again" which were originally seamlessly segued together, now have ridiculous fade outs between each track! I could understand this if they were being presented seperately and out of sequence, but when they are here in exactly the same order as on the original album the artificial fades make no sense. Following that indignity, the next two tracks; "I Love You" and "Rumour Has It", which were also originally segued together ( in reverse order ) on the "Once Upon A Time" album, are also separated with artificial fades. Perhaps even more unbelievably "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls" ( presented in their 12" versions, just like on the "Anthology" set ) are separated with another ridiculous artificial fade out between them...WHY?

Other problems? "Heaven Knows" is the VERY short version clipped from the old "On The Radio" Greatest Hits album. Also, in a flaw shared by the "Anthology" set, "State Of Independence" has some noticeable distortion ( like the sound of a damaged tape ) from about 2:30 to 3:45 minutes into the song. I was hoping that this version would be free of it, since this disc was mastered ten years after the "Anthology" release. A mastering flaw like that on a set like this is just inexcusable
( particularly since I have the song in pristine condition on a different CD ).

All I can really say on the positive side, is that this set wisely includes the long versions of "On The Radio", "Last Dance", and "Enough Is Enough", which were presented in edit versions on the American release, and the rare tracks like "The Woman In Me", "Dinner With Gershwin" - both inexplicably not included on "Anthology" , and "Down Deep Inside" and "Je T'Aime Mon Non Plus" are great to have. But frankly I would have been happier buying a less expensive package that included just the rare tracks that weren't on a dozen other albums already.

All in all, if you're a diehard collector - get it for the rarities. If you're just a casual fan, skip it and get a better compilation disc.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 STARS FOR FANTASTIC SOUND QUALITY!!!, May 28, 2006

By 

Xavier Limtuaco (Manila, Philippines) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

I am a huge DONNA SUMMER fan and I already have most (if not all) of her commercially-released compilations. I actually purchased two (2) of her albums recently - this ULTIMATE COLLECTION and CHRONICLES (both with 3 CDS) for the simple reason that I want to own all of her compilations that have been released.

I give this album 5 stars because the sound quality is fantastic and superb - meaning that the sound level on all songs is as loud as the new CD recordings of today - thanks to remastering. I dont have to put the volume level of my player all the way up to the maximum. Although some of the songs are butchered (short versions of "I Feel Love" for example), I am not that disappointed because I have the long versions in my other Donna CDs anyway.

What was truly wonderful to hear were clear and louder versions of "Could it Be Magic" (the "Prelude to Love" was deleted though) and the live versions of "Love to Love you Baby" and "Last Dance" which were taken from the "Live and More" CD. Also, a louder recording of "Je T'Aime" from the TGIF soundtrack album. This is because my CD copies of "A Love Trilogy" and "Live and More" have really poor sound quality. The sound / recording level is weak / soft compared to "Four Seasons of Love" or "I Remember Yesterday." My wish, up to now, is get a louder / clearer version of the entire "A Love Trilogy" album because this was the album which started it all for me as a Donna fan. I already have three (3) copies of "A Love Trilogy" and all three (3) copies have really POOR sound quality. Calling Casablanca! My disappointment also in the "Live and More" CD aside from the poor sound quality is the COVER. Why didn't Casablanca use the famous original cover of the vinyl version taken by Francesco Scavullo? Instead they used it for the "Journey" CD.

If you want to own a Donna compilation with really great sound, this is the album to buy even if the song selection is not that complete and all songs are stand alone, no seguing from one song to the next. Happy listening!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two Important Songs Missing, February 16, 2006

By 

Parham - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

I think this is the best yet compilation of Donna Summer's music. I do agree with those who think the complete versions of all songs should have been included instead of fade-outs (on some tracks), and I'm desperately waiting for the day that a COMPLETE complete anthology of Donna Summer will be released! To be honest, I'm tired of the marketing ploys that aim at making you buy several compilations all the time. I think that's very dishonest of record companies.

However, there's something no one ever mentions and I'm wondering why this is the case --yet again-- for this compilation: Why is it that "Once Upon A Time" and "Faster & Faster To Nowhere" are never included in any of Donna Summer's compilations? Would anyone know? Do I really have to get that album separately to have those tracks?