Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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?

I saw the reviews posted here before purchasing this CD, definitely a mixed bag of Opinions...I decided the reviewers that loved it must be on to something, and I realized good Summer Compilations are hard to find, however numerous. So many Best of's that contain the short versions of Donna's Hits, but this one contains many long versions, including the 15+ minute "Love to love You Baby"...and, finally, a Best of that has "The Woman in Me", one of Her best Songs. I just listened to the CD, and it's true that "State of independence" has a Sonic flaw around 2:35 to 3:48 into the song...although, had I not read the review here that mentioned it, I may have missed it altogether, it doesn't seem very noticeable...I concur with the complaints about fadeouts, and the short "I feel Love", but that Tune and "State" both have a different Mix on disc 3, in addition to the Original Mix on Disc 1 and 2, respectively...I dislike the Digipak Cardboard package, too, but at least it's gatefold, and not particularly flimsy like most of its Peers...With the One exception, great sound on this Album, and ALL the greatest Donna Summer Songs make this an Essential purchase

This is a really worthy collection to be called "Ultimate"!
You get some tracks here that can be really hard to find and some of them are long original versions. To top it up this collection has been remastered with a new great sound! Some of the tracks really needed the lift. Nothing to complain about here, the package is really nice gatefold with a great rarely seen picture of Donna, she looks stunning as always!
You really should get this one before it gets deleted!
Just so you don't have to pay a fortune for it on E-Bay(!)
Get it!

Donna Summer was the first and "last dance" diva that I have ever liked or respected continuously. All the songs on here are exceptionally good except for the dance version of "State of Independence" which has idiotic tirades of MLK Jr. ruining the song. I bought this cd for music not political speeches or correctness, Donna was in Europe in the late 1960s floating through art circles so these tirades make even less sense.
This is one of the best Donna compilations you can buy and is a little more sultry than other compilations and even has some live versions of her songs made in the 1970s. Donna really was/is "one of a kind" and after Donna left the world of dance and club music around 1984 I gave up on dance music & followed rock ever since. The only bad thing I can say about Donna is that she impressed so many people they went on to become dance music makers and ruined the genre (e.g. Madonna , Mariah carey.) and that she wasted effort copying a few styles from other black American media idols which didn't and will never work for Donna.

I think a lot of us mistakenly thought after growing up with Donna Summer's music that if a woman of color(or any woman) makes dance music, then it will be good and we now know that that couldn't be further from the truth. People need to remember it was Donna who crossed the Atlantic to become the best selling female of the 1970s by 1980 and Donna was the one who was able to sell records to suburban teens & adults like no one else did at that time & also that it wasn't really "cool"(like rap is now) for teens to buy disco records in the 1970s but they bought them anyway even with the anti-disco sentiment that existed. So she really accomplished what no one else ever did or could do at that time yet she was never given the proper praise that she deserved.

It's too bad Donna dropped out of the dance music business around 1984 to never return to being the #1 non-rock artist and we ended up getting stuck with the likes of Madonna and Mariah carey for over 20 & 15 years respectively.

There are plenty of extended versions of Donna's songs on here but some fans still want the 17 minute versions of her songs but I think a buyer can't go wrong with this cd. Donna was involved in art & music in Europe and connected with a great producer(Giorgio Moroder) and it's too bad there are not more women like this making music who are involved with art who actually have inherent artistic ability and aren't just tokens to fill a slot opened by the media. Instead we are stuck with women who have tons of confidence and ambition who pay the media to write about them endlessly, but these women are devoid of ability to make any kind of music that sounds good and are really nothing but media-connected & politically-correct tokens, not artists or singers.

25 years after Donna's heyday, I have to conclude Donna was the first and "last dance" diva who was both a strong & a cool woman and not a "politically correct",sacred cow, media creation like we are stuck with today who never get criticized for their nasty songs & voices and who are praised endlessly because they are women of color(Mariah Carey) or represent some feminist stuff e.g. Alanis Morriseete or else are chosen by Hollywood to be promoted endlessly(Madonna, Norah Jones ect..)

Donna was the first and last dance mega star in my book.

What can I say about Donna Summer she is one of the great singers that has been around for a long time, will give her the thumbs up and five stars.

This is an excellent edition for true Donna Summer fans,The bonus cd contains fab versions of Summer classics such as love to love you baby.A must .

I bought this to replace well used records. Good sound, best voice of the disco era. I have 13 version's of MacArthur Parks, and her's is the best.

Donna Summer....Queen of Disco? And much, much more. Donna's recordings have always completely out shined all others. This collection covers a great deal of La Summer's early career, showcasing her incredible vocal versatility. You get it all, soft, sexy. strong, fun, and "belt it out girl!" No One can make you wanna dance like Donna!