Donna Summer Album: “Donna Summer [Polygram]”

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.

THIS IS A GREAT CD, BUT ARE U CRAZY FOR TRYING TO SELL IT FOR SUCH A CRAZY PRICE, U CAN BUY THIS ON I-TUNES FOR LESS THAN 10 BUCKS, B4 BUYING ANYTHING ON HERE MUSICALLY...CHECK I-TUNES 1ST.

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.