Donna Summer Album: “She Works Hard for the Money”

Donna Summer has no equal. She has a very distinctive style and delivery. Her voice is so clear. Because so many vocalists fail to enunciate, the message is lost. "She Works Hard For the Money" is the theme song for all working women, particularly women in the service industry! Although it did not get a great deal of attention, I particularly liked "Tokyo". "Unconditional Love" with Musical Youth shows her versatility. This CD is truly eclectic! If you are a Donna Summer, you must buy this CD!

In 1983, Summer teamed up with born-again producer Michael Omartian (Rod Stewart) to come up with a record of lightweight but fun pop songs. The record playfully explores a wide variety of songs - from the pop/rock feminist title track, to the Carribean flavored "Unconditional Love", and to some richly textured ballads like "Tokyo". Her born-again Christian themes are more apparent here than in other records, so you can either take it with a smile while you're dancing away or put on BAD GIRLS and remember Summer before she was born-again. END

Donna was very pleased with her 1983 album "She Works Hard For The Money". it's a departure from her artistic albums like "Wanderer" but it contains many commercial pop hits. "She Works Hard For The Money" has a gospel flair. "Stop, Look & Listen" has a solid belting vocal from Donna backed by girl group soul. "He's A Rebel" rocks with a minture of new wave and Christian pop. "Woman" is a rocking soulful ballad. "Unconditional Love'" is a spiritual dance tune. The ballad "Love Has A Mind Of It's Own' is truly moving. (Summer gives a performance to rival Streisand. Powerful stuff). The mysterious "Tokyo" is a treat. "People, People" is a social commentary on teen runaways. And the Summer-penned "I Do Believe I Fell in Love" is a mature soul ballad. A fine moment in the album. Summer is at the height of her powers.

Still trying to distance herself from her disco days, Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money" has more in common with 1981's "I'm a Rainbow" than it does the singer's classic '70's albums, as well as the Quincy Jones-produced album from 1982. Like "Rainbow", "...Money" is more pop-oriented and achieves a margin of success.

Summer is good on the title cut, "Woman", "Unconditional Love", "Tokyo", "People People", and the touching ballad "Love Has a Mind of its Own" (sharing lead vocals with Matthew Ward).

Unfortunately, the record-buying public still had such strong memories of Summer in her heyday. Though successful, "She Works Hard for the Money" paled in sales comparison to the likes of "Bad Girls" or "Live and More."

It's too bad that Madonna - who was going to take the world by storm in a couple - would be the one that patterned "reinvention."

Summer did her best to do just the same.

"She Works Hard For The Money" was the first album to earn Donna both artistic AND commercial success. Long gone is the lady of the night image, in it's place is Donna as a regular working girl. Not only do the lyrics rival that of her first artistic statement, "The Wanderer", but it's pretty amazing musically as well. Everything from new wave to ballads are here with Donna's always beautiful voice at it's all-time peak. This is the album that "Cats Without Claws" tried to be, and the state-of-the-art production still sounds fabulous today. A must for any fan of Donna's or 80's music devotees.