Disco de Donna Summer: “I'm a Rainbow”

I'm not gonna lie about saying that Donna Summer is among my many favorite artists. Yes, her fanbase is mostly with the gay community, but so what? The music she makes is so darn infectious & beat-heavy, even your Grandma can feel the urge to get down. But unlike most artists who specialize in this kind of material, Donna has had more facets than met the eye.

When she recorded I'M A RAINBOW in 1981, she had already changed her image with the more rock-influenced THE WANDERER (1980). The fact that she had also become a born-again Christian proved that her music could only get more interesting. But when I'M A RAINBOW was delivered to Geffen, they hated it & shelved the proposed double album. It would be the last time Donna worked with Giorgio Moroder, who, with Donna, had created the biggest anthems of the disco era. The album became one of the most famous unreleased records in music history, but in 1996, Mercury (Donna's label at the time) was generous enough to finally give the album the release it deserved. It's safe to say that for a fan of Donna's more dance-oriented material, I'M A RAINBOW turned me from casual to avid fan.

Probably the reason why Geffen decided not to release the album was that, stylistically, it was all over the map. Disco had been declared dead (in name only, at least), but dance music was still in style. Aside from that, I'M A RAINBOW had experiments in rock, pop, R&B and Broadway that explored new depths into Donna's talents. For the traditional dance music fans, there was "Melanie", "Highway Runner" (reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder's 1980s work), "Back Where You Belong", "True Love Survives" (the lyrics are the most exotic Donna has ever sung) & "Leave Me Alone" (which could have fit in on THE WANDERER).

Because Donna is such a whiz with dance tunes, whenever she releases a ballad as a single, it flops. That proves to be unfair as songs like the dramatic opener "I Believe [In You]" (a duet with Brooklyn Dreams member Joe Esposito), "You To Me", "Sweet Emotion", the title track (my personal favorite out of all the songs) & the sweeping closer "I Need Time" (which again proves Donna could sing more demanding lyrics when given the chance).

However, the most eye-popping experiments on I'M A RAINBOW are the synth-heavy rocker "Highway Runner", "Runner With The Pack" (Donna just kills on these two songs), EVITA's "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" (this is probably where Madonna got her vocal lessons on this song), the haunting "To Turn The Stone" (again a lyrical masterpiece & later recorded by Frida of ABBA) & the funk-driven tribute to her daughter "Brooklyn". These songs, had they been released as singles, I'm sure would have dazzled Donna's fans as to the true range of her talents.

Unfortunately, that was not to be (some songs like "Romeo" would get released in other forms, like on the FLASHDANCE soundtrack). When Geffen said no to I'M A RAINBOW, they paired Donna Summer with Quincy Jones for the self-titled 1982 album that was based on much more traditional R&B sounds. It kept her commercial stock high, no doubt about that, but the result was just a little too mechanical. Since then, Donna hasn't recorded with Giorgio Moroder in over 2 decades & it would be so great to have them pair up again. Donna's upcoming ANGEL album on Epic Records is due out early next year, so afterwards maybe the two can gave each other a call. Another masterpiece like I'M A RAINBOW could just come about. Until then, Donna's fans can rejoice in the lost masterpiece that is I'M A RAINBOW, enjoying the risk-taking music that's on it, as well as wrack their brains as to why such a great piece of work could be turned down as "uncommercial".

`I'm a rainbow' was the follow up album to Donna Summer's experimental and critically acclaimed album `The wanderer'. It was produced by her longtime collaborators Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellote, and was to be released in 1981.

However, her then label boss David Geffen did not like it and got Donna to work with Quincy Jones on the superb R&B oriented `Donna Summer' album released in 1982.

Over the years, a few `Rainbow' tracks slipped out here and there; `Highway runner' in the movie `Fast times at Ridgemont high', `Don't cry for me Argentina' in her concerts, and `Romeo' in the movie `Flashdance' as well as a rocky, upbeat performance of it in concert.

`I'm a rainbow' sat in the fabled vaults until 1996 when it was released to the teeming fans. Was it worth the wait?

It's easy to spot where the whole `Flashdance' sound, as well as some 80s dance/rock hybrids got their inspiration from on listening to this CD.

The sound basically comprised lots of synthesizers, electronic effects and guitars, with Donna's vocals pushed to the fore. Experiments in pop, dance, R&B, , ballads, rock and Broadway. It does have a slightly unfinished/unpolished feel which to me adds to its allure.

`I believe in you' is an upbeat pop/R&B duet with Joe Esposito. Catchy dance tune.

`True love survives' is the only track with hints of her Casablanca disco days. A charming tender number in the vein of `Heaven knows'.

Then a couple of ballads; `You to me' and `Sweet emotion', both beautiful songs where Donna gets to stretch her chops between lower and upper registers. Great!

`Leave me alone' is a high octane rock tune in a similar vein to `Hot stuff' and even cheekily references this in the ending minute where she says `So you think you're hot stuff'. Racing guitars and Donna's frenetic delivery make for a winner.

Next is `Melanie', an upbeat new wave/dance number where Donna harmonizes in the verses with some unknown singer and with high vocal reaches in the chorus.

`Back where you belong' is a midtempo pop/R&B number.

The next track is one of my favourites. `People talk' is a new wave/dance number with deep bass synths, horns, a racing beat, and lyrics about not caring what people say about our love. Fantastic song!

`To turn the stone' is a haunting ballad with a celtic feel, complete with bagpipes, and very poetic lyrics. This song was covered by Frida of ABBA for her debut album in 1982.

Next is `Brooklyn', the ode to Donna's daughter born early in 1981. Another highlight. A brassy, funky R&B number where Donna welcomes her newborn to the world.

Title track `I'm a rainbow' is a ballad penned by Donna's husband. In it she sings about having many different colors or sides, like a rainbow. A plea not to be pigeon holed.

`Walk on (keep on moving' is a reggae-ish new wave song encouraging one to move on even when things look down and tough. Very girl group sounding.

`Don't cry for me Argentina' is the popular Broadway tune where Donna belts out and all other versions of the song pale in comparison.

Next comes the pulsing new wave/dance of `A runner with the pack' featuring half spoken lyrics in a lower register set to a backdrop of sparse, razor sharp synths and a plodding beat.

`Highway runner' is a guitar/synth heavy dance number with the verses harmonized with some unknown person in a very husky register. Also features some sitar playing. Cool.

`Romeo' is another highlight. A very catchy energetic new wave/dance number with great sax riffs, and references to Chukka (Donna's husband's nickname) as her Romeo. Similar to `Melanie', `People talk' and `A runner with the pack'. She performed this in concert with a splendid piano intro in 1983. Awesome!

`End of the week' is the only song that sounds like anything off `The wanderer'. It's a pop/rock number about waiting for the end of the week to let your hair down.

Closing out the CD is the passionate delivery of `I need time' again with vocals ranging from lower to higher register. A powerful ballad and a great way to end the CD.

So, would this have been a hit if released in 1981? Without a doubt. Many songs cried `Hit'. `People talk', `Romeo' and `Leave me alone' for example, and I suspect it would have fared better than its substitute 'Donna Summer'.

Essential to any Summer collection.

"I'm A Rainbow" is one of Summer's brightest sets and is a

myriad of sounds and textures. The set not only showcases her voice

in many soundscapes such as R&B and pop but also highlights her

writing talents on many a track. The shameful story behind the set is

that it was offered to Warner Bros./Geffen records and was passed by

in favor of Donna working with Quincy Jones in order to make a full on

R&B set. "I'm A Rainbow" is many times better and is

truly a lost diamond found.

The CD sways from dance to R&B to

It's such a

Featuring much shorter songs than is usually associated with Summer, this LP is that rare opportunity to showcase the artist's strengths as a vocalist. Many of Summer's other "hits" relied heavily on the background rhythm tracks, the chorus arrangements, and the orchestral accompaniments. "I'm A Rainbow" presented Miss Summer in a variety of musical settings, allowing her to do more with her vocal instrument.

Superb selection of tunes that show Summer demonstrating that she is more than a "Disco Diva." Her turn on "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" should have had Broadway calling.

This could have been donna summers follow up to the wanderer, but in some ways i can see why geffen records did not release it. There are some very good songs on the cd, and some ok, and some that seem and sound like filler.IF im a rainbow would have been shorter, with only 11 song instead of 18, with a better cd cover, it could have worked, songs like sweet emotion, brooklyn, dont cry for me argentina, end of the weekend, ture love survives, .if you would have tracked the cd in this order, it could work . track 1. leave me alone, 2 people talk 3 melanine 4 to turn to stone, 5 walk on 6 romeo 7 highway rummer 8 runner with the pack, 9 you to me 10 im a rainbow 11 i need time. if you track these songs in an order like this, you can hear that it could have been a good if not a great release,when mercury records put this out, they could have given it alittle more TLC, like a better cover, a booklet, with pictures, and and the words to the songs, too bad , all and all its good, and if you love donnas geffen years, its a must have, out of print, and getting hearder to find.