Disco de Donna Summer: “Once Upon a Time”

Throwing this CD on this Sunday rainy morning - at ear decibal splitting levels - brings me back to the brilliance and excitement of this release. The CD does follow the original LPs tracking so the other reviewer must have a weirdo issue; the charm of this album has always been the disco flow from song to song. Following her influential breakthrough collaboration with Giorogio Moroder on "I Feel Love" from her previous LP "I Remember Yesterday", in terms of singles - this album sank. This release was never truly single oriented as the listener must take in the entire 'disc'. So many remarkable artists list this as a major influence - and it is no wonder. This is the quintessential release by a very talented woman. Moroder and Pete Bellotte created the genius that this product became and they must be honored. This is a ear candy of the highest confection. Donna's follow up, "Bad Girls" continues with this team's efforts, but this has the sweetest disco icing. Donna has had some great follow ups - but as far as discs go, this is shaking disco get - down - hallelujah dance your butt off material - "Once Upon A Time" is a masterpiece. As a concept album it is also leaps above others like Pink Floyd's "The Wall"... this is a great record. If you have never heard it you are in for an incredible, fulfilling listening experience! Add to cart!

Moroder/Bellote/Summer collaboration reached excellency on this album.They were already the masters of dance/electronic music in the 70's and vocals by Summer were simply superb.Songs "Once Upon a Time/Faster and Faster/Say Something Nice" are a musical delight and absolutely irresistible to hear."Rumour Has It/I Love You" are already Donna Summer's classics, beautifully recorded. "Dance into my life" a contagious danceable rhythmical song showing Donna Summer's notorious high pitch voice and famous strong vocals.But perhaps a medley called "Now I Need You" and "Working the Midnight Shift" is the best example of musical equilibrium,excellency and master work giving this trio of producers and singer a title of royal highness on the Disco Era and in present times.In 1977 David Bowie was amazed and hypnotized by Moroder's outstanding production of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love". He knew inmediately that Donna Summer were destined to become an important figure in the music business.He was right!.She continued recording musical gems and "Once Upon a Time" is among Donna Summer's best. It's a musical jewel and and exquisite production. It has gone beyond time and it still remains like a Moroder/Bellote/Summer classic. A masterpiece!!!

I'm 30 and didn't discover this particular piece of Summer's work until just recently. Wow was I blown away. Not only is this an outstanding concept album but I consider this album is perhaps the conception of what is now "techno" music. It's as though Summer and crew traveled to the 90's and brought some of it back to the 70's. To the baby boomers Mrs. Summer may be the queen of disco but to this X'er she's the mother of Techno.

I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this album, first as a kid when it first came out on a stunning 2-LP set (who can forget the Scavullo gatefold sleeve?) and then later the CD reissue. This was Donna before she broke into the masses, before LIVE AND MORE, and before BAD GIRLS - I think it stands on its own as an ambitious, perfectly realized conceptual work of art when few pop artists, disco and otherwise, were even aiming this high, and delivering. With slick Teutonic production by Moroder/Bellotte, soaring vocals from Summer, and a clutch of addictive, propulsive grooves, ONCE UPON A TIME equals anything Donna has ever released. With classic Donna anthems like RUMOR HAS IT, I LOVE YOU, FAIRY TALE HIGH, and especially NOW I NEED YOU (way, way ahead of its time, imagine Kraftwerk meets gospel), this is essential for fans of great quality music, no matter the genre. Disco never died - but this is heaven.

I always love this album. No Donna Summer collection would be complete without it. It is a double album full of beautiful and original works. My favorite track of all is "Now I need You". Donna Summer always had a concept for her albums,and that was an interesting way of recording and producing. The photos in the CD and on the original vinyl are magical,just lke a fairy tale,and bring back happy and exciting childhood memories for me and would for anyone who was a Donna Summer fan back in the day.