Donna Summer is one of my favorites! She was known as the "Queen of Disco" in the late 70s,but she is so much more than that.This woman could sing her ass off,and she has many classic albums and singles.Unlike most Disco artists,she was able to continue her career well into the 80s and beyond.And,she's a beautiful woman too

Donna's recorded some great stuff ... but Chaka's my woman

David, name some good songs by her - i only know "Hot stuff"

Raspberry, 4 Chaka

Here are only SOME of my favorite Donna Summer songs...


***"Love To Love You Baby"(1975)---In the fall of '75,you couldn't escape this song because it was everywhere.It's not much of a great VOCAL performance,but it's sexy and very seductive.

***"Could It Be Magic"(1976)---Who else but Donna would turn a Barry Manilow ballad into a sexy Disco hit?

***"Spring Affair"(1976)---this lazy,hypnotic song is one of Disco's underrated gems

***"Winter Melody"(1976)---Donna could handle R&B ballads with ease.

***"I Feel Love"(1977)---Y'all know this one! This is proably one of the first real "techno" songs ever!

***"Last Dance"(1978)---I remember in the summer of '78,my sister and I were calling every radio station requesting this song.It's one of Disco's finest moments,a song that perfectly captured the Disco lifestyle.Seeing her perform this song in the movie 'Thank God It's Friday'is the highlight of that film!

***"MacArthur Park"(1978)---Who else but Donna could take a bland Jimmy Webb tune and turn it into a Disco tour de force?

***"Heaven Knows"(1978)---In the late 70s,it seemed like Donna had a new hit single every month or so...lol...and this track is one of her best.

***"Hot Stuff"(1979)---Adding a little "rock" to the mix,this is a hot song with agressive lyrics and a powerful vocal performance by Donna.

***"Bad Girls"(1979)---MY FAVORITE!!! This song is funkier than anything she had done previously.It's insanely catchy,with the hook of the year ("Toot toot...hey...beep beep") and a killer arrangement.In 1979,this was the most impressive song you heard on the radio.It gets my vote for Best Disco song ever!!!

***"Dim All The Lights"(1979)---Originally written by Donna for Rod Stewart (!),this is another classic Donna performance.

***"On The Radio"(1979)---Donna ended the decade with yet another smash hit.

***"Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)"(1982)---Quincy Jones produced Donna's 1982 self-titled album,and this song was the first single.It's a FAST,funky number that forces Donna to hang on for dear life.

***"She Works Hard For The Money"(1983)---Do you guys remember the excellent video for this song? It was VERY effective.

***"Unconditional Love"(with the Musical Youth)(1983)---"Give me your Unconditional Love,the kinda love I deserve,the kind I want to return"
[This message was edited Tue Aug 20 5:09:36 PDT 2002 by DavidEye]

DavidEye said:

Yes I love Donna. I had a huge crush on her in the late 70's..lol. I had a poster of her on my wall and all of that. One late night host tried to label Gloria Gaynor the Queen OF Disco...NOT!!! Donna is the undisputed Queen of Disco.

***Sunset People- One of my favorite tracks off of the Bad Girlsalbum. It's hard to resist that driving disco beat.

***The Wanderer-The title track of Donna's 1980 is great driving synth pop. Donna voice sounds strange on this track. The Wanderer album got rave reviews from critics in 1980.

***Who Do You Think You're Fooling?-Great song with interesting chord changes. Is Donna singing about herself and her success. Consider these lyrics...

"You're half way up the ladder...or are you really half way down?...You never know in this town"...

"But you swear you're going to make it..and you don't care about you fake your life...You're gonna make it alright"

Awesome lyrics and my favorite song off Donna's The Wanderer album.

Thanks David, and Brother - i'll check them out

It's also worth noting that 1979 really belong to two people. The first half of 1979 Donna ruled with her "toot toot HEY...beep beep"...(lol) album BAD GIRLS, then MJ unleashed Off The Wall around August of 1979 and from that point on, the momentum shifted quickly from the Bad Girls album to the Off The Wall album. 1979 was a strange but great year.

I feel a 1979 thread coming on in orgville HINT HINT!!!

TOP 5 Donna Summer albums,imo...



***'Bad Girls'(1979)---If you're only gonna buy one Donna Summer album,this is the one to have! Unlike many Disco artists,Donna made strong,consistent ALBUMS (not just singles) that featured groundbreaking production by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte.'Bad Girls' is her best work.It's worth noting that,this was not merely a "Disco" album.There is alot of rock ("Hot Stuff","My Baby Understands"),some cool R&B tracks ("Walk Away","Can't Get To Sleep At Night"),and even a few kickass ballads ("All Through The Night",the country-flavored "On My Honor").


***'Once Upon A Time'(1977)---This double album is now available on one CD.It's a fairy-tale concept album filled with pulsing Disco tracks.Check out the eerie yet mesmerizing "Now I Need You",which actaully sounds frightening! Other stong songs include "Dance Into My Life",with it's jerky,stop-start beat and a couple of gorgeous ballads "A Man Like You" and "Sweet Romance" that show off Donna's amazing vocals.

***'I Remember Yesterday'(1977)---Also released in '77,this is the album that gave us the relentless "I Feel Love".But I prefer the intoxicating "Take Me",a song that should have been a single.

***'Donna Summer'(1982)---Produced by Quincy Jones,this is a fantastic album.Like MJ's 'Thriller (which Jones produced right after this album),it all sounds fresh and bright,full of strong,catchy tunes.Donna sounds totally energized on the Bruce Springsteen-written rocker "Protection",and she gets down on slick R&B jams like "If It Hurts Just A Little".The first track "Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" features her tackling bass-heavy funk!

***'The Wanderer'(1980)---For this album,Donna went New Wave! The songs are moody,dark and sometimes bizarre (the haunting "Grand Illusion" is a trip!!).I like "Lookin Up","Breakdown" and "Running For Cover".The experiments don't always work (such as the undistunguished rock track "Cold Love"),but this is still an intriguing song cycle.

BIG fan of Donna Summer over here. Just wanted to say that!
She is awesome!

BaD Girls double lp was a staple of the seventies. It was like a piece of furniture. Bad Girls is the Led Zep IV, Frampton Comes Alive, Cheap Trick at Budakan of r-n-b disco records.

ive gotta Donna question...The song "State of Independence"...is that *her* song? or did she cover it...

btw: I love Christy Hines version of that song...awesome!!

SkletonKee said:

Donna did it first in 1983 with Q and Chrissy did her version with I cant remmeber what group -producer much much later...I love both versions but that Hynde one is epic...the long 12 minute suite or something version.Reminds me of Bolero. (Chrissie Hynde)

I love Donna Summer. I don't have much of her material but one of my first tapes was "She Works Hard For The Money". I still love "People People" and "Stop, Look & Listen". Anybody wanna suggest a good place to start for a new collector? A single album or compilation- anything that might get me hooked

Much Props to Her&Her Sexy Self.I truly dig the Church Vibe in Her Voice you can feel the Force&Yet She could break everything down in a Smooth Pop Way.75-79 She was Rocking.two weeks back I was Rocking to "Finger on the Trigger"(Love is in Control" the more I hear that song it sure sounds alot like MJ's "PYT"? anyway Donna had a Vibe&Aura about Her."Love to Love You Baby" 17 Minute Version ain't no Joke.She beat Tina Turner at blowing up in Europe First&Getting the Love back Here.after "She Works Hard for the Money" She kinda became a Parity of Herself."Dinner with Gershwin" was kinda Cool.but I Haven't been Feeling Her Stuff much since.dug Her Tribute Performance on the Diana Ross Diva Show.Donna did a Better Performance for Diana Ross than Her Own Diva Show IMHO.Donna is still Stuffed like Milk Chocolate.She is still a Babe!!!She made many Double Albums&was Very Prolific.Underrated IMHO as well because She wasn't just a Disco Artist She was a Artist Period IMHO.that Run She had was something else.She almost seemed to come out of Leftfield in a way to me.I'd say get Her Anthology.especially with the Long Versions of Her Jams!

i like : she works hard for the money.

what happened to her/

rdhull said:

The song "State of Independence" was recorded by Donna in 1982.It was written by Vangelis and J.Anderson,the same guys responsible for the "Theme from Chariots of Fire".The song was produced by Quincy Jones and it features an all-star choir (Stevie Wonder,MJ,Christopher Cross,Dionne Warwick,Kenny Loggins,etc).I didn't know that Chrissy Hines did a remake!

TRON said:

I suggest you pick up the compilation 'Endless Summer--Donna Summer's Greatest Hits',which was released in 1994 by Polygram Records.It is a single CD containing the tracks...

"Melody of Love (Wanna Be Loved)"
"Love To Love You Baby"
"Could It Be Magic"
"I Feel Love"
"Last Dance"
"Mac Arthur Park"
"Heaven Knows"
"Hot Stuff"
"Bad Girls"
"Dim All The Lights"
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (with Barbra Streistand)
"On The Radio"
"The Wanderer"
"Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)"
"State Of Independence"
"She Works Hard For The Money"
"This Time I Know It's For Real"
"Any Way At All"

David Bowie even gives props 2 Ms. Summer when he tells the story of his producer storming in2 the room holding a copy of "I Feel Love" and saying, "I've heard the future, and it is Donna Summer!"

My faves have pretty much been nailed by DavidEye, but special credit 2 "Last Dance" 4 helping me score at my Junior High School Dance, and also 4 "She Works Hard For The Money" 4 just being a damn good song and video...and being there in '83 when I graduated High School!

Damn, Donna...u really were there 4 me!


(fucking edits! )
[This message was edited Wed Aug 21 0:54:21 PDT 2002 by June7]

Wanna hear an interesting story? Donna has her own "Black Album" story! In the summer of 1981,Donna went into the studio with her producers Girogio Moroder and Pete Bellotte to record a follow up to her 1980 album 'The Wanderer'.The new album was an 18-song double album called 'I'm A Rainbow',and it was scheduled to be released in the fall of '81.But when Donna presented the finished album to David Geffen (head of Geffen Records),he rejected it!

There are several rumors about why Geffen decided not to release 'I'm A Rainbow'.Supposedly,Mr. Geffen felt that the songs weren't "commercial" enough.He was disappointed with the sales of 'The Wanderer' and wanted Donna to move in a more R&B direction.So,he called in mega-producer Quincy Jones and the resulting album (a self-titled opus) came out in the summer of '82.

But the songs from 'I'm A Rainbow' leaked out in subsequent years.One track "Highway Runner" appeared on the 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High' movie soundtrack in 1982.Another track 'Romeo' appeared on the 'Flashdance' movie soundtrack a year later.Bootleg copies of the rejected album circulated amongst fans for years.Finally,in 1996,Polygram released the entire 'I'm A Rainbow' double album on one CD.Now,fans are able to hear the album that was rejected back in 1981.Here are the tracks and my commentary...


DONNA SUMMER 'I'M A RAINBOW' (recorded 1981,released 1996)


1)"I Believe (In You")---a nice R&B dance track,coulda been a huge hit back in '81.It's a duet with Joe "Bean" Esposito,the same guy who sings with Donna on her 1978 hit "Heaven Knows".

2)"True Love Survives"---sounds like an outtake from 'The Wanderer'.Synth-heavy pop song.

3)"You To Me"---a big,overblown ballad.Donna's vocals are great,but this song is undistinctive and bland.

4)"Sweet Emotion"---a beautiful,hypnotic R&B ballad.Actually,this is the best slow song on the album.

5)"Leave Me Alone"---a blazing rock number,planned as the first single.Unfortunately,Donna's rock tracks just don't stand out.This could have easily been recorded by Pat Benatar or Debbie Harry (Blondie).

6)"Melanie"---a heavily synthesized,electronic pop song of little merit.The lyrics make no sense to me!

7)"Back Where You Belong"---Once Donna manuevers past the uneven material,it's smooth sailing.This is a great midtempo R&B track with fantastic lyrics!!

8)"People Talk"---another great number! Donna sings about how people spread rumors and lies.

9)"To Turn The Stone"---If you liked "Grand Illusion" from 'The Wanderer',you will also love this unusual song.

10)"Brooklyn"---musically,this song is funky!! It's a lyrical tribute to Donna's daughter Brook Lyn.

11)"I'm A Rainbow"---the title track is a sublime pop ballad with insightful lyrics.Brilliant song!!!

12)"Walk On(Keep On Walking)"---YES!!! This is a winning pop track,catchy and inviting.Coulda been a HUGE MTV hit back in '82.What was Geffen thinking??!!

13)"Don't Cry For Me Argentina"---Donna's version of this 'Evita' classic is nice.

14)"A Runner With The Pack"---a stripped down,synth-heavy New Wave track with infectious lyrics.Alot of fun!

15)"Romeo"---y'all heard this song on the 'Flashdance' soundtrack.It's mediocre,imo.

16)"Highway Runner"---this song was featured on the 'Fast Times At Ridgemont High' soundtrack.It's okay but,as with several of the other rock songs on this album,it just doesn't sound distinctive or very original.

17))"End Of The Week"---one of those "friday night and I just got paid" type of songs.This is pretty good,though.

18)"I Need Time"---another big,overblown pop ballad.This probably woulda been a huge hit for a singer like Barbara Streistand or Melissa Manchester.

subyduby said:

Donna is currently signed to Sony and is preparing a new CD called 'Angel' that will be released in early 2003.Here is the tracklist so far...

"Angel"
"Work It"
"Half The Battle"
"Til You Get It"
"Valley Of The Moon"
"Only Words"
"Tearin Down The Berlin Wall"
"Rain On My Shoulders"
"You're So Beautiful"
"Not A Day"


She is also writing her autobiography,so it's likely that the book and the CD will be released around the same time.

DavidEye said:

thank-you.

DavidEye said:

Donna&Quincy didn't really see eye to eye from what I Heard.He told Her that did She think She was as Good as Chaka Khan&She said Yes&Quincy was like show me? it was a One-Off type of thing.I've heard alot of stories like this about folks in the Studio with Quincy.Donna was esential Forced into that project.

I like Donna Summer and I love disco too! I wish it lasted longer than it had. She's a legend!

Mistermaxx...yes,I know about the problems Donna and Quincy had when they were recording her album.Donna was going through a rough time.Geffen Records rejected her 2-record set.She was pregnant AND having marital problems.And she was basically forced to record an album with Quincy Jones.To top it all off,in May 1982 Neil Bogart (the owner of her previous label,Casablanca Records) passed away.Despite these distactions,the finished album is quite engaging.

I once heard a story about how the "Enough is Enough" duet wasn't really planned, that some DJ mixed the versions of Donna and Barbara together and made it sound like a duet and then it turned out to be a big hit.

Anybody else hear this?

DavidEye said:

Hey David...u 4got 2 mention the major cocaine habit she had back then! She's acknowledged it b4...glad 2 see that she's clean and sober and looking and sounding fantastic!

Soulsista said:

No,the duet with Barbara was planned.I once read an interview where Donna described the recording session.She said it was funny because she and Barbara were both trying to "out-sing" each other (a friendly competition).

June7 said:

Oh please...who DIDN'T do drugs in the 70s??...lol...

DavidEye said:

ain't that the truth? even Burt&Ernie from Sesame Street looked a Bit Glassy-Eyed