Her voice is perfect for this kind of ballads...

Icicle said:

It's an amazing album but that song in particular, while not an album highlight for me, shows some mighty range. It's kind of timeless and whimsy. Great background vocals.

btw, i`m thinking about getting some more of her albums, i only have most of the 80s and 90s albums.

I heard some samples of "I remember yesterday", but the songs didn`t sound good... What do you think of that album, "Four seasons of love" and "Love trilogy"?

"A Man Like You" and "Sweet Romance" are two of the highlights on this album.Donna is an incredibly soulful singer and on these songs,she really shines.Her ballads are so underrated.Overall though,I think 'Once Upon A Time' is a quirky,uneven album that doesn't quite hold together as well as her other 70s albums.

Icicle said:

'I Remember Yesterday' is GREAT.It's my second favorite Donna Summer album (after 'Bad Girls).It's an interesting concept album,with each track representing a different time period...

"I Remember Yesterday"---a throwback to the 30s
"Love's Unkind"---a throwback to the 50s
"Back In Love Again"---an obvious ode to the Supremes,this track takes you back to the 60s


The remaining songs ("Black Lady" and the excellent "Take Me") reflect the then-current disco sounds of the late 70s.The final track "I Feel Love" takes you into the future...this song is actually one of the first real techno songs...very groundbreaking in 1977.It paved the way for alot of the electro/synth stuff that prevailed in the 80s.


some interesting trivia about this album: the first single was the ballad "Can't We Just Sit Down (And Talk It Over)".Casablanca chose this song because they were trying to show her diversity....to show the world that she was more than just a sex-obessed disco diva However,this song flopped.Radio DJs flipped it over and played the edgy B-side "I Feel Love" instead.The rest is history.

Icicle said:

***'A Love Trilogy',released in early 1976,is a good album.It's not great,but it's decent.The highlight is her stunning remake of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic"....Donna takes this song and makes it her own!! Another superb track is "Come With Me",a lovely disco number that could have (and should have) been a single.It's sultry and sexy with a lush arrangement.

***'Four Seasons Of Love',released in late 1976,is one of my favorites.It's another concept album...the entire album takes you through an entire year of a romantic affair,with each song representing a different season.The first single "Spring Affair" is breezy and mesmerizing,as is the ballad "Winter Melody".


One complaint about these albums: Donna's vocals are weak throughout.They (Casablanca Records and the producers) were trying to position her as the ultimate "disco sex symbol",so they don't really take advantage of her powerful voice.On these albums,she isn't really singing,just cooing and whispering (kinda like what Janet does these days,lol).It would be a few more years before the public would hear what Donna was really capable of.

GREAT reviews SoulAlive. I`m familiar with many of the songs you mentioned, from various compilations. "Spring affair" is definitely a standout track

If she ever release a new album, i really hope it`s a collection of love songs...

One of my favorite Summer songs is "Friends unknown", you like that one?

Icicle said:

"Friends Unknown" is a beautiful song...one of the few gems on her otherwise disappointing 1991 album 'Mistaken Identity'.

As for her new album...she recently said that she wants it to be "world music",whatever that means,lol.She also said that she will start recording it soon.I'll believe it when I see it.

SoulAlive said:

"world music" Maybe we`ll get to hear Donna Summer joik...

I hope she does come out with a new album, but not a disco album...
"I got your love" was okay, but she`s already proven how versatile she is, so she should do something else.

Icicle said:

I think she should stick with dance music.That's what her fans seem to like the best.I really wish Donna had recorded "Believe" before Cher got to it.That's exactly the type of stuff that Donna should have been doing.
[Edited 1/10/07 5:21am]

VinnyM27 said:

You really think 'Once Upon A Time' is an amazing album?

I think the album sounds rushed and lazy.Her vocals on the first half of the record are weak.Songs like "Queen For A Day","If You Got It,Flaunt It" and the title track are simply dumb.She redeems herself on great songs like "Dance Into My Life" and "I Love You" (the only real hit on the album),but this is an album that I can't listen to all the way through.Bob Esty,who did the arrangements for the album,confirms that Donna didn't put alot of effort into this project."It was just another project for her to get through....just another obligation.At this point in her career,she didn't really have alot of control".I think the album would have worked better as a single album...remove the filler and the tired Cinderella concept and you got a decent 8-song album...

DONNA SUMMER 'SWEET ROMANCE'

Dance Into My Life
Rumour Has It
Say Something Nice
A Man Like You

Now I Need You
Working The Midnight Shift
Sweet Romance
I Love You


[Edited 1/11/07 4:47am]

Icicle said:

I think of those sets, most people will argue for "I Remember Yesterday" because it's diverse and includes "I Feel Love". I would say her best single album of that decade is "Four Seasons Of Love". Every season is awesome!

SoulAlive said:

I don't know. It's my favorite and if you like the quircks of it, and I do, you can really dig it. I think it's a very interesting album that is a lot more intelligent than it sounds on the surface.

VinnyM27 said:

I prefer the live versions of the 'Once Upon A Time' tracks that appear on her 1978 'Live and More' album.She totally brings new life to these songs and the arrangements are faster."Faster and Faster To Nowhere" and "Fairy Tale High" sound much more vibrant than the lacklsuter album versions.