Finally,a Donna Summer collection that includes not only the hits,but also many rarities and hard-to-find songs! This 3-CD box set is titled 'The Ultimate Collection' and it is being released in Holland (you can order it from Amazon as an import).It spans the years 1974 to 1999.Here is the impressive tracklisting...


Donna Summer 'The Ultimate Collection' 3-CD box set (Universal Music Netherlands)


DISC 1---
"The Hostage" 4.15
"Lady Of The Night" 3.55
"Love To Love You Baby" 16.44
"Full Of Emptiness" 2.27
"Could It Be Magic" 5.12
"Try Me,I Know We Can Make It" 4.43
"Spring Affair" 4.00
"Winter Melody" 6.31
"I Feel Love" 3.11
"Down Deep Inside (theme from "The Deep")" 6.07
"I Remember Yesterday" 4.36
"Love's Unkind" 4.07
"Back In Love Again" 3.14
"I Love You" 4.42
"Rumour Has It" 4.56


DISC 2---
"Last Dance" 8.09
"MacArthur Park" 6.25
"Hot Stuff" 6.47
"Bad Girls" 4.56
"Dim All The Lights" 4.23
"Sunset People" 6.24
"On The Radio" 5.47
"The Wanderer" 3.45
"State Of Independence" 5.49
"Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)" 4.18
"The Woman In Me" 3.54
"She Works Hard For The Money" 5.18
"Dinner With Gershwin" 4.37
"This Time I Know It's For Real" 3.36
"Melody Of Love (Wanna Be Loved)" 4.14


DISC 3---
"Love To Love You Baby" (1978 version from the "Live and More" album) 3.29
"Last Dance" (1978 version from the "Live and More" album) 5.51
"Je' Taime Moi Non Plus" 15.47
"Heaven Knows" (version from the "On The Radio" album) 3.32
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" with Barbra Streisand 11.43
"Unconditional Love" 4.42
"State Of Independence (New Radio Millenium Mix)" 5.00
"I Feel Love (Masters At Work 86th St Mix)" 6.09
"I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiro)" 4.08


All of these songs have been digitally remastered,and many of these songs do not appear on other compilations.Notably,this set includes the full-length 17-minute version of "Love To Love You Baby",as well as the full 12" version of "Je Taime Moi Non Plus",which was only available on the 'Thank God It's Friday' soundtrack.Forgotten 80s singles like "The Woman In Me" and "Dinner With Gershwin" seldom appear on the many other Donna Summer hits compilations,so it's nice to see them here on this set.Another rare song is "Deep Down Inside",the 1977 theme song from the movie 'The Deep'.Disc 3 even includes a few remixes.

We Dutchies are clever !! aren't we ?

Fhunkin said:

indeed.I live in America,so I'm forced to buy this box set as an import.It's only $32.99 at Amazon,so that's not so bad.

In other Donna Summer news...last Tuesday,she released a great compilation CD called 'The Journey:The Very Best Of Donna Summer'.It includes all of her major hits,plus three new songs.Two of these songs ("That's The Way" and "I Will Live For Love") were produced by her old producer Giorgio Moroder;the other track is the underground dance hit "You're So Beautiful".The set includes a bonus disc of remixes,plus nice liner notes and photos.Tomorrow,she releases her long-awaited autobiography 'Ordinary Girl: The Journey'.

The box set sounds nice, but I don't think it's gonna give my copy of "On The Radio" has anything to worry about

The companion disc to the autobiography sounds quite nice - new recordings with Moroder?

why just go to 1999? Its almost 2004 She needs a new rep

U know, the first time I heard 'Dinner With Gershwin' as a teenager I placed a bet with someone that Prince had something to do with it--it had that feel to it.

I lost the bet.

Anxiety said:

Yes,the new songs with Giorgio are great."That's The Way" is the best Donna Summer song I've heard in years! It's a sexy,midtempo reggae-flavored pop song,and Donna has never sounded better.It even has a whispered rap part,where Donna says..."I wanna love you,love you like you know I'm Donna Summer"...lol...the other song "I Will Live For Love" was ostensibly written for a children's musical called "Dream-A-Lots".It starts off as a ballad,then turns into a high-energy dance track.It should do well in the clubs,and a nice remix is included on the bonus disc.

I wish Donna and Giorgio could just go into the studio and complete an entire album together.

DavidEye said:

I was waiting to hear what you had to say about the new hits CD. Here is kind of my review of the CD.

First off, nothing new when it comes to the hits except for "I Love You", which really never makes it on my comps and "I Will Go With You", which might be the new song that is tacked on the end of most of her hits CDs from now on (for years it was "This Time I Know It's For Real"). And I have to say that while "Love To Love You Baby" is great, I always liked the "On the Radio" verison the best (if you can't get the full 16+ min verison that is). Other than that, you know these songs. All single edits.

"That's The Way It Is" is a cute sexy little pop song with a breezy beat. Her best in years? Maybe if you really didn't like "Love Is the Healer" or "I Will Go With You", which I did very much. Certainty better than all those songs that appear on Christian music compilations and the modestly good but over the top sounding "Pokemon" power ballad "The Power Of One", which had Ok remixes.

"Dreams A Lot (I Will Live For Love" is proof positive that Giorgio sound is very dated, as if "Carry On" wasn't enough evidence. The production is terrible which is crazy considering that "That's The Way" is very well producded. I gave the 12" remix a shot and it isn't bad. It just feels like cliche dance bombast with kind of weak lyrics but a good arrangement. It might take a while to warm up to this one.

The new samsh of the set? "You're So Beautiful" (albeit in 12" form). The only problem is that this kind of feels more like the producer's song with guest Donna Summer. I think Tony Moran was the producer and talked about fixing it up but in fact while the music is great her vocals are buried a bit. Still, I would rather producers like him rather than Giorgio work with her in the future. I think if the bring up the vocals a bit more along with putting more of her song in there, it would work even better. Also, not the most original writing but catchy as hell (if you hear this one, you'll forget all about the other "Beautiful" song). That said, this is still the hit of the CD! They should have had a regular version of the song on the first CD, considering it is kind of a hit (or getting there). Hopefully there will be a single release for it with a normal.

I can't wait for the biography and while the Dutch set looks good, I'm going to run out of money! She has to release this all at once (I highly doubt the Dutch set was her idea at all though...might be their verison of "The Journey"? The best part is, I'll buy that Dutch hits collection and it has NO new songs. A shame but Donna works hard for our money.

"I'm So Beautiful" is a great song,but I agree with you,I wish they had included the original version.The remix is cool,but her vocals tend to get buried in it.Plus,many of these type of remixes (geared to the clubs) all sound alike to me.But,it's still a good song.Catchy chorus.


Yes,you must get that Dutch collection.When I saw the tracklist,I nearly fainted.It includes songs that have never appeared on any other Donna Summer compilations.You get her earliest singles "The Hostage" and "Lady Of The Night",songs that most Americans aren't even aware of...lol...and you get her 1976 single "Winter Melody",a very underrated ballad that was a moderate R&B hit.And to the best of my knowledge,this set marks the first time that "Je Taime Moi Non Plus" has ever appeared anywhere else besides the 'TGIF' soundtrack.


Hopefully,all of these projects (the autobiography,the new songs with Giorgio,the box set,etc) will spark interest in Donna again,resulting in a new album next year.

jthad1129 said:

Yeah,I see what you mean.As a fan,it's frustrating to know that Donna has a whole album completed and ready to go.It's called 'Angel' and was recorded from 2000-2002...


Donna Summer 'Angel' CD (unreleased)

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


But all may not be lost."I probably have about forty or fifty new songs that I've worked on",Summer said last month."I was with Sony for a couple of years but I felt I was floundering over there...but I kept writing anyway.Right now,I'm talking to a few companies including UMG and I'm hoping we can work something out.I don't want to close the door with possible record deals".

DavidEye said:

And it is worth noting that all those searching for "Dinner With Gershwin", this is one of the sets that has it (and is probably worth the hefty price compared to the single disc imports out there).

Did you get her autobiography yet? I'm gonna get mine on October 17,when I will have it personally signed by her in L.A. (she's doing a book signing).Can't wait to read it!

DavidEye said:

Got it and have read a few pages. At first I thought this isn't going to be great but then read that this second little story after the intro. AWow! It's looks quite good but before I read it I have to finish something else (not to mention read books for school ). The one thing I did notice (when skimming it) is that she doesn't get much into her music. In other words, from what I say, it wasn't a "This album was about this..." kind of book. She doesn't mention "Once Upon A Time..." from what I read! I don't know much about Donna as a person and really wanted a detailed book about her music. Hopefully if this one goes well she will do that. I noticed that there is a recent unauthtorized bio on her? Have you read it and is it more about her music?
[This message was edited Wed Oct 8 9:56:43 PDT 2003 by VinnyM27]

VinnyM27 said: I noticed that there is a recent unauthtorized bio on her? Have you read it and is it more about her music?
[/quote]



Yes,I have that book,it's called "Donna Summer:Her Life and Music",written by Josiah Howard.It talks a great deal about her music,analyzing each album.The segment about the 'Once Upon A Time' album is very interesting.

DavidEye said:

Yes,I have that book,it's called "Donna Summer:Her Life and Music",written by Josiah Howard.It talks a great deal about her music,analyzing each album.The segment about the 'Once Upon A Time' album is very interesting.[/quote]


Well that is the book I have to get then! Thanks.

I can't wait to get this.. I LOVE Donna

thankx 4 the info

"Love To Love You Baby"


[This message was edited Thu Oct 9 0:55:13 PDT 2003 by locoarts]