Showing posts with label Donna Summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Donna Summer. Show all posts

Saturday 21 April 2012

State of independence (New bass mix) - Donna Summer

I've already featured the Jon & Vangelis version and the Donna Summer version of 'State of independence' on this blog, so here is the version by Boilerhouse. Who? Boilerhouse, who remixed Donna Summer's version in 1990. Not a lot of spectacular things happen in this version: it apparently features a 'new bass' (whatever that is).

The single was released to promote a compilation album imaginatively titled 'The best of Donna Summer' and did a reasonable, if not great, job: it peaked at number 45 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 5320
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 14, 2012
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'State of independence (new bass mix)' / 'State of independence (original version edit)'

Friday 2 September 2011

State of independence - Donna Summer

Composed by Vangelis and Jon Anderson and produced by Quicy Jones, 'State of independence', released in 1982 was a glorious piece of pop music. Layered with synthesizers and not too far removed from the aforementioned duo's own version, it was a massive hit for Donna Summer that year.

This limited edition 12" single features both the single edit and the full length track. Alas, no remixes. But the track was eventually remixed in 1996 - and that was a bit of a mixed blessing to say the least.

My collection: 12" single no. 188
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1993
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'State of independence (long version)' / 'State of independence (special edit)', 'Love is just a breath away'

Sunday 19 June 2011

Eyes - Donna Summer

'Eyes' is the third and final single from the album 'Cats without claws' by Donna Summer. Edited in length from the original version on the album, the single did not achieve chart success.

The song was mixed by the then very popular John ´Jellybean´ Benitez.

My collection: 7" single no. 5167
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Eyes' / 'It's not the way'

Thursday 16 June 2011

Cold love - Donna Summer

'Cold love' is the second single from the Donna Summer album The Wanderer. Although the song did not gain as much success as its predecessor, it did receive a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.

Vocally, this song contrasts with the just previous 'The Wanderer' single release - it is very reminiscent of her 1979 'Hot Stuff' - power belt and hard rock approach. Personally, I prefer the B-side, the very intriguing 'Grand illusion'.

My collection: 7" single no. 5166
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Cold love' / 'Grand illusion'

Thursday 14 April 2011

All systems go - Donna Summer

Donna Summer's 1987 album 'All systems go' spawned the hit single 'Dinner with Gershwin', but the other singles from the album were less successful. 'Only the fool survives', a duet with Mickey Thomas, only reached number 40 in Canada, and this single, the title track from the album, only charted in the UK, peaking at number 54.

'All systems go' - the song - is a repetitive affair, particularly at the end where it seems the lyricist simply ran out of ideas. Donna Summer repeats the title of the track ad nauseum.

My collection: 7" single no. 5070
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'All systems go' / 'Bad reputation'

Sunday 30 January 2011

Back in love again - Donna Summer

'Back in love again' was released in 1977 as a single from Donna Summer's album 'I remember yesterday'. The track combined a disco beat with an interesting Sixties sound. The song is actually a re-working of a track called 'Something's in the wind', originally a B-side to 'Denver dream', a single released by Donna Summer in 1974.

This single peaked at number 29 on the UK singles chart. Although announced as 'Der neue Superhit von Donna Summer' on this German sleeve, the single never made it into the German charts.

My collection: 7" single no. 5022
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Back in love again' / 'A man like you'

Friday 17 December 2010

Love's about to change my heart - Donna Summer

Donna Summer's collaboration with Stock, Aitken & Waterman was short-lived, i.e. it only lasted for one album (1989's 'Another place and time'), but there were three singles taken from the album.

'Love's about to change my heart' was the last of the three. It was a moderate hit, but it became a favourite amongst fans due to Summer's strong vocal performance and the fact that it had a slow beginning, reminiscent of several of Summer's disco hits of the 1970s, during which time she was the most successful female of that genre. The single reached number 20 on the UK singles chart, but did not chart in the Netherlands.

My collection: 7" single no. 4955
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 31, 2010
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Love's about to change my heart' / 'Love's about to change my heart (instrumental)'

Friday 8 October 2010

People, people - Donna Summer

'People, people' was released as a single from Donna Summer's 1983 album 'She works hard for the money'. The song was produced by Michael Omartian and written by Donna Summer, Michael Omartian and B. Sudano.

The single was not a chart success in any territory.

My collection: 7" single no. 4929
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, October 8, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'People, people' / 'Tokyo'

Sunday 9 May 2010

Dim all the lights - Donna Summer

'Dim all the lights' was taken from Donna Summer's album 'Bad girls' and produced by longtime collaborator Giorgio Moroder with Pete Bellotte. Just like the two previous singles from the album, 'Hot stuff' and 'Bad girls', this was another massive hit for her, reaching number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 29 in the UK singles chart. However, in the Netherlands, the single flopped.

Donna Summer herself wrote the song, without any co-writers. As such, 'Dim all the lights' was her only hit single that she wrote alone. She originally intended to give the song to Rod Stewart, but changed her mind at the last minute.

My collection: 7" single no. 4839
Found: Record fair, Den Haag, May 8, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Dim all the lights' / 'There will always be a you'

Sunday 11 April 2010

Spring affair - Donna Summer

'Spring affair' is a song by Donna Summer from her 1976 album 'Four seasons of love'. The song (which represents the 'spring' phase of the concept album) tells of the beginning of a new relationship. At the time of its release, Summer had already started to make her name as the leading female disco singer by releasing frankly sexual songs that were considerable in length. The album version of 'Spring affair' lasted over eight minutes.

For the single release, the track was edited down to less than four minutes. It earned her a minor hit in the USA and Canada, peaking at number 58 and number 62 respectively.

My collection: 7" single no. 4774
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Spring affair' / 'Winter melody'

Saturday 27 March 2010

This time I know it's for real - Donna Summer

With 'This time I know it's for real', Donna Summer presented herself as a Stock Aitken & Waterman protege for the first time. It was the first single to be taken from her 1989 album 'Another place and time', which was entirely written and produced by the infamous trio.

The single became Donna Summer's biggest hit since the Seventies, peaking at number 3 and number 7 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, the single managed to get to number 5.

My collection: 7" single no. 788
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, April 1, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'This time I know it's for real' / 'Whatever your heart desires'

Monday 22 March 2010

I don't wanna get hurt - Donna Summer

The album 'Another place and time' by Donna Summer, released in 1987, was entirely written and produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman. As a result, the songs sounded a lot like many other hits at the time.

'I don't wanna get hurt' especially sounded like a Kylie Minogue or Mel & Kim track. I wonder if many Donna Summer fans were thrilled with this. The song was remixed for its release as a single. It reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 30 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4668
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'I don't wanna get hurt' / 'I don't wanna get hurt (instrumental)'

Thursday 18 March 2010

Who do you think you're foolin' - Donna Summer

Donna Summer released her first album for Geffen Records in 1980. Entitled 'The wanderer', it was something of a departure as it sounded more like a rock/new wave album compared to her previous disco output.

With the single 'Who do you think you're foolin'?', Donna Summer attempted to reach the same audience as contemporaries like Blondie and Pat Benatar. Unfortunately, it wasn't successful, as the single only managed to reach number 40 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In other territories, the single flopped.

My collection: 7" single no. 4667
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Who do you think you're foolin'' / 'Running for cover'

Sunday 28 February 2010

There goes my baby - Donna Summer

'There goes my baby' was written by Ben E. King and the songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The Drifters recorded the song in 1959, with Ben E. King performing lead vocals.

Donna Summer recorded a cover version of this song in 1984, which was released as the first single from her album 'Cats without claws'. At this time Summer had a contract with Geffen Records who had refused to release much of her work, including the previous album which in the end was released by Mercury Records. After the success of that album, Geffen hired its producer, Michael Omartian to produce Summer's new album. This single reached number 31 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4575
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'There goes my baby' / 'Maybe it's over'

Saturday 27 February 2010

When love takes over you - Donna Summer

'When love takes over you' was the fourth single taken from Donna Summer's 1989 album 'Another place and time'. The album was produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. The track was remixed before its single release, but the single was only released in Europe and the UK.

Released in November 1989, 'When love takes over you' managed to reach the UK singles chart for one week only, at number 72.

My collection: 7" single no. 4602
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'When love takes over you' / 'Bad reputation'

Friday 26 February 2010

Unconditional love - Donna Summer

Although they were not credited, 'Unconditional love' by Donna Summer also features vocals by the British reggae act Musical Youth, who had a hit a few months before the release of this single with 'Pass the Dutchie'.

'Unconditional love' was released as the second single from the Donna Summer album 'She works hard for the money'. It reached number 43 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4571
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Unconditional love' / 'Woman'

Wednesday 17 February 2010

MacArthur park - Donna Summer

Written by Jimmy Webb, 'MacArthur park' was originally recorded by Richard Harris in 1968. Donna Summer recorded her version as part of the 'MacArthur Park Suite' on her 1978 album 'Live and more', clocking in at 8 minutes and 40 seconds.

A shorter single edit was made for a release on 7" vinyl. It became Donna Summer's first number 1 hit in the USA, also peaking at number 9 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 5 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 1661
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, June 6, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'MacArthur park' / 'Once upon a time'

Friday 12 February 2010

State of independence - Donna Summer

Donna Summer has been around for such a long time, that many of her singles are still wellknown. From her output in the Eighties, 'State of independence' is quite probably her best known song. The track was originally written and recorded by Jon Anderson & Vangelis on their 1981 album 'The friends of Mr. Cairo'.

Donna Summer recorded her version a year later on her 1982 self-titled album, with Quincy Jones producing. Her version of the song features an all-star choir including among others Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, James Ingram, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. Upon its original release, it became a number 1 hit in the Dutch Top 40, peaking at number 14 in the UK singles chart and number 41 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Remixes were released in 1990 and 1996.

My collection: 7" single no. 293
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'State of independence' / 'Love is just a breath away'

Friday 5 February 2010

I remember yesterday - Donna Summer

'I remember yesterday' is the title track from Donna Summer's 1977 album. The song uses a 1940s-influenced sound (with both melody and instruments) and combines this with the disco sound that Summer had become associated with.

When the track was released as a single, it became a hit in Europe. Upon its release as a single it became a hit in Europe. It would be one of Summer's first singles in a long time that did not feature the trademark sensual moans and groans that had become associated with her. It reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 14 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4542
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'I remember yesterday (part 1)' / 'I remember yesterday (part 2)'

Rumour has it - Donna Summer

'Rumour has it' was a single from Donna Summer's 1977 album 'Once upon a time', a concept album that tells the 'fairytale' story of a girl who goes from rags to riches. This song was included towards the end of the album, when the main character hears that someone is 'looking for a girl like me' and hopes that the man in question is someone she has liked for some time.

One of the verses in the album version was edited out for the 7" single. It reached number 22 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 19 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4539
Found: Any old time, Amsterdam, January 30, 2010
Cost: 0,1 euro
Tracks: 'Rumour has it' / 'Say something nice'

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Advertising