LP Review: Donna Summer
Released: 1982
LP Charts: #6 R&B, #20 pop
In most regards, I despise this album. But in one regard, I am glad I listened to it because it helped me pinpoint what always made Donna Summer compelling to my simple brain. Her music was usually adventurous. Whether the song was good or bad, fast or slow, there was always something thrilling in her music and vocal delivery.
There is veeeeeery little on Donna Summer that is thrilling. Not Donna Summer’s fault. Blame David Geffen and Quincy Jones.
This album gets every unnecessary Q fixin’ in Geffen’s quest to have Summer score platinum. Need James Ingram howling for no real reason? He’s got you on “Mystery of Love”. Want some tacky horns blaring loudly? Never fear there’s “(If It) Hurts Just A Little”.
Need an all-star choir that amazingly adds absolutely nothing? “State of Independence” has that.
In fact, I blame “State of Independence” (#31 R&B, #41 pop, #14 UK) for laying the groundwork for the insipid “We Are the World” (produced by Quincy Jones remember) just a couple years later. The song itself is harmlessly dumb. It was originally by Vangelis and former Yes frontman Jon Anderson, so it has some really weird lyrics and synthesizer work. But in the end? Eh.
Anyways, the video chronicling all the stars coming to record their needless vocals is truly ridiculous. Just Quincy Jones flexing his star power by calling in all his friends from Michael Jackson to Lionel Richie to Michael McDonald to sing gibberish for Donna Summer. Again, you can see the “We Are the World” vibes shining through.
Of the nine songs here, only “Love Is In Control (Finger on the Trigger)” (#4 R&B, #10 pop, #3 disco) sparks any true excitement. It was co-written by Rod Temperton, who rarely missed on making a dance jam.
“The Woman In Me” (#30 R&B, #31 pop, #17 Adult Contemporary) has a gloomy aura. Second-best song on the album, which isn’t a hard achievement, admittedly. “Livin’ In America” has a corny children’s choir that ruins an otherwise pretty good groove.
Bruce Springsteen stops by and delivers “Protection” replete with his guitar work. Too bad the song sucks. “Love Is Just A Breath Away” and “Lush Life” are perfectly mundane early ‘80s pop.
ALBUM GRADE: C-
This is an incredibly frustrating album because nothing sounds tailored for Donna Summer. She’s shoehorned into a bunch of songs that she makes the most of all things considered, but they just aren’t her style. Tellingly, she co-wrote just two of the nine songs here. That’s well below her average input on an album.
Despite its structural weaknesses, the album does hold up okay on the first side. That side is probably a C+ in quality. Side Two is a total disaster and warrants a solid D.
Song Scores
Love Is In Control (Finger on the Trigger): 7/10
Mystery of Love: 6/10
The Woman In Me: 6.5/10
State of Independence: 6/10
Livin’ in America: 6/10
Protection: 3/10
(If It) Hurts Just A Little: 5/10
Love Is Just A Breath Away: 5/10
Lush Life: 4/10