LP Review: All Systems Go
Released: 1987
LP Charts: #53 R&B, #122 pop
After the travesty that was 1984’s Cats Without Claws (F), Donna Summer went into hiding for a few years and ditched Michael Omartian as producer along the way. When she re-emerged in 1987 with All Systems Go, she brought in friend Harold Faltermeyer to produce. Faltermeyer had been a writer and arranger on Bad Girls and The Wanderer, so he had helped Summer considerably in the past, so why not see what magic they could concoct in ‘87?
This album is much better than her previous effort—not hard to do—but it still isn’t close to her best work. At least Faltermeyer knew to let Summer’s voice shine instead of having clunky ‘80s instruments drown her out. Don’t get me wrong, there are still clunky ‘80s instruments here. It was 1987. How could there not be?
The standout song on All Systems Go is “Dinner With Gershwin” (#10 R&B, #48 pop, # 13 dance) written and co-produced by Brenda Russell. Frankly, it’s great to hear Summer record an unabashed dance song for the first time in ages. Embrace the silliness! And this song is silly as she compares the difficulty of getting with a new lover to such impossible tasks as talking scientific theory with Marie Curie or flying with Amelia Earhart or having dinner with George Gershwin. Mind you all these people were long deceased by this song’s release.
The album also has three consecutive, really moody songs that generally find their marks: “Fascination”, “Voices Cryin’ Out”, and “Thinkin’ About My Baby”. The first and last of those songs are great for chillin’ out to. The middle track has a little more drive to it with interesting, operatic vocal arrangements.
I also appreciate the mellowness of the title track which still manages to rock.
Aside from those truly interesting tracks, this album has four underwhelming, but not embarrassing, filler all stacked up on Side One. Okay, only “Only the Fool Survives” proves embarrassing. Ole hokey duet with (Jefferson) Starship’s Mickey Thomas.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Heavier on the ballads than one would suspect from a Donna Summer album, this LP’s second half is still genuinely good while the first side drags things down a bit. All ‘n all, though, a huuuuge step up from the sordid Cats Without Claws. It still bombed on the charts, which was an undeserved fate.
Song Scores
All Systems Go: 6.5/10
Bad Reputation: 5/10
Love Shock: 5/10
Jeremy: 5/10
Only the Fool Survives: 4/10
Dinner With Gershwin: 7.5/10
Fascination: 7/10
Voices Cryin’ Out: 6.5/10
Thinkin’ About My Baby: 7/10