44 years ago today, Donna Summer's double LP for Geffen Records was on the calendar to be released, one year after her Platinum selling Geffen debut album 'The Wanderer' was released (peaking at #13). After exploring 'rock and new wave' with long-time producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte on 'The Wanderer' (to critical raves), she returned to her disco roots and ballads with this follow-up project with Moroder and Bellotte producing once again.
They returned to the studio in March, 1981, just a few months after giving birth to her second daughter Brooklyn. Geffen told the trio they had six months to deliver the project, as it had an October 5 release date attached to it. They promised him a double LP - something Summer had no problem selling to her fans, as her last three double LPs went to #1. Summer later admitted she was suffering from PPD after the birth of her child, and there were some days early on where she couldn't leave the house and head to the recording studio (she, along with Moroder and Bellotte wrote most of the 18 tracks). But things got better for her and recording continued through July. By early August, all 18 tracks were done, and it was time to edit and polish up the tracks for the final product. A name for the album hadn't been chosen yet, though Summer was leaning towards 'I'm A Rainbow', one of her favorite tracks on the album (though it wasn't considered for a 'single' release). The track 'Romeo' was the frontrunner as the first single, to be released in early September, 1981.
Around that time (early August), Geffen went to the studio to check on their progress. They played the 'rough cuts' of the tracks for him, and hated every one. He didn't think there was a single Top 10 hit on the whole album, and shut production down. He ended up shelving the album rather than release it in October as planned. He decided Summer needed a new sound for her next album, wanted her to return to 'rock and R&B' and stay away from disco. He fired Moroder and Bellotte, hired Quincy Jones and asked him to produce an album similar to what he did with Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' two years earlier. The album finally got released - in it's 'unfinished rough tracks' by Polygram Records in August, 1996. It was a hit with her loyal fans.
Summer went back to the studio with Jones in December 1981 and worked on the album through April, 1982 while pregnant with her third daughter Amanda. The result was 'Donna Summer', released in July,1982 just a few weeks before giving birth (Summer did little promotion before the release, blaming her difficult pregnancy). The album spun off one top 10 single, and then peaked at #20 on the Hot 200 Albums Chart, disappointing Geffen. Years later, Summer said she didn't have an enjoyable experience working with Jones, and she felt like she was just lending her vocals to a QJ album - not recording an album of her own.
For decades, there has been a 'war' among fans - whether the original 'I'm A Rainbow' is better than its replacement 'Donna Summer'. The results have been split - many love her return to disco, while others love the distinctive R&B Quincy sound on the other album instead.
What does the DL think ?