DONNA SUMMER (THE QUEEN OF DISCO)

After the massive success of “Love to love you baby”,  Donna Summer's production increased and several albums were released consecutively in the period between 1976 and 1978 That they catapulted her definitely as the queen of the disco sound just before the explosion of the genre in 1977 with “Saturday Night Fever”. Donna Summer was also the first artist to release four consecutive double LPs, three of which reached No. 1 in the United States. Let's make a brief review of some of the most significant songs of this time. 

SPRING AFFAIR

"Spring Affair" is a vibrant track featured on Donna Summer's 1976 album “Four Seasons of Love”. As the opening song of the album, it embodies the essence of the spring phase within the album's conceptual framework, symbolizing the blossoming of a new romantic relationship, seamlessly blending dreamy, sexy, and slightly spaced-out elements into a captivating dancefloor-focused composition. Co-written by Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and Pete Bellotte, the song captures the excitement and vitality of newfound love.

Clocking in at over eight minutes, "Spring Affair" exudes an uptempo energy that sets the tone for the rest of the album. While the full version extends the musical journey, a shorter edit was prepared for its release as a single, making it more accessible to radio audiences.

The collaboration with Giorgio Moroder's house band, the Munich Machine, proves to be instrumental in crafting the track's mesmerizing groove, with its electric piano-led instrumentation. Summer's vocals add an extra layer of allure and sensuality to the song, complementing the dynamic instrumentation with her unmistakable voice. 

LOVE’S UNKIND

"Love's Unkind" is a 1977 song penned and produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, featuring lyrics and vocals by Donna Summer. The track was part of the Donna Summer album, “I Remember Yesterday”, which creatively melded modern disco beats with nostalgic sounds from previous decades. Initially released as a single in Europe in November 1977, "Love's Unkind" soared to number three in the UK and peaked at number 32 in the Netherlands.

While "Love's Unkind" was not issued as a single in the USA, it achieved success on the dance charts as part of the “I Remember Yesterday” album. During that era, entire albums could chart as one entry on specific charts, contributing to its prominence on the dance charts. The song's lyrics explore themes of high school crushes and love triangles.

I LOVE YOU

"I Love You" is a track featured on her 1977 sixth studio album, “Once Upon a Time”. The song attained a peak position of number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and reached number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, "I Love You" achieved chart success in Canada, Norway, and Spain, reaching positions 29, 10, and 24 respectively.

Originally part of the “Once Upon a Time” album, "I Love You" was edited for release as a single, adjusting its length for radio play. The album itself is a double LP concept album that narrates a modern-day Cinderella story, depicting a journey from rags to riches. Positioned toward the end of the album, "I Love You" encapsulates the moment when the main character encounters the object of her affection, and they reciprocate their love for each other. Described by Record World as a "swirling, melodic disco" track, "I Love You" embodies the romantic essence of the album's narrative, adding depth to the storyline and contributing to its thematic cohesion.

DOWN DEEP INSIDE

"Down Deep Inside" serves as the theme song for the 1977 film “The Deep”. Composed by British musician John Barry, the film's score received an additional layer of depth with the inclusion of lyrics by disco sensation Donna Summer. Released as a single, the track achieved success in various European countries, particularly the U.K., where it became a hit.

The soundtrack LP of the film offered listeners a variety of versions, including a slower tempo rendition of the song. An extended version of the original track was later featured on a CD edition of Donna Summer's 1978 album “Live and More”. "Down Deep Inside" earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

TRY ME, I KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT

"Try Me, I Know We Can Make It" is a dynamic disco track by Donna Summer, featured on her third studio album, “A Love Trilogy” (1976). Following the success of her breakthrough hit "Love to Love You Baby," which showcased an extended disco format, Summer continued the trend with this song, which exceeded eighteen minutes in length. The track's extended format allowed for immersive and evolving musical arrangements, a hallmark of disco music during the era.

While "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It" achieved modest chart success, peaking at number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number 35 on the R&B singles chart, its true impact was felt within the nightclub scene. The song soared to the top of the Dance Club Songs chart, becoming Summer's second number-one single in that category and maintaining its position for three weeks.

RUMOUR HAS IT

"Rumour Has It" released in 1978, is a captivating blend of disco, funk, rock, and electronica, making it an early example of cross-genre experimentation in pop music. The song was featured on Summer's album “Once Upon a Time”, a concept album that narrates a fairytale-like journey of a girl's transformation from poverty to prosperity. Positioned towards the album's conclusion, "Rumour Has It" depicts the main character's anticipation upon hearing that someone is seeking a girl like her, fostering hopes that the person in question is someone she has admired.

Despite achieving only moderate chart success, peaking at number 53 in the US, number 19 in the UK, and number 20 in the Netherlands, "Rumour Has It" remains a noteworthy piece in Summer's discography. “Once Upon a Time” stands out for its electronic suite on side 2, which left a significant impact on various musical movements, including punk rock and the emerging new wave scene of the 1980s.