Donna Summer was born LaDonna Andre Gaines in December 1948, and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, among a religious family. Blogger "Gildog", of the "AllSoulAndFunk.Blogspot.com" site, takes up the story of her success. "Her first solo recording was 1971's 'Sally Go 'Round the Roses', but success would not come until 1974, when she met producers/songwriters Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte while working on a 'Three Dog Night' record.
"The three teamed up for the single 'The Hostage', which became a hit around western Europe, and Summer released her first album, 'Lady of the Night', in Europe only. In 1975, the trio recorded 'Love to Love You Baby', a 'disco-fied' re-imagining of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin's lush, heavy-breathing opus 'Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus'.
"Powered by Summer's graphic moans, 'Love to Love You Baby' became a massive hit in Europe, and drew the attention of 'Casablanca Records', which put the track out in America. It climbed to No. 2 on the singles charts, and became a dance-club sensation when Moroder remixed the track into a 17-minute, side-long epic on the LP of the same name. In the wake of 'Love to Love You Baby', albums (as opposed to just singles) became an important forum for Summer and her producers.
"The 1976 follow-up, 'Love Trilogy', contained another side-long suite in 'Try Me (I Know We Can Make It Work)', and demonstrated Moroder and Bellotte's growing sophistication as arrangers with its lush, sweeping strings. 'Four Seasons of Love', released later in the year, was a concept album with one track dedicated to each season, and 1977's 'I Remember Yesterday' featured a variety of genre exercises.
"Despite the album's title, it produced the most forward-looking single in Summer and Moroder's catalogue, the monumental 'I Feel Love' (featured in this Jam). Eschewing the strings and typical disco excess, 'I Feel Love' was the first major pop hit recorded with an entirely synthesized backing track; its lean, sleek arrangement and driving, hypnotic pulse laid the groundwork not only for countless Euro-dance imitators, but also for the 'techno' revolution of the '80s and '90s.
"It became Summer's second Top Ten hit in the US, and she followed it with 'Once Upon a Time', another concept album, this one retelling the story of Cinderella for the disco era." The records she sang on, including this Jam, and the image she projected through the lyrics, did not sit well with her deeply religious upbringing, and it is to be regretted that she suffered due to this for many years after her fame dimmed.
@leejohnson "One day in Berlin ... Eno came running in and said, "I have heard the sound of the future." ... he puts on "I Feel Love," by Donna Summer ... He said, "This is it, look no further. This single is going to change the sound of club music for the next fifteen years." Which was more or less right." - David Bowie
23 Comments (since 14 May 2015)
leejohnson
Donna Summer was born LaDonna Andre Gaines in December 1948, and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, among a religious family. Blogger "Gildog", of the "AllSoulAndFunk.Blogspot.com" site, takes up the story of her success. "Her first solo recording was 1971's 'Sally Go 'Round the Roses', but success would not come until 1974, when she met producers/songwriters Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte while working on a 'Three Dog Night' record.
leejohnson
"The three teamed up for the single 'The Hostage', which became a hit around western Europe, and Summer released her first album, 'Lady of the Night', in Europe only. In 1975, the trio recorded 'Love to Love You Baby', a 'disco-fied' re-imagining of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin's lush, heavy-breathing opus 'Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus'.
leejohnson
"Powered by Summer's graphic moans, 'Love to Love You Baby' became a massive hit in Europe, and drew the attention of 'Casablanca Records', which put the track out in America. It climbed to No. 2 on the singles charts, and became a dance-club sensation when Moroder remixed the track into a 17-minute, side-long epic on the LP of the same name. In the wake of 'Love to Love You Baby', albums (as opposed to just singles) became an important forum for Summer and her producers.
leejohnson
"The 1976 follow-up, 'Love Trilogy', contained another side-long suite in 'Try Me (I Know We Can Make It Work)', and demonstrated Moroder and Bellotte's growing sophistication as arrangers with its lush, sweeping strings. 'Four Seasons of Love', released later in the year, was a concept album with one track dedicated to each season, and 1977's 'I Remember Yesterday' featured a variety of genre exercises.
leejohnson
"Despite the album's title, it produced the most forward-looking single in Summer and Moroder's catalogue, the monumental 'I Feel Love' (featured in this Jam). Eschewing the strings and typical disco excess, 'I Feel Love' was the first major pop hit recorded with an entirely synthesized backing track; its lean, sleek arrangement and driving, hypnotic pulse laid the groundwork not only for countless Euro-dance imitators, but also for the 'techno' revolution of the '80s and '90s.
leejohnson
"It became Summer's second Top Ten hit in the US, and she followed it with 'Once Upon a Time', another concept album, this one retelling the story of Cinderella for the disco era." The records she sang on, including this Jam, and the image she projected through the lyrics, did not sit well with her deeply religious upbringing, and it is to be regretted that she suffered due to this for many years after her fame dimmed.
leejohnson
Rest In Peace, Donna Summer, who passed away on May 17th 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18108052
DavidAnderson
Hypnotic pulse is right......this sounded great in the clubs.......jam!
aHandfulOfRain
@leejohnson "One day in Berlin ... Eno came running in and said, "I have heard the sound of the future." ... he puts on "I Feel Love," by Donna Summer ... He said, "This is it, look no further. This single is going to change the sound of club music for the next fifteen years." Which was more or less right." - David Bowie
philipnareike
It is simply INCREDIBLE!!..An All-Time Great
philipnareike
@aHandfulOfRain I never knew about that, so thanks for letting me know :)
leejohnson
@aHandfulOfRain Nor did I. And, being somewhat of a Bowiephile, I perhaps should have. I do now! Thank you.
bingsy22
I do like this song...and was alive when it first came out :)
andypritchard
As influential a '70's sound as the Sex Pistols.
clementix
Magnificent!
WhoseClue
Fantastic jam and thanks for the insight into its background!
capnhollis
This tune is on my work playlist...though the list over 1000 songs...nice jam!
Catherine
Nice jam!
animalscones
I always feel like such a philistine 'cos I know the voice is great, but I love the synths more. Wouldn't work without 'em both though.
BeeBee
Adore this for the freedom it gave us to do something other than pogo on the Dancefloor!
BeeBee
@philipnareike get @natyblooming over here....it's another tune that that you are slapping the skins to!
comedyjam
Absolute first time classic in the synth genre.
natyblooming
@BeeBee YAY!!!!!