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Donna Summer
Pop · 1982 · 9 tracks

Donna Summer

Donna Summer

A high-gloss pivot from disco to sophisticated R&B. Quincy Jones’ meticulous production meets Summer’s powerhouse vocals across gospel, rock, and jazz.

July 19, 1982 · MR (5)

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Donna Summer’s 1982 self-titled effort is the sound of an artist shedding her skin. Moving away from the electronic pulse of Giorgio Moroder, she stepped into the meticulously crafted world of Quincy Jones. The result is an album that feels expensive, expansive, and deeply versatile. It is a masterclass in early 80s studio craft, where every synth line is placed with surgical precision and every vocal layer is polished to a high sheen. This is not the sound of the dance floor alone: it is the sound of the studio as a cathedral.

Tracklist · 9 Tracks
01
Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)
4:18
02
Mystery of Love
4:25
03
The Woman in Me
3:55
04
State of Independence
5:50
05
Livin’ in America
4:41
06
Protection
3:35
07
(If It) Hurts Just a Little
3:52
08
Love Is Just a Breath Away
3:55
09
Lush Life
6:26
Moments Worth Listening For
The massive, multi-layered vocal explosion of the all-star choir during the climax of State of Independence
The sharp, rhythmic synth-funk precision and staccato vocal delivery on Love Is in Control
The unexpected grit and rock-and-roll snarl Summer adopts for the Springsteen-written Protection
The vulnerable, smoky jazz phrasing on the closing piano ballad Lush Life
Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Donna Summer sound next to the rest of Donna Summer's catalogue?

Empowering+2.2σ

Empowering saturates this record far more than the artist's norm.

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