| Released: July 19, 1982 (Geffen) Produced by: Quincy Jones Peak on the US Billboard 200: 20 |
| Charted singles: | Hot 100 | AC | R&B | Dance |
| Love is in Control | 10 | 4 | 3 | |
| State of Independence | 41 | 31 | ||
| The Woman in Me | 33 | 17 | 30 |
In late 1981, Geffen hired Quincy Jones to refresh Summer's career once the Queen of Disco no longer had a kingdom over which to reign. Jones, in turn, put together his usual all-star cast of studio musicians and top-notch songwriters to help him out. Check out just a few of these names:
David Foster, Rod Temperton, Steve Lukather, James Ingram, Bill Champlain, Ernie Watts, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Sembello, Jerry Hey, Jeff Pocaro (plus a lot of other names you'd recognize if you spent as much time as I did reading and re-reading liner notes as you played your LPs. And if you're reading this, you probably did.).This album had all the makings of a first rate West Coast album and somehow, it never quite gelled, almost as if they thought simply bringing together those musicians was enough to shape an album. There's a few good songs here, but it's definitely more a Quincy Jones album than a Donna Summer album. Still, I enjoy giving it a listen every now and then. No worries - Summer would bounce back nicely with her next album.
- Love is in Control (Finger on the Trigger): A great opening track that really gets in gear when you hear the vocoder and bass line kick in at the chorus. To the mix, add an Ernie Watts tenor solo + characteristic Jerry Hey horns = a song that gets me goin'.
- Mystery of Love: A duet with James Ingram, this song wouldn't have been out of place on Jones' album The Dude. The baroque keyboard lick gets tired after a while, but I enjoy the disco strings and synth solo.
- The Woman in Me: This one doesn't do much for me. Although Summer gives a strong performance, this song just doesn't have a memorable melody.
- State of Independence: Adding a psuedo Afro-Carribean feel over a droning synth turns me off. At least the sax solo and the "All-Star Choir" chanting nonsense lyrics make it interesting.
- Livin' in America: like the earlier Mystery of Love, this sounds like any other Quincy Jones song. I would have cut the choir and brought out a funky bass line, but that's just me.
- Protection: Imagine a typical Bruce Springsteen song sung by a woman over a disco hit-hat. Despite it being a decent song, it just doesn't work here.
- (If It) Hurts Just a Little: I like the groove on this one and the way Summers vocals are overdubbed. The funky, downward bass line, punchy horn section, and Michael Sembello guitar solo take it up a notch.
- Love is Just a Breath Away: Summer's voice shines on this nice filler track with a good chorus and bridge. Made even better by Steve Lukather's guitar work.
- Lush Life: Summer makes a valiant effort on the Billy Strayhorn standard, but her voice just isn't suited to this sort of song and the arrangement is lacking (this song doesn't need a backbeat). It's a head-shakin' shame because the song is sooooo good.
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Blog post #50
Mark, I think we both had similar feelings about this album. That grade sounds just about right to me. Here's my review - Martin's View: Donna Summer - Donna Summer.
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