Remember The Elton John Disco Album?

[FranceJoliFan]

Is Bellotte without Moroder a good producer?

Hard to say because even Moroder sounds like he's recycling his tracks every now and then.

I think this cut, along with Bad Love by Cher, and even Cold Love by Donna herself, were retreads of Hot Stuff. Which wasn't a bad thing. So maybe they thought Elton would be a good match for rock-influenced disco. (During the part where he sings "Thunder!" it even sounds like a Paul Sabu production.)

But back to Pete Bellotte. I was so disappointed with his work with France Joli. The arrangements, the songs. But that was '83. And obviously inspired by Flashdance (especially Maniac.) Can't blame him for trying to be progressive. And I'll give him credit for co-writing Mercy.

[PierreConstantin]

But back to Pete Bellotte. I was so disappointed with his work with France Joli. The arrangements, the songs.

Me too. Her worst album

And I'll give him credit for co-writing Mercy.

Yes, a great song!

[FranceJoliFan]

MERCY
Yes, a great song!

I'm most familiar with Carol Jiani's version, which has a great arrangement.

But the Judy Cheeks version is just as good, and also produced by Bellotte:



I think it proves he can produce good stuff on his own. Although both this version of Mercy, and the Elton John song sound like tracks that could've appeared on the Bad Girls album. Do you think both these songs were first offered to Donna, and she turned them down?

[Chap2Power]

I'm most familiar with Carol Jiani's version, which has a great arrangement.

But the Judy Cheeks version is just as good, and also produced by Bellotte:



I think it proves he can produce good stuff on his own. Although both this version of Mercy, and the Elton John song sound like tracks that could've appeared on the Bad Girls album. Do you think both these songs were first offered to Donna, and she turned them down?

Judy's was the original, and I prefer it as well.

Pete DID produce Love To Love You Baby, and that wasn't too bad !

Vince

[PierreConstantin]

Judy Cheeks version is just as good, and also produced by Bellotte. I think it proves he can produce good stuff on his own. Although both this version of Mercy, and the Elton John song sound like tracks that could've appeared on the Bad Girls album. Do you think both these songs were first offered to Donna, and she turned them down?

"Mercy" may have been offered to Summer for "The wanderer" album.

Pete DID produce Love To Love You Baby, and that wasn't too bad !

Pete Bellotte is indeed credited as the only producer of "Lady of the night" and "Love to love you baby" but both albums are really Moroder/Bellotte productions and both are equally involved in it (according to the books written about it). On the 1977 GTO "Greatest hits", "Love to love you baby" is even "produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte". In the case of Donna Summer, the names of the producers on the sleeve aren't an indication we can rely at 100% on: see "Last dance", "My baby understands" and "No more tears".

[FranceJoliFan]

"Mercy" may have been offered to Summer for "The wanderer" album.

You're right. Mercy sounds closer to the Wanderer sound than Bad Girls.

One thing that's tricky about music producers is that some of them are the main creative force. But some of them are administrators who hire arrangers who do more of the creative work. Do you think Bellotte was more pencil pusher than musician?