30th Anniversary for Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park Suite"

[needlefingers]

This week marks the 30th Anniversary of Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park Suite" hitting Number 1 in the clubs (10/21/78 Billboard).

The song/suite is signifigant on different levels. For one, the song and album, "Live And More - Donna Summer", are her first chance of also hitting the top of both the Pop and Album charts in America. It is just the begining of many records she will set and/or break over the next two years.

On another note, her true voice begins to shine. While those of us in the clubs knew her vocal range, the masses only heard the wispy, head-voice of her pop hits such as "Love To Love You Baby", and "I Feel Love". That gospel and theatre trained vocal of Donna's gave this classic ballad, and everyone in hearing range, a real workout.

And speaking of the classic ballad, the choice of "MacArthur Park" is what I would consider, the most unlikely song to cover, let alone put to a dance beat. And yet it was pure genius. What was done 10 years earlier as a "trippy" hippy "over the top" and over exaggerated poem, performed by an actor was not exactly the type of remakes other disco acts were recording. Still, it was Number 1 then.

But Donna took someone else's signature song and made it her own. That's another difficult feat to perform.

It is a remarkable disco song. Her best? It just might be and you can argue either way. But it is also a fun and thrilling song that got her career really up and running.

Just for your information, she knocked "Instant Replay" (all cuts) off the top of the dance charts and reigns for 5 weeks. What topples her? "Le Freak/I Want Your Love/Chic Cheer" by Chic

DONNA SUMMER - MacArthur Park 2005 live Belgium

YouTube - DONNA SUMMER - MacArthur Park 2005 live Belgium

[Salsoul1975]

What is interesting about this is that "MacArthur Park" topped the disco charts only four weeks before it went to #1 on the pop chart. I suspect that it might have entered both charts simultaneously (September 9, 1978). That is odd considering that prior to this, it usually took months before a song that peaked on the disco charts peaked on the pop chart.

[markydefad]

What is interesting about this is that "MacArthur Park" topped the disco charts only four weeks before it went to #1 on the pop chart. I suspect that it might have entered both charts simultaneously (September 9, 1978). That is odd considering that prior to this, it usually took months before a song that peaked on the disco charts peaked on the pop chart.

Ah but Donna Summer is a POP STAR now after "Love To Love You Baby/I Feel Love/ Last Dance" .... so radio jumps on her record immediately instead of waiting for it to generate "heat" in the clubs and crossover. The same thing happened when Diana Ross released "Love Hangover" and the Bee Gee's released "You Should Be Dancing"--instant hits in the clubs and radio added them to their playlists within a week or so.

If you were an unknown artist like say, Vicki Sue Robinson, Andrea True Connection or the strangely named Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band---it took months for Pop or Soul radio to add you to their playlists.

After Love To Love You Baby peaked @ #2 on the Pop chart, Donna was in the spotlight, but considered more of a "novelty" act for that sex-laden, she's-so-naughty record. " Was she a porn star or a singer?" The subsequent singles from "A Love Trilogy" and "Four Seasons Of Love" were huge in the clubs but didn't make it much beyond the lower half of the Pop & Soul charts [this is from memory...so if one charted higher than 49, I apologize!] .... totally out of left-field hit "I Feel Love" brought Donna back to the radio and "Last Dance" established her as a new STAR, winning an Oscar even. That's my opinion..... most humble, always humble.

[needlefingers]

True, I did leave out "Last Dance".:icon_redface: And it does come before "MacArthur Park" by approx. 4 months. But it does not hit #1 on the Pop charts.

I'm not sure that she gets the Oscar for that song. Does it go to the songwriter(Paul Jabara) or do both(songwriter and performer) share?

I guess, marky, that you are saying "Last Dance" is her best? Ot that this is her true breakout song. I can see why. I see it for the anthem it was then, and even now. My own personal taste would put "MacArthur Park" over "Last Dance".

But I am reminded of your survivor thread where it came down to "I Feel Love" winning the top spot. I even said then that it probably should have been that way because "I Feel Love" changes disco.

[kdavid13]

Donna Summer has always been considered a pop star ever since she released Last Dance,McArthur Park and the hotter than hot Bad Girls album.

Bridging the gap between pop,soul,rock and disco...On my honor even features some country touches here & there.

I remember reading an interview with Rick James in Blues & Soul back in the summer of 1979.James was mentioning that his music was considered black music and that the rock edge in his music didn't help matters.It was still hard for him to chart on the "pop" charts. He went on to talk about his friend Suzi Lane who was dubbed a "disco artist" because he record was produced by Moroder & Bellotte and that her music didn't appear on the soul charts ; only the disco listings.

The interviewer brought up the name Donna Summer...and Rick said: "Donna Summer is no longer a disco artist - She's Crisco.She's oiled all the way to the top of the pop,soul and MOR charts. So in honor of Donna ; those charts should be called "popsco","soulsco" and "MORsco".

:icon_biggrin:

[markydefad]

True, I did leave out "Last Dance".:icon_redface: And it does come before "MacArthur Park" by approx. 4 months. But it does not hit #1 on the Pop charts.

I'm not sure that she gets the Oscar for that song. Does it go to the songwriter(Paul Jabara) or do both(songwriter and performer) share?

Paul Jabara got the Oscar for writing the song--but Donna performed it at the Oscars and won a Grammy for her vocal--Best R&B-Female.

I guess, marky, that you are saying "Last Dance" is her best? Ot that this is her true breakout song. I can see why. I see it for the anthem it was then, and even now. My own personal taste would put "MacArthur Park" over "Last Dance".

No, it's not my favorite but I think it's where she "broke-out" and got really HOT--Oscars/Grammys--a level of stardom she hadn't attained previously.

But I am reminded of your survivor thread where it came down to "I Feel Love" winning the top spot. I even said then that it probably should have been that way because "I Feel Love" changes disco.

Yeah, I think "I Feel Love" will be remembered as her most important record.... probably more Moroder's masterwork...a very prescient view into the future of dance music...

My fave Summer would be the "Once Upon A Time" LP....specifically sides 1 & 2. then 4...3 the least fave--but still very good.

[remicks]

And speaking of the classic ballad, the choice of "MacArthur Park" is what I would consider, the most unlikely song to cover, let alone put to a dance beat. And yet it was pure genius. What was done 10 years earlier as a "trippy" hippy "over the top" and over exaggerated poem, performed by an actor was not exactly the type of remakes other disco acts were recording. Still, it was Number 1 then.

True, kudos to the Summer camp for realizing this song would be a perfect vehicle for Donna's voice :icon_biggrin: ... but the credit for realizing MacArthur's potential as a disco song goes first to the Meco Monardo clan . :icon_cool:

Bridging the gap between pop,soul,rock and disco...On my honor even features some country touches here & there.

Emmylou Harris does a fine country flaved version of ON THE RADIO.

Couldn't find it
.... but I did come across this delightful performance of it by Donna :

Donna Summer performing ON THE RADIO


*****

[Salsoul1975]

The subsequent singles from "A Love Trilogy" and "Four Seasons Of Love" were huge in the clubs but didn't make it much beyond the lower half of the Pop & Soul charts [this is from memory...so if one charted higher than 49, I apologize!] .... totally out of left-field hit "I Feel Love" brought Donna back to the radio and "Last Dance" established her as a new STAR, winning an Oscar even. That's my opinion..... most humble, always humble.

The irony out of all of this is that after "Love To Love You Baby", Donna was more successful on the soul chart than she was on the pop chart. "Could It Be Magic" peaked at #52 Pop sometime in June 1976; "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It" only reached #80 Pop in July/August 1976, but reached #35 Soul; "Spring Affair" went to #47 Pop and #24 Soul; "Winter Melody" reached #43 Pop. I'm not sure of the positions soul-wise for CIBM and WM, but they probably charted higher than on the Hot 100. Donna was most likely considered a "black" artist until "I Feel Love" brought her back into the spotlight again. Then she hit another drought: "I Love You" went to #37 Pop in February, 1978 and "Rumour Has It" peaked at #53 in April/May 1978. Once "Last Dance" made her a superstar, she was more successful on the pop chart than she was on the soul chart.