Donna Summer's "I'm A Rainbow" album

[nrgbeat]

I was listening to this cd the other day and wasn't really impressed. A lot of the songs had a harder edge than her earlier stuff.

This wasn't released commercially until a few years ago, but I read that bootleg copies existed back in the day.

Any opinions on this album?

[BrunoRepublic]

It didn't do much for me...

[FrontPage22]

"Romeo" is one of the few cuts from the 80's period I can tolerate from Donna. It was due for inclusion on "I'm A Rainbow"...but made it to "Flashdance" instead.

[NickNack]

I tried on different occasions pulling this CD out and listening to it thinking, just keep an open mind and give it a chance. Didn't work --- I really don't like it.

[markydefad]

I rather liked it. :oops:

Donna's version of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" was a hot bootleg at Troc in the early 1980's. DJs would tease that they were gonna play it several days before Saturday night...so the buzzzzz would begin. "He's gonna play "Don't Cry For Me Argentina!!!! We MUST go!!!"

I like "To Turn The Stone" best. I loved it on Frida's LP--never realized it was an unreleased Donna cut. :roll:

The punky/rockish "Romeo" & "Highway Runner" were fun--both released on soundtracks--"Flashdance" & "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".

I'll have to pull it out again---I'd step out on a limb and say anything Donna did with Giorgio was better than what she did without him--except for the Quincy LP. :P

[keefelc]

I rather liked it. :oops:

Donna's version of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" was a hot bootleg at Troc in the early 1980's. DJs would tease that they were gonna play it several days before Saturday night...so the buzzzzz would begin. "He's gonna play "Don't Cry For Me Argentina!!!! We MUST go!!!"

Jeez Mark, don't you forget anything??! :D
I completely forgot about that! We did do that at Aloha, didn't we? I do remember I was able to get Michael Neuman to dupe his reel to reel of cuts from the "I'm A Rainbow" bootleg for me, which included "Don't Cry For Me...". That made me very happy!

I thought the "I'm A Rainbow" album wasn't bad. Not her best, but there were several highlights. The Quincy produced album was also very nice, as was her sessions with the Stock Aiken Waterman!

[NickNack]

Refresh my memory (my dogs are in the way and I can't get to the CD):

The version of "Don't Cry..." on this CD, is it slow or is it that dance version digitized up to the point she sounds like a chipmunk? :roll:

[markydefad]

Donna's "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" is slow. They played this around closing time.

BUT, since it was unavailable to the mere "punter"...we coveted it.

[NickNack]

Donna's "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" is slow. They played this around closing time.

BUT, since it was unavailable to the mere "punter"...we coveted it.

Well at least you wanted the good version. That dance version is kind of sad. Sounds like she's 'trilling', the way female singers used to do in the early 1900's.

[EricHG23]

Apparantly one side of the album was originally going to be mixed together like DOnna's old album. I've heard the side was the more synth heavy side and woulda contained Melanie etc. Coulda been great.

I love the album. It's not a masterpiece, but it's a great progression overall from the New Wave style of Wanderer, and was ahead of its time in 1981 IMHO. Many fans think Donna's career wouldn't have slumped as much if this hd been rleeased.

E

[Cmonnow!!]

The tracks on one side segued together huh? Would've made a lot of difference! In my opinion I feel that this was not a concept album as were Donna's others which is a shame. To me it's a mish-mash of tracks recorded from several sessions without any continuity. I can listen to 50% of the album and enjoy it. As Donna was distancing herself away from the 'disco' sound, 'Rainbow' should have had a far more rock edge to it. Another Springsteen track like 'cover me' (which apparently was the first choice before 'protection') would have been great.
Yes, the album was an experiment which unfortunately wasn't upto Donna's usual standards. I'm glad it was released eventually as there are several great songs on there!! eg. 'Romeo;' 'Melanie;' 'A runner with the pack; & 'leave me alone'

[EricHG23]

Runenr with a Pack and Melanie were two of the songs set for the 4 song "medley" but I forget the other two-0-it was the more synth sounding ones though.

While I seem to liek the album much mroe than you (overall I much prefer it to Donan Summer-Quincy Jones) I agree with you to an extent. However it's hard to judge the album as apparantly what we got wasn't completelyc ompleted

E

[Cmonnow!!]

Thanks for that Eric! I am amazed how (throughout Donna's career) she doesn't appear to have had much control of her released music. Obviously, since she became born again (I'm not saying this is bad!) her music has not been a priority in her life. The last 4 years have been very quiet indeed. As a devoted fan of Donna's I am somewhat frustrated at the lack of product from her. 'You're so beautiful' hasn't been released officially and her 'Ordinary girl' set is nowhere to be seen. I know there are problems with the show etc. but why hasn't it been released? Why hasn't anything else been put out? The odd single/album track here and there says a lot about her interest in the business. There are record companies out there who would snap her up. Her heart ain't in it!!It's a big shame!!! I miss her terribly!!!!! Come back Donna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BrunoRepublic]

Thanks for that Eric! I am amazed how (throughout Donna's career) she doesn't appear to have had much control of her released music.

Like most performers and artists...

Obviously, since she became born again (I'm not saying this is bad!) her music has not been a priority in her life.

It may well be even more of a priority -- just the music she wants to do is not a priority for any major label.

Why hasn't anything else been put out? The odd single/album track here and there says a lot about her interest in the business.

I think the lack of interest from the music business, as well as the general public, might have a fair bit to do with that as well.

There are record companies out there who would snap her up.

Most labels are hurting badly these days and shedding less-successful acts left right and center. Donna hasn't been a major force in the music industry since the 80s. Most people today have no idea who she is or was, unless they frequent retro parties -- and even then, it's usually just "This Time I Know It's For Real" that gets played.

[Cmonnow!!]

1. Why does it have to be a major label? There are plenty of others. Sony/Epic plugged her 'Live & more, encore' album + 'I will go with you' but they could have released another album or another single/e.p. When I say another album I mean of completely new material. Did they seriously think that a 'greatest hits - live' album would sell millions?

2. Obviously as Donna hasn't been in the charts regularly for so many years she needs to get herself known to a younger audience and to reaquaint herself with her old fans.

Most record labels are suffering these days because the material they are releasing is dross! Charging $5-$8 for a CD5 with 2-5 tracks on it is a rip off. A remix version of a CD5 is a rip off as well as most of the remixes are, again dross!

'You're so beautiful' is an amazing song and as always, Donna's voice is fantastic. An album of similar material would sell better than her last outing. Obviously her record co. (and Donna) need to get behind it and push it very hard. I know there is a stigma with the radio stations who will not play her material in The U.S. In Europe she is still huge but the public think (rightly so) that she has retired. Maybe she should release any new material in Europe first and work over there to sell it, then release it in The U.S.

[BrunoRepublic]

1. Why does it have to be a major label? There are plenty of others.

In North America, if it's not on a major label, it might as well not be released at all. It won't be on the radio. It won't be in the shops. Indie stuff here has near-zero distribution.

Sony/Epic plugged her 'Live & more, encore' album + 'I will go with you' but they could have released another album or another single/e.p. When I say another album I mean of completely new material. Did they seriously think that a 'greatest hits - live' album would sell millions?

Apparently.

2. Obviously as Donna hasn't been in the charts regularly for so many years she needs to get herself known to a younger audience and to reaquaint herself with her old fans.

Which will be a very uphill battle, since younger audiences are usually more interested in new and upcoming performers, and most of her old fans have stopped buying music. (Actually most younger people have stopped buying music too, but that's another issue).

"I Will Go On With You" was a modest success, but it was not the career-rejuvenating "Believe" cross-over hit that they had hoped for.

Most record labels are suffering these days because the material they are releasing is dross!

Totally agree with you there. :) But historically, dross has often sold in large quantity...

Charging $5-$8 for a CD5 with 2-5 tracks on it is a rip off.

We don't even get those over here; singles are basically extinct (actually, I think "I Will Go On With You" was the last one I bought). Usually, if you like one song, you must fork out $15 for the entire album.

A remix version of a CD5 is a rip off as well as most of the remixes are, again dross!

Agree with you there again...

I know there is a stigma with the radio stations who will not play her material in The U.S.

It's not just her; radio in North America has become so hopelessly corporate and rigidly formated that... never mind, that's another rant.

In Europe she is still huge but the public think (rightly so) that she has retired. Maybe she should release any new material in Europe first and work over there to sell it, then release it in The U.S.

Well, isn't that what she's done all along for most of the last 35 years?

[Cmonnow!!]

Hi Graham, I can see this is one of those topics that we could talk about for hours! I wish we were talking face to face on this one.

Donna's first 5 albums (I think) were first released in Europe plus 'Another place and time.' (And the CD5 'Carry on.') Everything else was heard in The U.S first.

You say that 'her old fans & most younger people have stopped buying music.' In The U.K CD sales are actually up!! I don't know about the rest of Europe.

Graham, what do YOU suggest Donna/record co. does to get to the top again?

[BrunoRepublic]

Donna's first 5 albums (I think) were first released in Europe plus 'Another place and time.' (And the CD5 'Carry on.') Everything else was heard in The U.S first.

Everything prior to "Love To Love You Baby" was Europe first (and only, I think), which is basically the "Lady Of The Night" LP plus a slew of obscure singles.

Technically, since her 70s output was recorded in Europe, it would've been "heard" first there :) -- not sure if it was technically released in Europe or USA first, but it would've been around the same time.

Did "Carry On" even get a US release?

You say that 'her old fans & most younger people have stopped buying music.' In The U.K CD sales are actually up!!

They're "steady" now. The UK is bucking a worldwide trend in this regard. Sales of singles are way down though.

Graham, what do YOU suggest Donna/record co. does to get to the top again?

I don't know, because I don't know if it can be done at all.

First of all, the current situation in the music/media business makes it all but impossible for anyone who doesn't fit the format have any success.

Second, and more importantly, the music industry is and always has been about the young. Young people want to see and hear things that they can relate to, that are new, exciting, and different (or at least appear to be). When you were 16, how many 50+ year-old performers did you listen to? And most older fans aren't interested in hearing any new material, no matter how good it may be -- they just want "No More Tears" or "Bad Girls" again.

[EricHG23]

Carry On did get a US release int he early 90s--I have the single, on the small dance label InterHit records, with mixes by Chris Cox who parlty ran the label (he's now half of Thunderpuss).

You're So Beautiful actually is a mix of a song that was recorded for the album Sony promised us after VH1 Live and More Encore. Read some of the DOnna boards--this is why fans are mad. She had a full album she'd been recording for over 2 years largely collaborating with Linda Perry (Pink's stuff, Christina Aguilera's ballad Beautiful), Tony Moran (who did Beautiful) and Metro (which I think is a perfect combo even if it'll bring up Cher comparisons). She had over 20 tracks and was just whittlign them down when Sony dropped her last Spring (they dropped a lot of names--including to my surprise Will Smith).

Apparantly she had been picked up by tommy Mottola so there's some hope that now that he's spearheading a "new" casablanca records that he'll pick her and her album up for that but who knows. I suspect the album is too expensive for anys maller dance label liek Tommy Boy.

If I was Donna I'd be annoyed too--this is at least her third album to be shelved. I *really* hope we get to hear this material sooner than later.

Oh she has yet another Greatest Hits comign out at the end of the month called Journey--the catch? It has *two* brand new songs produced by Moroder

E

[Sami M]

Nice thread here :D

I too got the I'm Rainbow album on cd as soon as I could. It was a small dissappointment. Especially when IMO the strongest track Romeo had already been published over a decade before. I always loved it though.

Good to hear that it was probably ment to be a mix of one record side. Guess it would have been in the same manner as Amii Stewart's record by Moroder at about the same time (can't remember the name now). The a-side of it is quite good, the b-side is not Giorgio.

Yeah, it's a real pitty Donna isn't around anymore. But on the other hand e.g. Jocelyn Brown is quite active and has provided few quite succesfull club hits in last years. Could it be that Donna keeps her price and value too high? Bad managament? It's not very wise becouse I have no doubts that with a good song she could score a major hit. After all she is amongst the few disco artists people know. How many youngsters know Jocelyn Brown?

[keefelc]

This is a little off topic, but I just read that Donna will be the guest performer at Bette Midler's annual "Hulaween" Benefit in NYC. For those of you that aren't familiar with Hulaween, it's an annual event to raise money for the New York Restoration Project which Bette is heavily involved.

Hmmmm... a chance for Bette and Donna to perform together? Why not? Bette duets with Linda Ronstadt on her upcoming "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook". They are singing "Sisters" together, which perked up Marky's ears when I mentioned to him!

Anyway, could this be the start of Donna reemergence in the musical world???