Search - Donna Summer :: Bad Girls

Donna's Opus Magnum

Pieter | Johannesburg | 11/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This absolutely brilliant album gave Donna Summer at least four great hits, two of which occupied the No. 1 and 2 positions on the Billboard charts simultaneously for a couple of weeks in 1979 (Hot Stuff and the title track, both rock-influenced tracks with prominent electric guitar). But what's so truly excellent about it, is that there's no filler tracks here - every single one of these songs is tuneful and memorable. Amongst the lesser known classics, my favourites include the tender ballads On My Honor, All Through The Night and My Baby Understands that have Donna moving successfully into torch-song territory, and the soaring disco numbers Our Love, Journey To the Center Of Your Heart and the addictive Lucky - this last being one of her most powerful songs of all time which should have been released as a single way back. It must also be mentioned that this album gave Summer credibility amongst the rock crowd (Disco was much despised when this album was released) but I also loved her earlier stuff, especially the other concept album Once Upon A Time. Bad Girls has only improved with time and serves as an excellent showcase for Donna's songwriting and vocal skills as well as Giorgio Moroder's genius as producer."

Disco Diva struts her "Hot Stuff"

yokoboy@hotmail.com | Northern California, USA | 07/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now this is THE quintessential Donna Summer album! This is where Donna showed that she not only knew how to heat up the dance floor, but she could just as sure rock the house (and the charts) as well.From its initial single "Hot Stuff", you knew you were in for something a little different from her prior offerings, and by golly, it worked! But besides showing that Donna could stand her ground on the rock scene as well as the discos and nightclubs, it also showcased Donna as a first class balladeer with songs like the beautiful "On My Honor", and the plaintive "All Through The Night". Of course as anyone knows, she just wouldn't be Donna if she didn't make you feel good (isn't that what it's all about anyway! )The success of this album not only lies in the success of the hit singles ("Hot Stuff", "Bad Girls", "Dim All The Lights", "Walk Away", "Our Love") but also in it's seamless effort to keep the party going (a concept which was adoped again by greatest hits package "On The Radio"), flowing one song straight into the next. Of the album tracks, the most noteworthy lie in the form of the pure disco stylings of "Lucky" and "Love Will Always Find You" and the electronic glory of "Sunset People" (which appeared as the b-side to the "Our Love" single).This album is a must, not just for people looking for great disco, but for anyone looking for great music! My recommendation over any other full-length original album in her career."

A trendsetting and important album

Tom | Toronto | 09/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's somewhat unfair that "Bad Girls" (1979) gets praised simply as one of the finest disco albums ever when in fact it's an album that transcends disco and incorporates everything from rock ("Hot Stuff"), funk ("Bad Girls"), country ("On My Honour") and even electronica ("Lucky").



"Bad Girls" was made in 1979 and it's important to note the timing because this album was the template that many female artists of the 80s, including Laura Branigan, Irene Cara, Taylor Dayne, and yes, even Whitney Houston and Madonna, would use to build their own albums: intercutting pop/dance/rock tracks with ballads.



With the exceptions of Whitney and Madonna (and later Mariah Carey and Celine Dion), nobody could do it better than Donna. From the strong writing to the superb vocals, "Bad Girls" showcases Donna at her peak. Although up to this point Donna was well-known for her disco music, this album allowed her to break out into the pop/rock arena. Particularly "Hot Stuff" showed a grittier Donna, but unfortunately Donna never truly embraced rock and roll (or it did not embrace her) which is too bad because later tracks like "Cold Love" proved she could really rock.



There are disco-type tracks on this album but it never really feels like a "disco" album. It is entirely enjoyable on its own terms, and it set the stage for the 80s, a feat Donna and her producers rarely get credit for. Enjoy!"