Donna Summer - Im a Rainbow (18 tracks) +Album Reviews

How could Geffen have been so blind to not release this?!!

29-year old wallflower | West Lafayette, IN | 07/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not gonna lie about saying that Donna Summer is among my many favorite artists. Yes, her fanbase is mostly with the gay community, but so what? The music she makes is so darn infectious & beat-heavy, even your Grandma can feel the urge to get down. But unlike most artists who specialize in this kind of material, Donna has had more facets than met the eye. When she recorded I'M A RAINBOW in 1981, she had already changed her image with the more rock-influenced THE WANDERER (1980). The fact that she had also become a born-again Christian proved that her music could only get more interesting. But when I'M A RAINBOW was delivered to Geffen, they hated it & shelved the proposed double album. It would be the last time Donna worked with Giorgio Moroder, who, with Donna, had created the biggest anthems of the disco era. The album became one of the most famous unreleased records in music history, but in 1996, Mercury (Donna's label at the time) was generous enough to finally give the album the release it deserved. It's safe to say that for a fan of Donna's more dance-oriented material, I'M A RAINBOW turned me from casual to avid fan.Probably the reason why Geffen decided not to release the album was that, stylistically, it was all over the map. Disco had been declared dead (in name only, at least), but dance music was still in style. Aside from that, I'M A RAINBOW had experiments in rock, pop, R&B and Broadway that explored new depths into Donna's talents. For the traditional dance music fans, there was "Melanie", "Highway Runner" (reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder's 1980s work), "Back Where You Belong", "True Love Survives" (the lyrics are the most exotic Donna has ever sung) & "Leave Me Alone" (which could have fit in on THE WANDERER).Because Donna is such a whiz with dance tunes, whenever she releases a ballad as a single, it flops. That proves to be unfair as songs like the dramatic opener "I Believe [In You]" (a duet with Brooklyn Dreams member Joe Esposito), "You To Me", "Sweet Emotion", the title track (my personal favorite out of all the songs) & the sweeping closer "I Need Time" (which again proves Donna could sing more demanding lyrics when given the chance).However, the most eye-popping experiments on I'M A RAINBOW are the synth-heavy rocker "Highway Runner", "Runner With The Pack" (Donna just kills on these two songs), EVITA's "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" (this is probably where Madonna got her vocal lessons on this song), the haunting "To Turn The Stone" (again a lyrical masterpiece & later recorded by Frida of ABBA) & the funk-driven tribute to her daughter "Brooklyn". These songs, had they been released as singles, I'm sure would have dazzled Donna's fans as to the true range of her talents.Unfortunately, that was not to be (some songs like "Romeo" would get released in other forms, like on the FLASHDANCE soundtrack). When Geffen said no to I'M A RAINBOW, they paired Donna Summer with Quincy Jones for the self-titled 1982 album that was based on much more traditional R&B sounds. It kept her commercial stock high, no doubt about that, but the result was just a little too mechanical. Since then, Donna hasn't recorded with Giorgio Moroder in over 2 decades & it would be so great to have them pair up again. Donna's upcoming ANGEL album on Epic Records is due out early next year, so afterwards maybe the two can gave each other a call. Another masterpiece like I'M A RAINBOW could just come about. Until then, Donna's fans can rejoice in the lost masterpiece that is I'M A RAINBOW, enjoying the risk-taking music that's on it, as well as wrack their brains as to why such a great piece of work could be turned down as "uncommercial"."

MANY SHADES OF SUMMER...

Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 03/09/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Was the anticipation many fans had over this mysteriously vaulted (shelved) project worth the wait ? Sort of...Tracks written and produced by Summer,Bellotte, and Moroder, such as I Believe In You, You To Me, Sweet Emotion, and Back Where You Belong could've been easily written and produced by Quincy Jones. These ballads have a very similar Patti Austin/James Ingram flavor (circa The Dude era). Also, they would have fit in nicely with Summer's 1982 collaboration with Jones on her self-titled project.True Love Survives is a genuine Summer/Bellotte production slightly reminiscent of Heaven Knows from 1978; It's a classic disco-dance number for I'm A Rainbow.Leave Me Alone simply belts out traces of The Wanderer and Hot Stuff with the opening semi-Oriental sounding keyboard and guitar riffs.She even quotes in Leave Me Alone, "So, you think you're hot stuff !"--Maybe she was referencing, in a tongue-in-cheek way, to the actual Hot Stuff song.Melanie and Romeo are interchangeable new wave synth/dance tracks. One could have faded into the other and the listener would have never known which was which. People Talk is either a Flashdance sounding tune or a pre- She Works Hard for the Money outtake. These songs are too "formulaicly" polished; Yet they work. They're too commercially sounding; Yet, they deliver without sounding monotonous.The mysterious To Turn The Stone reveals a simple Celtic/bagpipe synth sound ( this song was later covered by ABBA's Frida in 1982 with a more convincing and natural Celtic arrangement). Stone is faintly reminiscent of another Giorgio Moroder tune that would be written a few years later for the Top Gun soundtrack in both sound and similar lyric style; Take My Breath Away.The crux of the album many waited for containing title track and Don't Cry for Me Argentina both deeply demonstrate Summer's emotional "acting" vocal abilities (very suitable for Broadway). The track Brooklyn (Donna's daughter, not the city) pays her daughter a tribute much like Mimi's song did back in '78. Except Brooklyn is a laid back funky R & B dance tune whereas Mimi's Song was a more sentimental orchestrated ballad.The sultry ballad I Need Time winds things down and brings Donna's long-locked vaulted (shelved) project to a smooth conclusion.Speaking of conclusion(s), was the wait and hype surrounding this enigmatic opus worth it for fans ? Yes and no... Yes,Donna again proved that her incredible vocal range could lend itself flawlessly to cover all the different styles of music on I'm A Rainbow (many vocal colors or shades).The album beautifully concludes and bids a gracious farewell to a part of her musical career phase of the disco, dance, and new wave pop rock genres in top form.I'm A Rainbow still has a certain freshness to it.The synthesizers and other instruments sounded up to date; Gone are the moog synth and wah-wah guitar for the traditionally overripe disco sound. Also, there is nothing raw or out of place in this project. Usually, when artists put out a "vault mystery" years later, critics and fans say, "YECHHH !No wonder it was never properly released."---Anyone remember the Black Album by Prince ? Yechh. But not Rainbow;It is truly the exception !However, those fans who expected a revelation or breaking into new territory of musical style would be disappointed; This was not the ticket. Rather, it was a closure of refinement for her disco/new wave era in top form ! Indeed, Donna was ahead of her time with much sophistication on I'm A Rainbow..."

Lost Gem!

Dino | London, UK | 08/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a brilliant album this is. Standouts include Brooklyn, People talk, I believe in you (duet with Joe Esposito of Brooklyn Dreams), Romeo, Leave me alone, and the title track."

What Could Have Been, Circa 1981

KRA | East End of LI | 07/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you who do not know the story behind this album

(lets just say what "Smile" was to the Beach Boys, this album was to Donna Summer), this was a double album produced with Donna's long time stable mates (Giorgio Moroder, and Pete Bellotte) and was intended to be more "dance" than the Wanderer album, yet still have a post-Disco rock edge to it.

For whatever reason, David Geffen decided not to release it (postponed was the offical press release), and instead the far more R & B flavored album, "Donna Summer" far too over produced by Quincy Jones, was recorded and released about 1 year later.

It was too bad that this album was never released back in the fall of'81, for although Rainbow is not as tight or focused as her 2 other double studio albums (Once Upon a Time, and the blockbuster album Bad Girls), there was plenty on this disk to have ridden the Pop & Dance Charts to the top. "Leave Me Alone" was due to be the first release and one listen will transport you back to the early 80's, just imagine this relationship anthem blasting from what would have been then an all too trendy Walkman. The euro-disco of Melanie, and the very 80's New Wave/Disco/Pop of; Romeo, Highway Runner, and A Runner With The Pack, all scream out 80's single material.

This release was also balanced with ballads; To Turn The Stone, I Need Time, and I'm A Rainbow, amoung the best. Don't Cry For Me Argentina would become a concert favorite despite this album being shelved, and the original studio track here comes the closest to capturing her live reading of the song.

I have often said that if David Geffen felt this album needed some more R & B flavor, he should have had Quincy produce a few tracks, then taken 4 of the original tracks out and replaced them with 4 Quincy Jones produced tracks. THAT could have been an awesome (5 star) album.

To me the Donna Summer album was a HUGE miss-step (I'll have a review posted shortly).

Hey David, the 80's just called, they want their album back!

"

Showing the many colors of Summer!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 08/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"`I'm a rainbow' was the follow up album to Donna Summer's experimental and critically acclaimed album `The wanderer'. It was produced by her longtime collaborators Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellote, and was to be released in 1981.

However, her then label boss David Geffen did not like it and got Donna to work with Quincy Jones on the superb R&B oriented `Donna Summer' album released in 1982.

Over the years, a few `Rainbow' tracks slipped out here and there; `Highway runner' in the movie `Fast times at Ridgemont high', `Don't cry for me Argentina' in her concerts, and `Romeo' in the movie `Flashdance' as well as a rocky, upbeat performance of it in concert.

`I'm a rainbow' sat in the fabled vaults until 1996 when it was released to the teeming fans. Was it worth the wait?

It's easy to spot where the whole `Flashdance' sound, as well as some 80s dance/rock hybrids got their inspiration from on listening to this CD.

The sound basically comprised lots of synthesizers, electronic effects and guitars, with Donna's vocals pushed to the fore. Experiments in pop, dance, R&B, , ballads, rock and Broadway. It does have a slightly unfinished/unpolished feel which to me adds to its allure.

`I believe in you' is an upbeat pop/R&B duet with Joe Esposito. Catchy dance tune.

`True love survives' is the only track with hints of her Casablanca disco days. A charming tender number in the vein of `Heaven knows'.

Then a couple of ballads; `You to me' and `Sweet emotion', both beautiful songs where Donna gets to stretch her chops between lower and upper registers. Great!

`Leave me alone' is a high octane rock tune in a similar vein to `Hot stuff' and even cheekily references this in the ending minute where she says `So you think you're hot stuff'. Racing guitars and Donna's frenetic delivery make for a winner.

Next is `Melanie', an upbeat new wave/dance number where Donna harmonizes in the verses with some unknown singer and with high vocal reaches in the chorus.

`Back where you belong' is a midtempo pop/R&B number.

The next track is one of my favourites. `People talk' is a new wave/dance number with deep bass synths, horns, a racing beat, and lyrics about not caring what people say about our love. Fantastic song!

`To turn the stone' is a haunting ballad with a celtic feel, complete with bagpipes, and very poetic lyrics. This song was covered by Frida of ABBA for her debut album in 1982.

Next is `Brooklyn', the ode to Donna's daughter born early in 1981. Another highlight. A brassy, funky R&B number where Donna welcomes her newborn to the world.

Title track `I'm a rainbow' is a ballad penned by Donna's husband. In it she sings about having many different colors or sides, like a rainbow. A plea not to be pigeon holed.

`Walk on (keep on moving' is a reggae-ish new wave song encouraging one to move on even when things look down and tough. Very girl group sounding.

`Don't cry for me Argentina' is the popular Broadway tune where Donna belts out and all other versions of the song pale in comparison.

Next comes the pulsing new wave/dance of `A runner with the pack' featuring half spoken lyrics in a lower register set to a backdrop of sparse, razor sharp synths and a plodding beat.

`Highway runner' is a guitar/synth heavy dance number with the verses harmonized with some unknown person in a very husky register. Also features some sitar playing. Cool.

`Romeo' is another highlight. A very catchy energetic new wave/dance number with great sax riffs, and references to Chukka (Donna's husband's nickname) as her Romeo. Similar to `Melanie', `People talk' and `A runner with the pack'. She performed this in concert with a splendid piano intro in 1983. Awesome!

`End of the week' is the only song that sounds like anything off `The wanderer'. It's a pop/rock number about waiting for the end of the week to let your hair down.

Closing out the CD is the passionate delivery of `I need time' again with vocals ranging from lower to higher register. A powerful ballad and a great way to end the CD.

So, would this have been a hit if released in 1981? Without a doubt. Many songs cried `Hit'. `People talk', `Romeo' and `Leave me alone' for example, and I suspect it would have fared better than its substitute 'Donna Summer'.

Essential to any Summer collection.

"

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