Search - Donna Summer :: Lady of the Night

A REVELATION!

Jeff H. | Pittsburgh, PA United States | 03/31/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 1974 pre-Love to Love You Baby album is a real eye-opener! Donna's voice would not sound this clear and strong again for several years, which helps you to better understand why she expressed some frustration at being pigeon-holed as a disco artist. Don't get me wrong, NO ONE is a bigger fan of Donna's disco classics than I am, but the formula did tend to limit her to a lot of whispering, cooing and groaning, at least in the beginning. Here, the voice rules, even when the songs can't compare--which is often, unfortunately. Many of the songs are standard '70s pop drivel (sorry, Giorgio), like some of what Olivia Newton-John might have been stuck recording at the time (no offense to ONJ either). "The Hostage" ranks right up there with other story-songs like "Timothy" and "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" (you decide if that's a good or bad thing!), but "Let's Work Together Now" and especially "Lady of the Night" hint at themes we'd be hearing more of later. A must-have for serious fans of the diva (a title bestowed these days on WAY too many less talented gals; hello Britney, Christina and Beyonce), and an interesting listen for music historians too."

Surprisingly good debut album

Søren Jensen | Copenhagen, Denmark | 09/16/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Donna Summer's debut album from 1974, produced by Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte, is significantly different from "Love To Love You Baby" that she was to record the year later, although side 2 of that album is a lot in the vein of these folk/rock songs found here, mostly telling stories about people, like - obviously - a girl who's the lady of the night ("It's just a job and she'll do the best she can"), the cheesy phone conversations and dramatic string arrangements in "The Hostage", the girl who goes to a carnival and meets an attractive man behind a mask but never gets to find out who it was ("Domino"), another girl who wants her boy friend to be more than "Friends", etc. etc. Although it really is nothing special, I find myself liking this simple album surprisingly much indeed, and it's one of Donna's most enjoyable vocal performances. We're not that lucky to get Donna's debut single "Denver Dream" / "Something's In The Wind" + another non-album track "Virgin Mary" included as bonus tracks but it's great that this album has become available on CD."

Pleasantly suprised

Robert B. Cavanagh | miami, fla | 03/30/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a diehard Donna Summer fan but i have waited to buy this cd to fill up the void that we fans go through when we continue to wait for new material. So i was jonesing for something new and gave in. I love it...donna's voice is what shines here. She can truley sing anything and this disc proves this once again. Its really a short album but fun. Domino & wounded stand out for me. if you are curious i suggest you purchase this and get a glimpse of something of what might have happened had disco not exploded with love to love you baby!!!ummer...yet...."