Donna Summer - I Remember Yesterday (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

Summer's Musical Time Machine

Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 01/16/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of Summer's better and more consistently and conceptually themed albums for 1978. Songs range in this order of styles/genres:I Remember Yesterday (Roaring 20's,30's,40's nostalgic Cole Porter,Gershwin Brothers), Love's Unkind (50's American Bandstand Rock N'Roll),Back In Love Again(60's Motown-esque Supremes sound),Black Lady(70's funky-soul sound a la Superfly,Shaft,Foxy Brown,Police Woman, t.v. and movie themes), Take Me (the pinnacle of the disco sound with Saturday Night Fever musings for the late 70's),Can't We Just Sit Down (a mellow late 70's love ballad to give the listener a breather after the extensive time travel), I Feel Love (a futuristic new wave pre-techno blueprint for the 80's and 90's club music scene and beyond)...Despite the different eras covered, the entire album is cloaked in the distinct Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte disco synthesized sound. However, this does not mar or tarnish the overall effect and idea behind this Summer tribute to the different decades of American pop-cultured music. The styles were popular for their respective heydays.This was also one of the first albums to demonstrate just how flexible and chameleon-like Donna could be in taking on the roles of the different vocal styles involved for each era ! I Remember Yesterday is very memorable..."

On the Threshold of Super Stardom

KRA | East End of LI | 08/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, first things, first, "I Feel Love" is contained on this album, and yes it was a mega hit, and light years ahead of it's time. However with so much aclaim lauded on this one song, it is easy to overlook the rest of this release.

The I Remember Yesterday suite from side 1 payed homage to many of the musical styles that Donna enjoyed, from the swing sound of the title track, to the Beer Garden sway of Love's Unkind, and the Supreme's tribute on Back In Love Again. This was Donna's first release to feature full song compositions on both sides, and her real voice (as opposed to the high falsetto) was showcased on many of the songs.

Side 2 besides showcasing the aforementioned I Feel Love, also contains the sensual Take Me, and the heartfelt ballad Can't We Just Sit Down (and talk about it).

This album pointed the way to what would become Donna's biggest blockbusters.

......and I DO Remember Yesterday!"

"I Remember Yesterday when....."

L. Kelsey | Riverside, CA. United States | 10/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was away at college for my first year in the Fall of '77. My folks played my cassette of this album to death every time they would take me back to school after visiting them for the weekend. This made the hour and fifteen minute ride between LA and Riverside a lot of fun.I bought the cassette because I loved "I Feel Love." I was pleasantly surprised by the whole project. Donna sets up the theme of remembering different eras of song and delivered some of the best music of the late '70's.The flow of the music is perfect on the first four songs. The title track is bouncy and moves smoothly into the next jam, "Love's Unkind." Donna does a "supreme" job on the next jam, "Back in Love Again," and finishes things with a reprise of the title track. To me Donna brings things up to date with the next three songs. "Black Lady" is rockish/funk, with "Take Me" exhibiting more of a disco feel. "Can't We Just Sit Down" is a plea for making things better and allows Donna the opportunity to show off her vocal skills and get "emotional." Then Donna takes it to another level with the help of her producers, Giorgio and Pete. "I Feel Love" is disco at it's best; driving/pulsating dance music. The melding of production and voice is perfect and different from what Donna had done to this point. The kind of jam that as soon as you hear the opening note, you knew that was your song and you proceeded to the dance floor.Donna was (and is still) one of the most versatile singers to ever grace a recording studio. She definitely was the QUEEN OF DISCO, but she was also AN ARTIST. A singer not wanting to limit herself to just one thing, but capable of so much because of the talent she possesses. A talent that allowed her to reinvent herself and move along as the musical tastes of the country changed. She made several classic albums during the late '70's and early '80's. This is one of them."

Groundbreaking, stylish album from the Queen still fresh

blondeguy10 | South Africa | 01/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was Donna Summer's fourth international album release and fifth in Europe. Here Donna and producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte are experimenting in a variety of styles all of which are designed to showcase Ms Summer's stunning range and vocals.Of course the groundbreaking single was the futuristic (for the time) I Feel Love; but other standout tracks include Loves Unkind and Back in Love Again. It's incredible to think that this album is almost 30 years old, it still sounds fresh and exciting today.

"

Take a little Summer with you!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 08/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"`I remember yesterday' is the album Donna Summer released in 1977, showcasing a variety of musical and vocal stylings. A concept album which was both retro, including the sleeve photos, and forward looking at the same time.

Opening track `I remember yesterday' is 40s big band jazz meets disco, complete with some scat. A UK top 20 hit.

This segues into `Love's unkind', the tale of a school girl's unrequited crush, and is a girl group stomp. A UK no.3 hit.

This also segues into `Back in love again', an excellent Motown/Supremes pastiche with excellent harmonies. A UK top 30 hit.

Closing out the medley is a reprise of `I remember yesterday'.

`Black lady' has Donna belting out to a horn laden blaxploitation/Shaft sounding number. It's an energetic, funky number with fiery vocals. Great!

Next comes the synthesizer driven dance number `Take me' with yearning, sensual lyrics sung in falsetto. A standout.

`Can't we just sit down and talk it over is the only ballad on the album, and the only non Summer/Moroder/Bellotte composition. A tender ballad about the sad end of a romance, it has Donna belting out. This was originally the A side of the last track...

...'I feel love'. The song that was (and still is) years ahead of it's time. The grandmother of techno/trance/electronica/whatever you call it.

This simple, yet intricately layered song was the first hit comprised entirely of Moog synthesizers. The song that had John Lennon say `This is the future' when he heard it.

Featuring Donna singing in an ethereal falsetto to a synthesized wall of sound which rises and falls, and which featured a break where we hear nothing but synth and drums, before other effects start filtering in, a technique she would use on other songs like `Now I need you', `Working the midnight shift', `Lucky', and `She works hard for the money'. A UK no.1 for 4 weeks, and a US no.6 which sold a million copies.

A fitting way to close this musical journey in time, by looking into the future.

Needless to say, the album was certified gold in the US. In my opinion, one of her best albums, and the start of her including different elements in her music.

To quote the famous line from this album; `Wherever you go, take a little Summer with you'."

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