Search - Donna Summer :: Universal Masters Collection

Soothing music by the Disco Queen.

Rohit Chauhan | New Delhi, India. | 09/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is impressive actually from the very begining. "Love To Love You Baby" is the opening track which creates interest in further listening. Then comes the disco laced "She Works Hard For The Money" and "I Feel Love" racing the album's tone, which is calmed by "Walkaway". "On The Radio" recreates the magic of lightening days of Disco. AL Webber composed "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" is an unforgetable classic and Summer's voice is explored to the max. I personally feel that Madonna's stands no where among Summer's version of this song. The bluesy "Winter Melody" is a longer track but I never realised its length while listening. Fabulous music! "Need A Man Blues" & "Bad Girls" are faster tracks. Then comes the best track of the album "I Do Believe(I Fell In Love)" its really a great song which slowly grows up on you and forces you to push the back button as it ends. "No More Tears" with B. Striesand is a great duet. The one with Tina Arena on the Live and More Encore disc was also noticeable but Tina's voice scattered at high times while Striesand is the best. "Rumour Has It" & "Full of Emptiness" are better skipped. "With Your Love" has a guitar being played in the background which initially made me skip the song but now I listen to it because of the same guitar's music also Summer's vocals have depth. "My Baby Understands" & "Can't we Just Sit Down" are again soothers. In between them comes "People, People", a disco based track is also one of the best songs on this album. "Could It be Magic" finishes the album with its dark beats and cool vocals.
It is a magic though that this lady has a tendency to change her voice according to the needs of the songs. Summer's voice is distinct of others and what makes this CD to be pleasing is her vocals. A great piece of collection of good songs, well arranged too. Also check out The Universal Masters Collection Of CHER. Hope this review was helpful, Happy listening!"

What a voice, what style!

Pieter | Johannesburg | 12/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

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Although not comprehensive, this excellent collection contains a fair amount of Donna Summer's powerful disco numbers and her soulful ballads that made her a legend in the 1970s and early 1980s. The album opens with her passionate version of Love To Love You Baby, the song that first established her on both sides of the Atlantic.



She Works Hard For The Money is a pop-rock number from the early 1980s and then it's right back to a trend-setting dance-floor classic, the magnificent I Feel Love that ruled the pop and disco charts in 1977. On The Radio is an example of a soulful ballad, whilst her interpretation of Don't Cry For Me Argentina is powerful and effusive.



That brings the listener to Bad Girls, a massive hit from the 1979 album of the same name, in a harder-edged disco style with prominent electric guitars. Other songs of note are Could It Be Magic, My Baby Understands, Rumour Has It and No More Tears, the duet with Barbra Streisand.



There are some filler tracks and many omissions like Hot Stuff and her brilliant version of MacArthur Park, and the album doesn't include any of her later 1980s hits like This Time I Know It's For Real. My other criticism is that the tracks do not follow a chronological sequence. Nevertheless the album still contains enough good music to deserve four stars.

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