Released: April 25, 1979
Genre: Disco ∙ pop ∙ hi-NRG ∙ R&B ∙ rock
Label: Casablanca
Producer: Giorgio Moroder ∙ Pete Bellotte
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By 1979, Donna Summer was heating up the charts with timeless records during the glory years of Disco. Being named “the queen of disco” (duh,) singer met her dream team with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, as they have given us some of the best remarkable disco tunes ever.
Donna’s seventh studio album was titled Bad Girls, and was released April 25, 1979 by Casablanca Records. Being that it was Donna’s final album under the label, she finalized things with a BANG! Considered to be one of the greatest disco albums of all time, Bad Girls was issued as a double album and Donna’s most diverse album as well.
The elements of disco, rock, funk, hi-NRG, R&B set the tone for how pop albums should be conceived from the girlies after Donna. It is truly one of modern pop’s greatest treasures and shall be treated as such.
Bad Girls was nominated for Album of the Year and gave Donna the accolade of being the first female artist to have two songs in the top three of the Billboard Hot 100. Bad Girls has since become one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed albums of Donna Summer’s career, and has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. TOOT TOOT!
Side one:
Hot Stuff
Written by Pete Bellotte ∙ Harold Faltermeyer ∙ Keith Forsey
The album opens up with the chart topping lead single, Hot Stuff. Hot Stuff is indeed a disco classic, but it showcases a direction of a rock influenced sound that Donna was interested in going into..and it flowed so perfectly. From a lyrical perspective, the song is about “needing that” if you catch my drift, and how it is making her so ready she went through her little black book to get what she wanted Chile. I understand the frustration a whole lot! A masterpiece.
I also did not know it was Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (the guitarist from the rock bands Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan) who played the guitar solo on the song. Donna totally wanted to tap into the sound that the 80s was going towards early in 79, and this song is a testament to that. Also, Hot Stuff gave Donna her second number 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, and the first recipient of the Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
***Hot Stuff was sampled for:
- Hot Stuff (I Want You Back) by Pussycat Dolls
Bad Girls
Written by Donna Summer ∙ Bruce Sudano ∙ Joe “Beam” Esposito ∙ Edward “Eddie” Hokenson
I got what you want, you got what I need. I’ll be your baby, come and spend it on me!
Donna Summer, Bad Girls, 1979
When I say the title track always brings clarity and meaning to what the album is all about, and Bad Girls is everything. Bad Girls have strong elements of funk and rock, and is a mesmerizing affair. From the background vocals, to Donna talking her stuff, the song is top tier. The backstory behind one of Donna’s most spectacular records is so appalling that I cannot summarize it. I found this quote on genius of Donna explaining it and had to share:
“Bad Girls” was written in the days when my record company was on Sunset Boulevard. At night, there were a lot of clubs there, so there were always a lot of girls on the street trying to pick up guys. One day, a friend of mine was coming back from lunch, and the police harassed her for no reason. The song evolved out of my own aggravation towards what happened, but also out of the feeling that “Who am I to throw stones?” We’re all the same really: whether she’s getting paid and I’m giving it away, we’re all out doing it. Who is a bad girl? In some ways aren’t we all even if it’s only in our minds?
Donna Summer, BoyzUK, 1999
& she’s right. Who are we to judge anyone on their life choices? We’re sonically doing the same thing whether we want to agree with it or not. Bad Girls peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Dance Club Songs and Hot Soul Singles charts respectively.
***Bad Girls was sampled for:
- Fitness by Lizzo
- Ladies in Da House by Aaliyah featuring Missy Elliott & Timbaland
- Bad Girl by Lil’ Kim featuring RuPaul
***Bad Girls was covered by Cheryl Chase with Tim Curry, Kevin Michael Richardson and Billy West.
Love Will Always Find You
Written by Pete Bellotte ∙ Giorgio Moroder
Love Will Always Find You is lyrically about the singer expressing thoughts of how love will always look for you in every way or aspect. We weren’t meant to live in this world alone, and companionship is extremely important. I can see this song being a song for her soulmate, Bruce!
Walk Away
Written by Pete Bellotte ∙ Harold Faltermeyer
On the amazing song Walk Away, the singer is torn between following her mind or heart when it comes to a romance she doesn’t want to let go of apparently. She wants the man by her side, but feels like she’d just let it go if it’s just a passionate phase. Whew! Released as the sixth and final single from the album, Walk Away gave Donna another number one hit on the Dance Club Songs chart…while peaking in the top 40 on the Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts respectively.
Side two:
Dim All the Lights
Written by Donna Summer
Dim All the Lights is the sexiest disco record ever recorded. It starts off as a slow soulful and sultry ballad before it picks up to a disco-pop phenomenon, and is known for Donna sustaining a note for 16 seconds. Released as the third single from the album, Dim All the Lights peaked at number 2 and 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 & Hot Soul Singles charts respectively. Dim All the Lights was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1980 Grammys.
Journey to the Center of Your Heart
Written by Pete Bellotte ∙ Giorgio Motored
Journey to the Center of Your Heart has the singer ready to take that quest to the love she is desiring, and is one of her strongest masterpieces.
One Night in a Lifetime
Written by Pete Bellotte ∙ Harold Faltermeyer
One Night in a Lifetime is lyrically about the singer wanting to risk it all for a love that is worth it.
Can’t Get to Sleep At Night
Written by Bob Conti ∙ Bruce Sudano
Can’t Get to Sleep at Night is another gem on the album that Donna previously leaked in live performances, and is a disco record with soft R&B influences.
Side three:
On My Honor
Written by Donna Summer ∙ Harold Faltermeyer ∙ Bruce Sudano
On My Honor has the singer expressing to her lover that she will do her best to never let him down again. A beautiful R&B record!
There Will Always Be a You
Written by Donna Summer
There will Always Be a You will be on the playlist at my future wedding one day because baby, that is A SONG.Donna’s mesmerizing vocals at the beginning of the song alone is so magical.
All Through the Night
Written by Donna Summer ∙ Bruce Roberts
All Through The Night has Donna speaking to someone she cares deeply about, and is telling him “I am here for you when you need to lay your head on my shoulder and be there for him at any time. Stop searching for something else when I am literally right here for you at any time!”
All Through The Night has been covered by KC & The Sunshine Band and Naomi Campbell (yes, I shook to see she had an album out in the 90s).
My Baby Understands
Written by Donna Summer
MY BABY UNDERSTANDS IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OF ALL TIME, and will always be a song I’ll play for my future significant other too. Lyrically, the song is about her love life and shows how much she loves her man.
***My Baby Understands was sampled for:
- She Got Her Own by Ne-Yo featuring Jamie Foxx and Fabolous.
Side four:
Our Love
Written by Donna Summer ∙ Giorgio Moroder
OUR LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE WILL LAST FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRR! One of Donna’s best songs is Our Love, and rightfully so. The love she feels from her significant other is truly joyful, radiant, and exhilarating. I feel that through listening to the song. Just wow.
Lucky
Written by Donna Summer ∙ Giorgio Moroder ∙ Joe “Bean” Esposito ∙ Edward “Eddie” Hokenson ∙ Bruce Sudano
Lucky is a song I’d want to hear if I was entering a Disco party and all eyes are on me. That’s the vibe I get with every listen. It’s fun, sensual, thrilling and it is a song that has some really good storytelling..especially with Donna as the narrator.
Sunset People
Written by Pete Bellotte ∙ Harold Faltermeyer ∙ Keith Forsey
The album closes out with Sunset People, another stellar disco record from the legendary star. Donna sounds so great on this song. I find something I love with every listen. Her angelic vocals really does it for me. Definitely a feel good record to dance to on the dance floor.
Bad Girls really set the bar very high for pop albums ever since its release in 1979. There truly was no one like Donna Summer. Her presence in music is totally missed because no one sounded like her. She will always be the best at disco and was deserving of her title as Queen of Disco. She was the best, and this album showcases how diverse and innovative it really was to pop culture. -MW.
markizdj.com 