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Donna Summer / Deluxe Editions + limited Vinyl and CD box sets

By Paul Sinclair

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70

cd_box
Before the year is out Driven By the Music will release seven classic Donna Summer albums as expanded deluxe CD editions, along with heavyweight vinyl pressings and limited box sets for both CD and vinyl.

The albums in question are The Wanderer (1980), Donna Summer (1982), Cats Without Claws (1984) , All Systems Go (1987), the Stock Aitken Waterman-produced Another Place And Time (1989), Mistaken Identity (1991) and I’m A Rainbow (recorded in 1981, but not released until 1996).

anothertimeTrack listings haven’t been released, but it’s looking like many will be expanded one CD editions with the odd exception like I’m A Rainbow (two-disc) and Another Place And Time (three discs). These re-issues are packaged as case-bound books, and come complete with lyrics, new notes from Christian John Wikane and Justin ‘Musicology’ Kantor.

These will all be issued as 180g LPs including a first vinyl release for I’m A Rainbow which will actually be a double LP gatefold.

Both vinyl and CDs can be bought together in collector’s box sets. These are available to purchase from Amazon (and other retailers) but fans are incentivised to buy from the official store (Europe & Australasia only) by the inclusion of a free two-track twelve-inch vinyl single (CD single for the CD box) which includes the tracks State Of Independence (DJ Dero Vocal Mix) and Love’s About To Change My Heart (Loveland’s Full-On 12″” Vocal). The latter is previously unreleased.

The boxes and individual CD and vinyl releases will be issued on 1 December 2014.

vinyl_box
Vinyl box from official store with exclusive 12″

The Vinyl Collection

cd_box

The CD Collection

Individual Titles:

wanderer

The Wanderer

CD

Vinyl

donna

Donna Summer

CD

Vinyl

cats

Cats Without Claws

CD

Vinyl

allsystemsgo

All Systems Go

CD

Vinyl

anothertime

Another Place And Time

3CD

Vinyl

mistaken

Mistaken Identity

CD

Vinyl

rainbow

I’m A Rainbow

2CD

Vinyl

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70 Comments

70 thoughts on “Donna Summer / Deluxe Editions + limited Vinyl and CD box sets”

  1. I just noticed that a different mix of “Work That Magic” was used in place of the original album mix. Any idea where this other mix came from, or why it was used? IMO, it is inferior to the original USA album version.

  3. Congrats to everyone who’s actually gotten the box set. Even though I preordered mine, it’s still on backorder (as it is everywhere I look except Ebay). Did they only make 100 boxes?

  4. Bit strange? I have just grabbed the “I’m a Rainbow” out of the box set, and played the first disc, and went that ends, with To Turn the Stone, bizarre. On further checking with the original cd release, the new two cd set, is just the original split into two discs, with no bonus tracks. The booklet has alot more info, etc, but as far as the music – this is the only one that lets me down. I was hoping for some remixes of Romeo, and ponder if any do exist? Always loved it from when it first appeared on the “Flashdance” soundtrack.

  5. Uh oh…word is that the Jellybean 7″ version of “Eyes” is either a poorly sourced mp3 or needle drop. There seems to be mixed reviews on sound quality overall, but are, for the most part positive.

  6. Got an email on Tuesday morn, to say my box set had been shipped. I did not think that on Friday morn, i would have it arrive in Australia, from the UK {WOW!!!}, So exicted had to share. Where do i start, well the bonus cd single, was loose, so it is getting a spin, as I type. As I pre-order, so i could get my name in the listings, I was super surprised, to see that my name appears, in every book. I just presumed there would be a seperate sheet, or booklet with our names, in the box, but nope, it is there, in every CD booklet, which by the way, for folks wondering, are hardback cases.

  7. DONNA SUMMER D I V A =))))CELEBRO CON ALEGRIA Y ENTUSIASMO ESTE GENIAL LANZAMIENTO DE DRIVEN BY THE MUSIC RECORDS=))) DONNA SUMMER DECADA DEL 80s!!!! SOLO FALTA EL ALBUM “SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY”!!!=))) CASABLANCA RECORDS 1983=)) DONNA SUMMER UNA DE MIS CANTANTES FEMENINAS FAVORITAS ..A 2 AÑOS DE SU SORPREVIVO FALLECIMIENTO ..AMBOS BOX SETS EN LP (8 VINYL!!!) Y EN CD (10 CDs)!!!!!! ES IMPERDIBLE=)))PARA TODO EL QUE COLECCIONA MUSICA, COMO QUIEN SUSCRIBE ESTAS LINEAS.. ESCUCHO MUSICA DESDE LOS 5 AÑOS…PRIMERO CON LA DISCOTECA DE MI PADRE..Y DESPUES CON LA MUSICA DE DONNA SUMMER..ARETHA FRANKLIN…GRACE JONES..TINA TURNER…CHAKA KHAN…WHITNEY HOUSTON..DIANA ROSS..DIONNE WARWICK..GLORIA GAYNOR…SADE ADU…Y LA MEJOR MUSICA DISCO_SOUL-R&B-POP- 70s , 80s y 90s=))) BESOS Y ABRAZOS MUCHOS PARA TI DONNA SUMMER ..DESDE EL CIELO ESTAS JUNTO A DIOS Y A JESUS CANTANDO HIMNOS GODSPELL Y TUS EXITOS QUE SON MUCHOS=)) ATTE RUBEN LEDESMA desde CORDOBA Cuidad ARGENTINA

  9. Pingback: Out This Week / 1 December 2014 | superdeluxeedition

  10. It is a shame that the CAPRICORN remix of “Work that magic” is not included in the “Mistaken Identity” release.
    It is an awesome chillout mix and was on the German cd single.
    As was the full and edit ISA remixes.

  12. HELLO, THE PUBLICATION THE BOX OF 7+1 ALBUM,S IS FASCINATION, AND THE OTHER PUBLICATION, 8 ALBUM,S OF CASABLANCA, WHAT ALBUM,S ARE?

    FINALLY, HOW TRUST BUY AND WHERE?

    THANK YOU VERY MUCH…..

  13. Pingback: Donna Summer reissues improved! | superdeluxeedition

  14. Paul could you contact the people or person involved in the Donna Summer Reissues and perhaps solicit questions from some of this blog’s followers and interview him, her or them. So many questions and so much misinformation out there by people who don’t either understand the process of reissues, licenses, etc.

    Thanks
    Andrew

  15. Thanks for reminding me of ‘Tearin’ Down the Walls’ guys, what a great track, I’ve not heard it since I had the 12″ of “Gershwin”. Donna tackles the high notes with ease of course, not easy for a singer in her natural mezzo range to get up that high.

    Shame that the vinyl version of this set is over twice the price of the CD version. I wonder why? Vinyl surely isn’t THAT much more to produce?

    Andrew Blair, the deluxe version of Bad Girls from a few years ago seems to have been the high water mark of the Casablanca years, containing as it did a whole CD of extended mixes etc. – unfortunately all previously released material, bar one track.

    1. Donna Summer didn’t record many if any extra songs when working with Giorgio & Pete. This is mostly due to Giorgio’s style of working in the studio. He worked quickly, didn’t like spending a lot of time on a song and getting projects done. Donna usually didn’t need more than 1 or 2 takes to get a song done. That is according to Giorgio in different interviews.

  16. Pingback: Donna Summer / “Another Place and Time”: 3CD deluxe edition | superdeluxeedition

  21. “She Works Hard for the Money is not owned by the estate of Donna Summer. Universal owns it.”

    Yes, Edward! I realized that a few minutes after I posted my comment.

    And, YES! on Tearin’ Down the Walls. As I wrote, I have the 12″ of Dinner With Gershwin, where TDTW is, and I ripped it at hi-res. I still listen to it constantly. Can’t wait for the tracklisting.

  22. All Systems Go HAS to HAVE – MUST HAVE – “Tearin’ Down the Walls.” PLEASE!!!! And perhaps “She Works Hard for the Money” will come out later like they’re doing with Belinda Carlisle’s debut solo album that is going to be released after all the other ones. However, it would have been nice to have it as part of the box set. In the box with the rest.

    1. She Works Hard for the Money is not owned by the estate of Donna Summer. Universal owns it and it was recently reissued by boutique label Culture Factory. Remastered but no extras. Sounds great get a copy.

    2. Tomas

      I am with you on this. Tearin’ Down the Walls I think is one of the best songs Donna ever recorded. Co-written by Seidah Garrett. She hits a note vocally not ever heard before in a song. It was the b-side to a rare blue U.K picture disc of Dinner with Gershwin. I hope it is also there. Fingers crossed.

  23. So, I personally am excited about this box set. So would be great to have a complete Donna Summer box set, but obviously this will not happen in our lifetime, due to different labels. For folks in Australia, NONE of these are available on Itunes. Most are not freely available to by on CD, and to grab CATS WITHOUT CLAWS, looking at around $60Aus to get from overseas. So at around $15Au a cd {well cd package}, I think is good value. Yes a bit annoying not having a track listing, but if you pre-order alot of artists cds, these days, or help finance a making of a record, you never know, what you will get. Getting your name amongst the credits, if you order before 11.59 on the 7th Sept, is I think a nice token jesture for you outlaying your funds for the box and also the cd single.

  25. There is a box set coming in October–at least to Europe–of her Casablanca albums. Not sure if any bonuses will be included (it would be nice to have her rarer tracks like her two duets with Paul Jabara as bonuses,) but I’m doubting it. Still, if they are actually remastered I’ll have to pick it up–the early albums could use it.

    1. Eric

      This box set is presumably coming from Holland. There is some uncertainty about the quality of the remaster. Find copies of the Universal Japan reissues. As stated on this site in previous postings by me, the sound quality was amazing SHM-D.

  26. Really looking forward to the APAT re-issue. I wonder if the rumours back then were true and the Pete Hammond 12-inch mix of “I don’t wanna get hurt” is on it. It was said Donna preferd that mix over the Phil Harding remix. SAW decided differently and the rest is history. If it’s on the set it will be the first track I play. That said there should also be an unknown remix of This time I know it’s for real. It was listed on the cover of the 12-inch. It was replaced on the last moment by the instrumental. Perhaps saving it for a second remix 12-inch which never happend. A lot to look forward too.

  28. I have to agree. Although this is exciting news, it is the latest in a long line of reissues projects that have been announced recently, weeks or months before the track list is ready. Communards/Jimmy Somerville, Ian Levine Disco Recharge compilations, Belinda Carlisle, Lisa Stansfield… It’s almost becoming the norm.

    Is there a reason for this do you think? It’s very frustrating, and a bit of a cheek frankly, asking fans to spend very large sums of money on a product that isn’t even been finished. Why not wait until the track list is finalised before announcing and putting the product on sale? I’d love to hear from someone at the reissue coal face who has any insights?

  31. did i miss something here …. YES i do .. nl

    1: Four Seasons Of Love
    2: Lady Of The Night
    3: Love To Love You Baby
    4: I Remember Yesterday
    5: Bad Girls

    Her Most succesful albums are missing in this box … skip this one ..

    Richard

    2. The most amazing reissues of Donna Summer’s Casablanca catalog was reissued in Japan almost 2 years ago. Universal owns them. The sound quality was amazing and the packaging imitated the LP’s from the 70’s. These reissues are the post Casablanca years and Donna Summer owned these CD’s

  34. These albums are sorely underrated and include some of Donna’s most adventurous work! I look forward to having “Sometimes Like Butterflies” on CD (finally)!

    1. Shamen
      I Remember Yesterday was gorgeously reissued in 2012 by Universal Japan and the sound quality was gorgeous. Also the packaging was done to replicate the original album sleeve. By the way, the remastered version of I Feel Love was unbelievable. Find a copy but these Japan re-releases were pricey but totally worth it

  36. I see that the sticker on “I’m A Rainbow” states that it’s the album as it was originally configured. I wonder if the track order has been corrected from the 1CD release and the tracks are segued like it was rumoured that they were meant to be. Or will it just be the same tracks from the 1CD version split on to 2CD’s.

    Too many questions… ;0)

    1. No parts of the CD were originally to be configured like a suite of music similar to Live & More studio side, Bad Girls suite of Our Love, Lucky & Sunset People and Act 2 of Once Upon a Time (Now I Need You, Working the Midnight Shift and Queen for a Day). This reconfiguration should be interesting.

      1. “Rainbow” promo. the rumor hast that it was to be a similar LP as her Casablanca years and segued to be long medleys. I hope that means this series is going that route. Wish they would include the DISCONET REMIX of “Highway Runner” and the LONGER version of “People Talk” with the RAP interlude. Think that MORODer and BELLOTTE should be involved in this as they were her PRODUCERS.

  37. I completely agree about that remix album, Fred Smith!

    Interesting collection, but I’m a pre-1980 man myself, I would love to see her greatest Casablanca albums re-released with extra stuff.

    A handful of albums (on both Casablanca and Geffen) were re-released in the USA by specialist label Culture Factory with the massive incentive of… vinyl replica CDs and no extra tracks at all. I hope that doesn’t foretell what this new collection will be like.

    1. Again the Casablanca CD’s were reissued from Japan in 2012. Amazing sound quality and packaging. Back in the day, Giorgio Moroder stated they didn’t record much extra stuff. That tendency of recording 20 t0 30 songs for a CD didn’t start until the late 1980’s.

      1. Agree – those Japan CD’s – which I got directly from cdjapan.co.jp are friggin’ amazing. The sound is such an improvement over the earlier reissues.

  38. It’s really poor that the track-listings haven’t been released and that the box set details are a bit lacking.

    Good to see that the 3CD version of APAT actually exists, and I’ll pre-order that. CWC is my favourite album by her but I’ve got the original CD so it will depend on the bonus tracks if I buy that one.

    1. My guess is that the tracklist isn’t finalized as of yet. Because they are still searching for things hidden away in the vaults of Geffen, etc…….. or maybe some of her personal recordings that have not been available……

      1. They don’t have to search Geffen vaults. When Donna was dropped by Geffen records she took all her recordings with her. She owned all her material from the Geffen and Atlantic recordings. After her death they were part of her estate and her husband Bruce was involved in this project

    2. APAT gets the most bonus material due to so many remixes of the singles. 2014 is the 25th anniversary of the release APAT. An amazing reissue coming

    3. The Donna Summer album contains “Sometimes Like Butterflies” as a bonus track. And the extended versions of “Love Is In Control” and “State Of Independence”. Sadly, not the single edit of “The Woman In Me”.

  39. This hasn’t really clarified whether the box set contains the expanded versions;hopefully yes,because i’ve ordered it already.It’s a shame that her [in my view]best album of the 80’s ‘She Works Hard For The Money’ isn’t included [being released on another label,though hopefully it will receive the extended treatment soon.
    Anyway any Donna is better than none,and this makes up for the abomination that was last years remix album.

    1. Fred

      She Works Hard for the Money is owned by Universal not Donna’s estate. That is why it isn’t here. However Culture Factory recently reissued a remastered version of She Works Hard….The sound quality is very good but no extras. This was the first remaster since it was first released by Polygram back in 1990

    2. Yes the box set contains all the expanded editions. I have heard this question all over the internet. Why on earth would a company put out a box set with different versions instead of these expanded editions? I don’t get any of that confusion. The whole point of this project is to put out the same product but if someone wants all of them they buy the box set. If not they buy the ones they want individually.

        1. Same here … the individual sets come to 10 discs . The box set says 7 and on the Amazon pictures states remastered but pointedly not expanded which is on the individual ones. I need clarfication before commiting to the box.

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