Donna Summer - Another Place And Time (1989)

Yes, the cover photo is disturbing and frightening, and yes, the Stock/Aiken/Watermen songwriting and production is fairly generic for that time, but none of that matters because after almost a decade of misfires, Donna Summer was back where she belonged: singing dance music. The Linn drum and dated synth sounds get old by the end of the disc, but this is easily Summer's best album of the '80s - slick stuff that should get you out of your chair and moving within a matter of seconds (unless you're driving - let's be careful out there).

S/A/W wrote and produced some of the tastiest Eurobeat dance hits of the late '80s; I usually associate them with Rick Astley, but they worked with a fairly large stable of of artists. While I'm sure they imagined that artists were interchangeable within their hit factory, Donna can emote inane lyrics like nobody's business and that's what makes this album work for me.

This album, along with many of Donna's offerings, have been out of print for many years. However, super deluxe reissues will be available for your holiday shopping this year:

(The 7 disc CD collection box set is available for pre-order at amazon.co.uk, but at £60.99, I think I'll be waiting on that one).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #53
Peak on Billboard R&B albums chart: #71

Tracks:  My fave on this one is the #7 pop hit This Time I Know It's For Real. Also good are I Don't Wanna Get Hurt, Sentimental, and If It Makes You Feel Good. The title track and the single Breakaway both fall flat to this guy.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Donna Summer Anthology (1993)
Bad Girls (1979)