A pair of new songs recorded with dance producer Giorgio Moroder are featured on "The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer." Due Sept. 30 via UTV/Mercury/UME, the two-disc will include hits, favorites and the new songs "That's the Way" and "Dream-A-Lot's Theme."
The new tracks mark the first Summer/Moroder collaboration since 1992's "Carry On," released in the U.S. in 1997 and honored with the best dance recording Grammy. The set features 18 tracks spanning 1975-1999; a bonus disc will feature 12" mixes of the songs "I Feel Love," "Hot Stuff," "She Works Hard for the Money" and "This Time I Know It's for Real."
The release of the compilation is timed to coincide with publication of Summer's autobiography, "Ordinary Girl: The Journey." Co-written with Marc Eliot, the book is due Oct. 14 from Villiard/Random House.
-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.
SUMMER MADNESS: Much is being made of the Donna Summer track "You're So Beautiful", which is being championed by numerous circuit and big-room DJs. Without a label to call home, the track has also made its way to several illicit peer-to-peer file-sharing sites.
Produced by Tony Moran, the song finds Summer in a tribal-hued setting. While it is not the artist's most memorable song, it is something new from Summer---and that, in itself, is cause for celebration among her legion of vociferous international fans.
Which made us wonder: Now that Tommy Mottola and Universal Music Group are resuscitating Casablanca Records--Summer's original label in the 70's--wouldn't it be rather cool to welcome her back home? A new studio recording from Summer would surely please many. Just a thought.