Donna Summer charts & more

Charts & more

Between 1975 and 1977 Donna Summer released four albums that revolutionized the world of pop music: LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY, A LOVE TRILOGY (including COULD IT BE MAGIC), FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE and I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (including I FEEL LOVE). Each album entered the US Top 40 and was certified gold.

Written for the motion picture Thank God It's Friday, LAST DANCE reached N. 3 on Billboard's HOT 100 on 12 August 1978. The enchanting Paul Jabara-penned classic won a Golden Globe, an Academy Award and let Donna Summer win her first Grammy. No wonder it became her all-time favourite song.

On 11 November 1978 MAC ARTHUR PARK reached N. 1 on the US singles chart. This astounding disco version of Jimmy Webb's classic topped the chart for three weeks (first recording of a Webb song to become N. 1) and earned Donna a Grammy nomination in the "Best Pop Vocal Performance" category.

The second single taken from LIVE AND MORE, HEAVEN KNOWS, performed by Donna Summer with the Brooklyn Dreams, reached N. 4 on Billboard's HOT 100 on 17 March 1979. HEAVEN KNOWS became Donna's fourth american pop TOP 5 and was certified gold.

On 2 June 1979 HOT STUFF by Donna reached N. 1 on Billboard's HOT 100. It became one of Donna's biggest hits, reached platinum status, let Donna win a Grammy Award and paved the way for some of the most successful pop/rock/R&B music of the 80s (Michael Jackson, Prince, etc).

On 14 July 1979 BAD GIRLS reached N. 1 on Billboard's HOT 100. While HOT STUFF was still at N. 3, Donna became the first woman in history to have two singles in the top 3 at the same time.

In the Summer of '79, BAD GIRLS stayed for six weeks at N. 1 on the Top LPs & Tape (Billboard 200) chart. The double album also topped the Disco and the Soul charts.

On 17 November 1979 Donna once more had two singles in the HOT 100's top 3, thanks to DIM ALL THE LIGHTS and NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH), her duet with Barbra Streisand.

On 24 November 1979 NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) reached N. 1 on Billboard's HOT 100, becoming Donna's (and Streisand's) fourth number one single on US pop charts. NO MORE TEARS was also the first all-female pairing ever to reach N. 1 on that chart!

In March 1980 ON THE RADIO reached N. 5 on Billboard's HOT 100. The second gold single from her ON THE RADIO - GREATEST HITS VOLUMES I & II collection earned Donna her third Grammy nomination in the "Best Pop Vocal Performance" category.

In November 1980 THE WANDERER, Donna Summer's first single on Geffen Records, spent three weeks at N. 3 on Billboard's HOT 100. Donna's bluesy/rock vocals showed her amazing versatility as a singer. Listening to the song, John Lennon commented that she was "doing Elvis!"

On 28 Agosto 1982, LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER) reached N. 3 on Billboard's Dance/Disco Top 80. The first Donna Summer single produced by Quincy Jones also reached N. 4 on the Black Singles chart, n. 10 on the HOT 100 and earned Donna a Grammy nomination (Best R&B vocal performance, female).

In the summer of 1983 SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY, written by Donna Summer & Michael Omartian, spent three weeks at the top of Billboard's HOT Black Singles chart and three weeks at N. 3 on the HOT 100. The song also earned Donna a Grammy nomination in the "Best Pop Vocal Performance" category.

In October 1984 THERE GOES MY BABY reached N. 20 on Billboard's Black Singles chart. Though it didn't become one of Donna's biggest hits, THERE GOES MY BABY remains one of her most incredible vocal performances, and a great lesson in "cover making".

In the summer of 1989 Donna Summer returned to the Top 10 of Billboard's HOT 100 with THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL: her first single written and recorded with Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman peaked at N. 7.

On 12 October 1991 WHEN LOVE CRIES, from MISTAKEN IDENTITY, became Donna's 17th single to enter the top 20 of Billboard's R&B Singles chart.

Released in October 1994, MELODY OF LOVE (WANNA BE LOVED) topped the Billboard dance charts for three consecutive weeks in early 1995 and became the N.1 Dance Record of the Year.

Comparing life to a contact sport, STAMP YOUR FEET, the second single from CRAYONS, suited Donna's 2008 comeback admirably: "been knocked down, get up every single time". The irresistible pop/dance/R&B anthem rose to N. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charts in July 2008.

On 7 June 2008 CRAYONS entered the Billboard 200 at N. 17, becoming Donna's highest charting album since SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY.

US Pop Charts

Albums

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (11)

A LOVE TRILOGY (21)

FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (29)

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (18)

ONCE UPON A TIME... (26)

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (10)

LIVE AND MORE (1)

BAD GIRLS (1)

ON THE RADIO/GREATEST HITS VOL. I & II (1)

WALK AWAY - COLLECTOR'S EDITION (50)

THE WANDERER (13)

DONNA SUMMER (20)

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (9)

CATS WITHOUT CLAWS (40)

ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME (53)

VH1 PRESENTS LIVE & MORE ENCORE! (43)

CRAYONS (17)

ENDLESS SUMMER - GREATEST HITS (90) [2012]

THE JOURNEY - THE VERY BEST OF (88) [2012]

LOVE TO LOVE YOU DONNA (97)

Singles

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (2)

COULD IT BE MAGIC (52)

TRY ME, I KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT (80)

SPRING AFFAIR (47)

WINTER MELODY (43)

I FEEL LOVE (6)

I LOVE YOU (37)

RUMOUR HAS IT (37)

LAST DANCE (3)

MAC ARTHUR PARK (1)

HEAVEN KNOWS (4)

HOT STUFF (1)

BAD GIRLS (1)

DIM ALL THE LIGHTS (2)

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (1)

ON THE RADIO (5)

WALK AWAY (36)

THE WANDERER (3)

COLD LOVE (33)

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FOOLIN' (40)

LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER) (10)

STATE OF INDEPENDENCE (41)

THE WOMAN IN ME (33)

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (3)

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (43)

LOVE HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN (70)

THERE GOES MY BABY (21)

SUPERNATURAL LOVE (75)

DINNER WITH GERSHWIN (48)

THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL (7)

LOVE'S ABOUT TO CHANGE MY HEART (85)

WHEN LOVE CRIES (77)

I WILL GO WITH YOU (CON TE PARTIRO') (79)

Donna's Greatest Hits

1) HOT STUFF

2) BAD GIRLS

3) MAC ARTHUR PARK

4) SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY

5) LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY

6) LAST DANCE

7) HEAVEN KNOWS

8) I FEEL LOVE

9) NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH)

10) DIM ALL THE LIGHTS

11) THE WANDERER

12) ON THE RADIO

13) LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER)

14) THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL

15) THERE GOES MY BABY

16) THE WOMAN IN ME

17) COLD LOVE

18) SPRING AFFAIR/WINTER MELODY

19) WALK AWAY

20) I LOVE YOU

Note: in 1979 Donna became the first female artist ever to have 3 number one singles in a year's time period (MAC ARTHUR PARK, HOT STUFF and BAD GIRLS) and the first to top twice the albums chart and the singles chart simultaneously (first with LIVE AND MORE and MAC ARTHUR PARK, then with BAD GIRLS and HOT STUFF). When ON THE RADIO reached the albums chart's top spot, in early 1980, Donna became also the first female artist ever to have 3 number one albums in a row.
DIM ALL THE LIGHTS still holds the record for the TOP TEN single featuring the longest held note.
In 1980 NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) became the first song in history to be certified separately for its gold single and 12".

US R&B Charts

Albums

From LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY to CRAYONS, Donna Summer's had a very successful career as an R&B artist too.

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (6)

A LOVE TRILOGY (16)

FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (13)

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (11)

ONCE UPON A TIME... (13)

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (6)

LIVE AND MORE (4)

BAD GIRLS (1)

ON THE RADIO/GREATEST HITS (4)

WALK AWAY - COLLECTOR'S EDITION) (54)

THE WANDERER (12)

DONNA SUMMER (6)

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (5)

CATS WITHOUT CLAWS (24)

ALL SYSTEMS GO (53)

ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME (71)

MISTAKEN IDENTITY (97)

VH1 PRESENTS LIVE & MORE ENCORE! (33)

THE JOURNEY - THE VERY BEST OF (65)

CRAYONS (5)

LOVE TO LOVE YOU DONNA (11)

Singles

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (3)
TRY ME, I KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT (35)
COULD IT BE MAGIC (21)
SPRING AFFAIR (24)
WINTER MELODY (21)
CAN'T WE JUST SIT DOWN (20)
I FEEL LOVE (9)
I LOVE YOU (28)
RUMOUR HAS IT (21)
LAST DANCE (5)
MACARTHUR PARK (8)
HEAVEN KNOWS (10)
HOT STUFF (3)
BAD GIRLS (1)
DIM ALL THE LIGHTS (13)
NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (20)
ON THE RADIO (9)
WALK AWAY (35)
THE WANDERER (13)
LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER) (4)
STATE OF INDEPENDENCE (31)
THE WOMAN IN ME (30)
SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (1)
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (9)
LOVE HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN (35)
THERE GOES MY BABY (20)
SUPERNATURAL LOVE (51)
DINNER WITH GERSHWIN (10)
WHEN LOVE CRIES (18)

Disco Queen

Donna Summer's number ones on the US Dance Charts are like jewels in her crown - the crown of the genre's undisputed queen:

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (1975)

TRY ME, I KNOW WE CAN MAKE IT (1976)

FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (all tracks) (1976)

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (all tracks) (1977)

ONCE UPON A TIME... (all tracks) (1977/1978)

LAST DANCE (1978)

MACARTHUR PARK SUITE (1978)

HOT STUFF/BAD GIRLS (1979)

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (1979)

MELODY OF LOVE (WANNA BE LOVED) (1995)

I WILL GO WITH YOU (1999)

LOVE IS THE HEALER (1999)

I'M A FIRE (2008)

STAMP YOUR FEET (2008)

FAME (THE GAME) (2009)

TO PARIS WITH LOVE (2010)

MACARTHUR PARK 2013 (2013)

HOT STUFF 2018 (2018)

Platinum Queen

Here’s a complete list of black female solo artists that have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Assn. of America, from the inception of platinum awards in January, 1976 to December, 1985. In the first decade of certifications, Donna Summer was the only black female solo artist to have platinum awards for three different albums.

DONNA SUMMER (Live And More, Bad Girls, On The Radio)
DIANA ROSS (Diana, Why Do Fools Fall In Love)
NATALIE COLE (Unpredictable, Thankful)
GLORIA GAYNOR (Love Tracks)
DIONNE WARWICK (Dionne)
TINA TURNER (Private Dancer)
CHAKA KHAN (I Feel For You)
ARETHA FRANKLIN (Who’s Zoomin’ Who?)

Grammy Awards

Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance, Female: LAST DANCE (1979)

Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female: HOT STUFF (1980)

Best Inspirational Performance: HE'S A REBEL (1984)

Best Inspirational Performance: FORGIVE ME (1985)

Best Dance Recording: CARRY ON (1998)

Grammy Nominations

Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: MAC ARTHUR PARK (1979)
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: BAD GIRLS (1980)
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance, Female: DIM ALL THE LIGHTS (1980)
Album of the year: BAD GIRLS (1980)
Best Disco Recording: BAD GIRLS (1980)
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: ON THE RADIO (1981)
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female: COLD LOVE (1981)
Best Inspirational Performance: I BELIEVE IN JESUS (1981)
Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance, Female: LOVE IS IN CONTROL (1983)
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female: PROTECTION (1983)
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (1984)
Best Dance Recording: I WILL GO WITH YOU (CON TE PARTIRO') (2000)

UK Charts

Albums

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (16)

A LOVE TRILOGY (41)

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (3)

ONCE UPON A TIME... (24)

GREATEST HITS... (4)

LIVE AND MORE (16)

BAD GIRLS (23)

ON THE RADIO/GREATEST HITS (24)

THE WANDERER (55)

DONNA SUMMER (13)

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (28)

CATS WITHOUT CLAWS (69)

ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME (17)

THE BEST OF DONNA SUMMER (24)

ENDLESS SUMMER - GREATEST HITS (37)

THE JOURNEY - THE VERY BEST OF (6)

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION (2016) (30)

Singles

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (4)

COULD IT BE MAGIC (40)

WINTER MELODY (27)

I FEEL LOVE (1)

DOWN, DEEP INSIDE (THEME FROM THE DEEP) (5)

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (14)

LOVE'S UNKIND (3)

I LOVE YOU (10)

RUMOUR HAS IT (19)

BACK IN LOVE AGAIN (29)

LAST DANCE (51)

MAC ARTHUR PARK (5)

HEAVEN KNOWS (34)

HOT STUFF (11)

BAD GIRLS (14)

DIM ALL THE LIGHTS (29)

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (3)

ON THE RADIO (32)

SUNSET PEOPLE (46)

WALK AWAY (36)

THE WANDERER (48)

COLD LOVE (44)

LOVE IS IN CONTROL (FINGER ON THE TRIGGER) (18)

STATE OF INDEPENDENCE (14)

I FEEL LOVE (REMIX) (21)

THE WOMAN IN ME (62)

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (25)

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE (15)

STOP LOOK AND LISTEN (57)

DINNER WITH GERSHWIN (13)

ALL SYSTEMS GO (54)

THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL (3)

I DON'T WANNA GET HURT (7)

LOVE'S ABOUT TO CHANGE MY HEART (20)

WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER YOU (72)

STATE OF INDEPENDENCE (45)

BREAKAWAY (49)

WORK THAT MAGIC (74)

MELODY OF LOVE (WANNA BE LOVED) (21)

I FEEL LOVE (REMIX) (8)

STATE OF INDEPENDENCE (REMIX) (13)

CARRY ON (65)

I WILL GO WITH YOU (CON TE PARTIRO') (44)

I FEEL LOVE (RE-RELEASE) (45)

Could have been smash hits...

The Summer catalogue is filled with strange cases of album tracks which seemed to be perfect for a single release but were unreasonably ignored by the record companies.

WASTED (from A LOVE TRILOGY)
FAIRY TALE HIGH (from ONCE UPON A TIME...)
LUCKY (from BAD GIRLS)
LOOKIN' UP (from THE WANDERER)
MYSTERY OF LOVE (from DONNA SUMMER)
TOKYO (from SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY)
OH BILLY PLEASE/I'M FREE (from CATS WITHOUT CLAWS)
THE ONLY ONE/SENTIMENTAL (from ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME)
CRY OF A WAKING HEART (from MISTAKEN IDENTITY)
YOU TO ME/PEOPLE TALK (from I'M A RAINBOW)
THE QUEEN IS BACK (from CRAYONS)

The Queen of Rock & Roll

Donna wasn't just the Queen of Disco: her recording career is filled with wonderfully rocking performances too.

WOUNDED (1974)
BLACK LADY (1977)
HOT STUFF (1979)
MY BABY UNDERSTANDS (1979)
THE WANDERER (1980)
LOOKING UP (1980)
RUNNING FOR COVER (1980)
COLD LOVE (1980)
NIGHT LIFE (1980)
STOP ME (1980)
HIGHWAY RUNNER (1981)
PROTECTION (1982)
SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (1983)
HE'S A REBEL (1983)
OH BILLY PLEASE (1984)
FAME (THE GAME) (2008)

The Summer Connection

Though Donna's recordings and vocal perfomances remain unmatchable, most of these covers are quite fun and enjoyable.

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (Samantha Fox, Tom Tom Club, WR, No Doubt, Maxine Nightingale)

I FEEL LOVE (Bronski Beat,Vanessa Mae, Public Domain, France Joli)

I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (Tony Orlando)

LOVE'S UNKIND (Toyah Willcox, Sophie Lawrence, Belle Lawrence)

I LOVE YOU (Thelma Houston)

LAST DANCE (Selena, Marcia Hines, Thelma Houston)

HEAVEN KNOWS (Michelle Weeks, Carol Douglas)

HOT STUFF (Mietta, Marilyn's Boys, Pussycat Dolls, Linda Clifford)

BAD GIRLS (Juliet Roberts , Anita Ward)

DIM ALL THE LIGHTS (Laura Branigan , Maxine Nightingale)

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT (Naomi Campbell, Bruce Roberts)

SUNSET PEOPLE (E.G. Daily)

NO MORE TEARS (k.d. lang & Andy Bell, Kym Mazell & Jocelyn Brown, Amber & Zelma Davis)

ON THE RADIO (Emmylou Harris,Selena, Martine McCutcheon, Kristine W, Maxine Nightingale, The Saturdays)

YOU TO ME (Amii Stewart)

SWEET EMOTION (Amii Stewart)

TO TURN THE STONE (Frida)

LOVE IS IN CONTROL (Sheena Easton , France Joli)

THE WOMAN IN ME (Heart)

SOMETIMES LIKE BUTTERFLIES (Dusty Springfield, Kristine W)

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (Young Divas, Linda Clifford)

THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL (Melanie Wilson, Young Divas)

LOVE'S ABOUT TO CHANGE MY HEART (Drama)

HEAVEN'S JUST A WHISPER AWAY (Regina Belle)

A song for us!

All the fans who've been lucky enough to see Donna in concert know that FRIENDS UNKNOWN is an extra special song, coming straight from her heart...

FRIENDS UNKNOWN

(I'm writing you this song

'Cause I've always wanted to let you know

That no matter where you go my love is with you)

Long after the curtain falls it's you I hear

Breaking down the walls to let me know you're there

So sincerely you've stood beside me all through the years

Together we have grown, my friends unknown

Down on your knees you pray... for me

Deep in my heart you'll stay eternally

You can turn my gray skies blue

There's just no me without you

For all the love you've shown, my friends unknown

This road may be long and winding

But no matter where it takes me to

I will always find my way back to you

(And you should know

That no matter where you go

I'm always there for you

I pray for you and I love you

Eternally...)

And if we never, never ever meet again

You'll always know where I stand
I'll never be alone my friends unknown

For all the love you've shown...

I wanna thank you

My friends unknown

Donna Summer 1991

More lyrics written by Donna