Donna Summer - I'm a Rainbow: Recovered & Recoloured (National Album Day 2021)

15.10.21 - NATIONAL ALBUM DAY 21 - BLUE VINYL LP

It's September 1981 and it's matter of weeks away from the release of I'm a Rainbow, the second album Donna Summer had recorded for Geffen Records, which had also been produced by Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. At the time that the album was being recorded, the musical landscape had changed and production techniques were developing further. Geffen also wanted a more R&B-influenced album, despite the album having a more R&B feel than The Wanderer had done. The songs and their lyrical content were very strong and Donna's voice had never sounded better, which was always a tough comparison against previous albums. A decision was taken by the label to withdraw I'm a Rainbow just prior to its release. David Geffen then brought-in Quincy Jones to produce the next new album; 1982's Donna Summer.

I'm a Rainbow was eventually issued in 1996, as an 18-track CD, without the usual fanfare that heralded a ‘new’ Donna Summer album. A few tracks were familiar to Donna and non-Donna fans, as they had been released in the early 1980s; Highway Runner (Fast Times at Ridgemont High OST) and Romeo (Flashdance OST). Flashdance also included the ballad Lady, Lady, Lady which was performed by original Brooklyn Dreams singer Joe 'Bean' Esposito, who appears on the duet I Believe (In You).

Fast-forward 40 years and I'm a Rainbow receives a fresh coat of paint, giving credence to the songs great lyrics and compositions that they richly deserved at the time. I'm a Rainbow: Recovered and Recoloured has been slimmed-down to a compact 10-track album and completely reimagined by a host of international producers, from North AND South America, Europe and Scandinavia. Junior Vasquez, Le Flex, Figo Sound, Jean Tonique, Ladies on Mars and Oliver Nelson - who has recently signed to Atlantic Records - have all added their touch.

The album now has a thread running through it, with a sequence that sees the album open with the beautiful title track and builds throughout the album through soul and dance, ending with the high-octane girl power statement track, Leave Me Alone (Ladies on Mars Independence Remix)

Tracklist:

1. I'm a Rainbow (Junior's Shiny Rainbow Edit)
2. I Believe (In You) (Duet with Joe Bean Esposito) (Figo Sound Version)
3. Back Where You Belong (Jean Tonique Remix)
4. You to Me (Oliver Nelson Remix)
5. Don't Cry for Me Argentina (Ladies on Mars Buenos Aires Remix)
6. Sweet Emotion (Le Flex Remix)
7. Brooklyn (Ladies on Mars Child of Rhythm Remix)
8. Romeo (Ladies on Mars Luv-NRG Remix)
9. Highway Runner (Ladies on Mars Street Race Remix)
10. Leave Me Alone (Ladies on Mars Independence Remix)