Donna Summer - VH1 Presents: Live & More Encore!

Since her '70s heyday as disco's reigning diva (and one of its most adventurous artists), Donna Summer has scored the odd hit: "She Works Hard for the Money," "This Time I Know It's for Real." She's still best remembered for the likes of "Last Dance," "Dim All the Lights," and "I Feel Love," though, and this VH1-tie-in comeback bid concentrates on full-bodied if somewhat murkily mixed versions of those classics and their kin. The two new studio cuts that round out the disc are OK at best, although they do display Summer's ability to adapt to changes in pop-dance sounds. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

Disco Icon Donna Summer !!!

Hi It's me Again, What more can be said about Donner Summer, except that she is Awesome in all her music and is by far one of the biggest diva's of all time and the Disco Era. She Lives on and on ! Go Girl !!!!! Sincerely Stephen June 20, 2008

An amazing Summer night!

As Donna Summer is preparing to release her first studio CD in 17 years (yes) in a few months time, I decided to review this, the recording of her VH-1 concert from 1999. Her first live album, "Live and more" released in 1978 went double platinum and hit #1 in the US.

It comprises 11 songs performed live, 10 of them US top 10 hits; "MacArthur park" (#1), "This time I know it's for real" (#7), a lovely trance version of "I feel love" (#6), "On the radio" (#5), "No more tears (enough is enough)" (#1)with Australian songstress Tina Arena doing the Barbra Streisand part, a raspy Rod Stewart-like rendition of "Dim all the lights" (#2) which segues into her disco version (she explained here that she'd written this song for Rod but chickened out and did it herself), "She works hard for the money" (#3), "Bad girls" (#1), an energetic performance of her Grammy winning rock song "Hot stuff" (#1), "My life" (a catchy new song in her classic ballad/disco style), and the Grammy and Oscar winning "Last dance" (#3).

Sounding in excellent form with none of her vocal power diminished at age 50 (then), this showcased her dazzling talent and showed that Summer still has "it" in spades. (I saw her live in 2004 and she was amazing). Performed in that concert additionally were 5 songs not available here on the CD but available on the accompanying DVD.

Also included are 2 new studio tracks, "Love is the healer" (a killer dance anthem with Gregorian chants and one of Donna's famous extended notes), and "I will go with you (con te partiro)", a Hex Hector produced dance remake of the Andrea Boccelli song "Con te partiro" (with an astonishing high killer note at the end). Both songs hit #1 on Billboard's dance charts with the latter earning Donna yet another Grammy nomination for best dance song (she lost to Cher's "Believe").

The album sold a little under half a million copies in the US, with the concert the highest ever rated VH-1 concert by a solo artist. She's released the odd single since then; "The power of one", "You're so beautiful", "I got your love", "Power of love" (from the Luther tribute CD), and appeared on numerous soundtracks and compilations, but her fans have been waiting (im)patiently for that new studio release that will mark the return of Summer.
February 13, 2008

DONNA IS 5 STARS BUT

My only complaint is that the other songs like the SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, RIDING THROUGH THE STORM, IF THERE IS MUSIC THERE, I DON'T WANNA WORK, AND NOBODY, were left off. So really this is LIVE AND LESS ENCORE! I guess once more Sony thinks that the fans only want to hear her back catalogue of hits rather than new ones, whitch to me, are my most favorites that she does live. At least an edited shorter live version of MY LIFE is on there. Hmm guess they know what we want to hear. Whatever. Buy the DVD so you can have all of the LIVE AND MORE ENCORE instead of the one that is LESS. At least the 2 new studio songs are a plus. January 31, 2007

Donna Summer: VH1 PRESENTS DONNA SUMMER: LIVE AND MORE: ENCORE! (1999)

In 1999, Donna Summer had decided it was time to release another live album. That live album is entitled, VH1 PRESENTS DONNA SUMMER: LIVE AND MORE: ENCORE!. Yes, this live album is a follow up to Donna Summer's 1978 live album entitled, LIVE AND MORE. The concert featured on this album was recorded from Donna Summer's live concert that was aired on VH1. When Donna Summer released her first live album back in 1978, her voice sounded very strong during a live performance. When I hear this 1999 live album, I hear that her voice has gotten so much stronger over the years. I always loved Donna Summer's voice, but I began to love her voice even more when it became even stronger than before. She has got such a powerful voice that only becomes more powerful as the years go on. This live album really lives up to the 1978 original LIVE AND MORE.

MacARTHUR PARK
Original version from the single MacARTHUR PARK (1978). YEAH! She opened up with one of her ultimate disco-dance songs. Love this performance.

THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL
Origjnal version from the album ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME (1989). WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She performed one of my all-time favorite songs of hers. I love this song, and she performes it amazing right here.

I FEEL LOVE
Original version from the album I REMEMBER YESTERDAY (1977). An awesome performance.

ON THE RADIO
Original version from the album ON THE RADIO: GREATEST HITS VOLUMES I & II (1979). I love how she performs this song. Her voice sounds to powerful. Amazing performance. If I ever get the chance to see her in concert, where she performs this song, you know I'll be on my feet, dancing my fricking a** off, until I'm drowning in my own sweat.

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) (performed by Donna Summer & Tina Arena)
Original version from Barbra Streisand's album WET (1979). Seems that Barbra Streisand was not available to sing her parts for this classic Diva Duet. But Donna Summer recruited Tina Arena, a sexy Australian singer who has been very popular all over the place. Tina sings very well. Donna, if you're reading this, you still can those notes. Keep it up.

DIM ALL THE LIGHTS
Original version from the album BAD GIRLS (1979). I literally had no idea that Donna Summer had originally written this for Rod Stewart, but decided to keep it for herself. What I thought was brilliant was how she started the song off to make it sound like the way Rod Stewart would have performed it. Donna, if you are reading this, you did an amazing impression Rod Stewart. If Rod was watching you perform this song, I know for a fact, he watched with a huge smile on his face, and then saluted you. Great job here.

SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY
Original version from the album SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY (1983). I have always loved this song, but Donna performs this one brilliantly. She sings this one with so much aggression and energy. I don't know how this woman does it.

BAD GIRLS
Original version from the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Awesome performance. And I always like it when girls are...bad...and naughty.

HOT STUFF
Original version from the album BAD GIRLS (1979). Jesus Chriminese! She performs this song with so much *censored* energy. Awesome performance. Love it.

MY LIFE
Original version from the original play ORDINARY GIRL. Great.

LAST DANCE
Original version from the original motion picture & motion picture soundtrack THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY (1978). She picked the best song to end this concert. Great song. Always a classic.

LOVE IS THE HEALER (Studio Recorded Track)
New song. Previously unreleased. Great.

I WILL GO WITH YOU (CON TE PARTIRO) (Studio Recorded Track)
New song. Previously unreleased. Great song.

This is an album that all Donna Summer fans should already have. No excuses. If you don't have it, get it. Awesome live album. November 18, 2006

Donna Summer -Live Encore

Whatever you remember about the "Disco Queen" is brought back on this performance.....her voice is much richer now and that only adds to the enjoyment of the music. September 25, 2005

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