Rating: ****
Donna Summer’s performance at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, California, to an audience of 18,000 fans, took place on 6th August 1983 – the hottest day of the year. With temperatures sizzling at over 105 F /44.5 C, the scene was set for a sensational performance – and that’s exactly what the Queen of Disco delivered.
A Hot Summer Night is the third official live album from Donna Summer, following the iconic Live and More and Live and More: Encore releases, and the recording took place following the release of her 11th studio album, She Works Hard For The Money.
The record came hot on the heels of the the success of her self-titled 1982 album and the twice Grammy-nominated Love Is In Control (Finger on the Trigger), and went on to become Summer’s most successful album of the decade – pipping her Stock Aitken Waterman smash, Another Place and Time.
What’s significant about the era is the level of input the star had on her music – she wrote or co-wrote every track on the record, and the era sees Summer taking full ownership of her status as a music icon. That feat is perfectly exemplified on A Hot Summer Night.
Beginning with Summer’s usual opener, MacArthur Park, the disco diva segues through a decade’s worth of hits, including On The Radio, Bad Girls, Dim All The Lights, Last Dance, and State of Independence. Three songs from She Works Hard For The Money – its title track, Unconditional Love (with special guests Musical Youth), and Woman – are also performed, along with the I’m A Rainbow cuts Romeo (as featured in Flashdance) and her cover of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.
As with all of her live performances, the vocals are flawless, with Summer belting out the opener, switching from lush ballad to rock and roll for Romeo, and taking it back to 79 for the Bad Girls disco medley with ease. The entire performance is a triumph.
The release is packaged with an essay by writer Christian John Wikane, featuring brand new interviews with film director Brian Grant, executive producer Len R. Epand, and internationally renowned choreographer, Arlene Phillips, who called the show “a dream” – comparing it to a full-scale Vegas show.
It’s also a family affair, with Sumer’s sisters Dara and Mary Ellen on an extended showpiece version of Woman, and her eldest daughter Mimi closing the show for the performance of State of Independence.
That’s all the more reason why packaging the record with the DVD would have elevated the release and made it a true gem – particularly since, to get the DVD, fans have to fork out on the CD too. Of course, we don’t object – it’s Donna freaking Summer(!) – but who doesn’t love to feel like they’re getting a bargain?
Anyway, back to the music – what more is there to say… A+ music, stunningly packaged and presented, with hit after hit after hit. Another essential live album to add to your Donna Summer collection.
Donna Summer: A Hot Summer Night, 180g Purple Vinyl is available to order here.
