TOP 200 FAVE ALBUMS. Today: #84. Continues tomorrow.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums I enjoy the most to this day.

#84

THE WANDERER: DONNA SUMMER

 

 [1980] 

Despite never confining herself to disco, Donna Summer was to be forever be linked with the genre. Wisely sensing that dance music's appeal was on the wane, she began to re-position herself as the 1980s commenced. She left Casablanca Records and signed with new label Geffen Records. 'The Wanderer' marked a real watershed. The songs left disco far behind, taking in new electronic sounds marking that this was a new decade. Summer's R&B vocals were injected with renewed vigour. There was a stronger R&B tinge on most tracks. Rather than a radical shift, Summer opted for an update that reflected and foresaw the new directions music would follow in the 1980s. She still had Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte on board, helping shape her new musical approach. They would also reshape their musical style to reflect the new pop landscape of the decade. Sadly, this was to be their final full album collaboration with Summer (the follow-up 'I'm A Rainbow' was shelved but was released years later). 'The Wanderer' is often underrated. It has many tracks of interest. The title track announced the dawn of the 80s. Summer's R&B credentials are most evident on "Who Do You Think You're Foolin'"and "Breakdown". She rocks out on "Nightlife" and "Cold Love". The funk is amped up on "Stop Me". "Grand Illusion" uses the technological new possibilities offered at the time, resulting in a synth song like no other that is waiting to be properly recognized. The album closes with Summer's gospel on her self-penned "I Believe In Jesus".

Highlight tracks: Who Do You Think You're Foolin'; The Wanderer; Breakdown & Stop Me.