This 1980 special is a true document for the fans, it's a shame that the producers of the show don't share this with any of us disco- and Donna fans. I have an old VHS of the show which is barely usable to watch, so please restore this document on DVD and anyone can see the Bad Girls-decor used on the show and some unique videos of Sunset People, On the Radio, Bad Girls etc.
3 Reviews
An epic post-production thrill
Climer28 October 2003
I fully believe if the Powers-that-be would allow, the Donna Summer Special could be released from original 2-inch edited-master videotape in true stereo remix with about a month's work. I edited the special during the last three months of 1979 and know for a fact that although it was mixed in mono (widespread use of stereo TV was five years in the future at the time), all of the original audio tracks were simultaneously recorded and saved on either 16 or 24 tracks from the Hollywood Bowl or 8 track one-inch tape at ABC/Prospect Avenue. I insisted on the show being sweetened (rerecorded for applause,etc.) at 30 inches per second at the time. The legal hoops would be the biggest hassle in getting the material together to reconstruct the show for DVD, but I feel strongly that it would stand up beautifully against today's standards, both in video and audio quality. I'd love to spearhead the effort if there is enough interest.
TC
TC
The Donna Summer Special (1980).., what went wrong?!
franklin-fuentes17 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I am a HUGE Donna Summer fan, as well as being obsessed with Disco music! Having said that, it pains me to say that this long awaited, and anticipated TV special wasn't very good. This is no reflection on the beautiful, talented Donna Summer.. But more on the fault of her (then) record label; Casablanca Records (of whom I am also in awe of today), for obviously not providing a substantial budget/ backing needed for the largest musical artist of that day.. As well the producer(s), writers, etc.. The shows production comes off as cheesy, and amateurish for many reasons. For starters the cast of extras seems to feature possible friends/ relatives & records label employees, opposed to actors/ professional dancers. Another complaint of mine was the quality of Donna's guest stars, if you can call them "stars"? Then, a record label of Casablanca Records magnitude should've been able to score bigger celebrities than Robert Guillaume (of TVs Benson), Twiggy, Deborah Lee-Scott (a featured player on TVs Mary Hartman and Welcome Back Kotter) and (B-list comedienne) Pat Ast. An ideal cast of guest stars might include Cher (who was signed to Casablanca Records at that time), Casablanca Records artists; The Brooklyn Dreams (who had a major hit with Donna, and whom Donna was married to a member of), John Travolta (whose brother; Joey Travolta, was also a label-mate of Donna's at that time), Barbara Streisand (who sang the hit song, Enough Is Enough, with Donna), and I'll add Linda Carter (TVs Wonder Woman) in for very good measure. I've seen Donna in concert many times and I can honestly say that the concert footage was not pure in performance, but was merely footage that was being filmed specifically to be used for this (or for any) TV special. Donna's hit songs were never featured in their entirety, and weren't even all sang by her on the special. I could go on forever listing this TV specials faults, but the bottom line is this.. A major network TV special for a beautiful, Oscar winning songstress (that had a catalog of songs that almost matched the likes of Diana Ross) could've written itself. Still I suggest that this TV special, consisting of Donna performing her hit songs, should be released today for Donna's legion of fans if for no other reason. And Donna, if you've read this.. Please know that I ADORE you! For only a true fan would have cared enough to have written this..,
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