After living the previous decade as the overtly sexual queen of disco Donna Summer entered the 80s experimenting with a few different musical styles and appeared to have lost herself in the wandering. With return to her roots with more of an 80-‘s pop/rock edge, a ferocious vocal delivery and a new born again spirit Donna Summer released one of the biggest albums in her lengthy career entitled “She Works Hard for the Money.” My little Christian bookstore was probably the second store in the country to carry it after I saw it being sold at Maranatha Village. I grabbed a copy immediately, both out of fascination and also to see if it was something I could convince my bosses to carry. Once you get past the often misunderstood innuendo of the opening cut’s title and realized that it actually is a powerful, woman endorsing tribute the rest of the album was an easy fit. “He’s a Rebel” is clearly a testimonial song about her new found faith in the “rebel” Jesus Christ and has a decidedly more rock edge and clearly influenced by producer Michael Omartian. “Unconditional Love” featured popular reggae sensation “Musical Youth.” The song would later receive a punk remodel when covered by Christian punk/rock band the Altar Boys. Another mainstay in Christian Music circles, Matthew Ward (2nd Chapter of Acts) does a duet on “Love Has a Mind of It’s Own” and, as a result, received some pretty good reception of Christian radio. Summer would continue to add more Gospel tinged lyrics to future releases but would not match the success or create such an overall realized album of Christian content.
Contributor David Lowman – https://legacyccmsgreatestalbums.wordpress.com/
Tracklist
1 – She Works Hard For The Money – 5:19
2 – Stop, Look And Listen – 5:46
3 – He’s A Rebel – 4:22
4 – Woman – 4:19
5 – Unconditional Love – 4:41
6 – Love Has A Mind Of Its Own – 4:16
7 – Tokyo – 4:25
8 – People, People – 4:38
9 – I Do Believe (I Fell In Love) – 4:34
Credits
Art Direction, Design – Chris Whorf
Backing Vocals – Dara Lynn Bernard, Mary E. Bernard, Matthew Ward, Roberta Kelly
Bass – Nathan East
Concertmaster – Assa Drori
Congas – Lenny Castro
Coordinator [Production] – Yvonne Garcia
Drum Programming [Simmons] – John Gilston
Drums – Mike Baird
Engineer [Assistant] – Larry Fergusson, Ross Pallone
Horns – Charlie Loper*, Chuck Findley, Dick Hyde, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Liner Notes – Donna
Mastered By [A&M] – Bernie Grundman
Mastered By [Future Disc] – Steve Hall
Photography By – Harry Langdon
Piano, Synthesizer – Michael Omartian
Producer, Arranged By – Michael Omartian
Programmed By [Synthesizers] – Michael Boddicker
Recorded By, Mixed By – John Guess
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Phonogram International B.V.
Copyright © – Phonogram International B.V.
Recorded At – Lion Share Recording Studios
Recorded At – Hollywood Sound Recorders
Recorded At – Rhema Studios
Mixed At – Lion Share Recording Studios
Mixed At – Hollywood Sound Recorders
Mixed At – Rhema Studios
Mastered At – Future Disc
Mastered At – A&M Mastering Studios
Pressed By – PRC Recording Company, Compton, CA
Manufactured By – Polygram Records, Inc.
Marketed By – Polygram Records, Inc.
