It's called
Another Place And Time because it was recorded in another place, known as London. We had a song by that name on the album and it just fit with the idea of the album
- Donna Summer, APAT Press Kit 1989 |
ONCE UPON A TIME: We've never had so many inquiries and phone calls about any other project than we have over the last four months about "Another Place And Time" (WEA UK) by Donna Summer. The album was produced by none other than Stock Aitken & Waterman and is one of Summer's most satisfying and consistent in a very long time.
-
Billboard, April 1, 1989 |
A great portion of this album is dance-oriented because I wanted to build back that base.
- Donna Summer, Billboard July 29, 1989
|
My music tends to have broad demographics so I wanted to be able to convey different personalities in the songs on this album - everything doesn't have to be dramatic.
- Donna Summer, Billboard July 29, 1989
|
BONUS AUDIO CLIP: Donna talking about the Another Place And Time album cover on Arsenio Hall, 1989
|
 |
|
On Stock, Aitken & Waterman (SAW):
I was in Europe in 1987 and my husband Bruce said to me you should work with these guys. I didn't really know who they were at the time, and then I heard Rick Astley, who was great, and I loved his production. So we met up in London and we hit it off immediately.
- Donna Summer, APAT Press Kit 1989
|
When Donna's record company asked if we'd like to do it, it was like a dream come true. Just to heat that voice coming back at you through the monitors in the studio was absolutely fantastic. She was brilliant to work with. No more than two takes on any vocal.
- Pete Waterman, APAT Press Kit 1989
|
On SAW:
They have a vision and their vision cannot be completed if it's dissipated by a lot of other people's ideas. But they have a good sense of who I am, they have a good sense of the market, they know what my career has been, and so I feel very secure with them.
- Donna Summer, APAT Press Kit 1989 |
On SAW:
It's like a factory over there. They work, they're not playing, they really mean business, so I have to take my hat off to them. They're very very creative and very on the case. They have Motown Records as their model, only with some better ethics, perhaps, for the artists. Anyone that wants to be on their record label or to be produced by them has to go in as a helper in the office so that they get to see what it takes to be a star, and that it isn't all themselves and all their own ego and that it takes a lot of people working towards one dream.
- Donna Summer, APAT Press Kit 1989 |
On SAW::
DMR: …I've heard many humorous stories about what it's like to work with them, from ridiculous things like Rick Astley having to make tea in the studio to God knows what. You've been there. Are they as eccentric as they've been made out to be or are these stories untrue?
DONNA: "(laughing) No they're really true! At least with the kids that they're working with and the artists they've brought up (from nowhere), though they didn't with me. But, seriously, at the same time they encourage these kids' own talent. I mean, Rick Astley did write four of the songs on his own album and is a very talented guy in his own right… much more talented than people have any clue about…."
DMR: What was it like to work and write songs with them?
DONNA: "They really work! Basically it was very easy to write and work with them. I have never been with any group of producers who work as hard as these people do. Never!"
DONNA: "I certainly would work with them again; it's simply that I can't go to England at this point in time (and) they rarely, if ever, work over here. Working with them is so easy… they just put (the music) there and you say 'Okay I like this track and this track' Then I'd go home and start writing. Every day that I was over there we'd all get together to write and record… Every day! 'This Time I Know It's For Real' was written and recorded, almost exactly as you hear it, on the very first day we got together. We never had any disagreements at all… I went in and sang each song the way I wanted to sing it and they (recorded and produced the tracks)
the way they wanted and that was it. They made it very easy for me."
-
Dance Music Report April 26- May 9, 1990 |
BONUS AUDIO CLIP: Donna talking about SAW in a 1989 UK interview.
|
 |
|
BONUS AUDIO CLIP: Donna talking about SAW in another 1989 UK interview.
|
 |
|
BONUS AUDIO CLIP: Donna talking about SAW on Live At 5 in 1989.
|
 |
|
On Geffen Records:
It was not a match made in heaven. I noticed that aside from their work in the hard rock category, they didn't really have much success in other areas. I felt betrayed about the whole situation, especially since I wanted to leave several years ago and they made me wait out my contract. It seemed no matter what I did musically, they couldn't get behind what I was doing…even Dinner With Gershwin.
- Donna Summer, Billboard July 29, 1989
|
BONUS AUDIO CLIP: Donna talking about her "comeback" and her relationship with Geffen Records on Live at 5 in 1989.
|
 |
|
On signing with Atlantic:
Everyone was bidding on it. I had a call from every single major label in the United States. Basically, it was a problem of logistics. We'd gotten reports of I don't know how many thousands of import copies being leaked into this country and we were losing not only money but other opportunities as well (note: specifically domestic radio momentum) and so we had to go with whatever label could release the album the fastest. That was Atlantic, but we could just as easily signed with CBS, Arista or anyone. Besides, Atlantic has a great dance department…
- Donna Summer, Dance Music Report April 26 - May 9, 1990
|
On Atlantic Records:
From the first meeting, I felt it was like being with a record company in the old sense. A lot of the staff has been there for a long time so there's a stability - plus Ahmet [Ertegun] has been a music man all his life, worked with greats like Aretha Franklin and Bette Midler, and established careers.
- Donna Summer, Billboard July 29, 1989
|
DONNA SUMMER: This Time I Know It's For Real
Major entry last week makes quite the leap, proving that Summer could be early this year. Even a familiar SAW production can’t keep this singer's distinctive delivery from winning this time on her label debut.
-
Billboard April 29, 1989
|
BONUS AUDIO CLIP: Donna talking about This Time I Know It's For Real on MTV Europe, 1989.
|
 |
|
This Time I Know It's For Real, the first single from Miss Summer's new album , is a sterling moment on the record - perfect light summer listening that strikes the ideal balance between Miss Summer's potent singing and the producers' knack for magnetic rhythms.
- Chuck Campbell Cox News Service, June 11, 1989
|
DONNA SUMMER: Love's About To Change My Heart
Song recalls Summer's hits of the past. Pulsating dance rhythm, inspiring lyric, and a vocal that radiates.
-
Billboard, August 29, 1989
|
I thought that [Breakaway] was a great song. I love that song, (but) Atlantic actually wanted a different track (I Don't Wanna Get Hurt or When Love Takes Over You) and maybe that made a difference.
- Donna Summer, Dance Music Report April 26- May 9, 1990
|