Reportedly inspired by a real encounter with a working woman, the title track of this album rocked the charts in the early 1980s. In her song, She Works Hard For The Money Summer's message was to celebrate the efforts women made in generating income to keep the home fires burning. Known as the Queen of Disco Donna Summer, is the only one who can fit this title ever.

Produced by Michael Omartian (Christopher Cross, Rod Stewart), the album features 9 songs co penned or penned by Summer herself in a diverse array of styles; pop, dance, rock, ballads, and calypso laced. The album made it to #9 in the US and was certified gold.

The title track was a US #3-hit, and blazed up to a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Song. The second single Unconditional Love was good and fresh too and had UK reggae group Musical Youth chip in offering a catchy calypso tinged number with Caribbean steel drums, congas, and all kinds of percussion and lyrics about a place where people can run free. Stop Look & Listen with some synth driven by Stevie Wonder channeling, is a brassy song with lyrics about the state of the world; `Prophets of our times/written on streetcar walls/can't you see them cry/can't you hear them call'. This was a UK hit single on its release.

He's a Rebel is pure rock & roll piece, with fiery guitars, crashing drums, dramatic horns, with some great lyrics. Woman is a funky danceable R&B song with some raging horns and wicked guitar by Ray Parker Jr, and lyrics about being a woman and letting your man be who he is and take control, according to God's master plan. Summer received a lot of flak for her seemingly anti-feminist lyrics, but it was taken well.

People People is a bit low compared to the others. Her preachy lyrics go a bit over the top like - "Father wants to hear from you all, it's a shame but it's no tragedy, you've been gone much too long, can't you see, Dieu vous appelle!"

The next song would be anyone’s favorite for it’s the mysterious, surreal Tokyo. This synth driven R&B/pop number starts with a magical piano intro (repeated at the bridge) and features an excellent sax break, great percussion, and lyrics about meeting a spy in Tokyo who told her things about herself that she could tell nobody else, an Ian Fleming mystery.

The ballad Love Has A Mind Of Its Own raises the bar and is a mesmeric soulful piano ballad, featuring a powerful vocal performance from Donna and Gospel singer Mathew Ward.

Her closing ballad I Do Believe (I Fell In Love) is a heart touching piece of work. The lyrics `If I made mistakes please forgive me/Oh Charlie B don't you run away'. The song starts off gentle with piano, sprinklings of sax, delicate percussion, and an initial gentle vocal delivery from Donna before firing up for the grand finale. It’s one of her best ballads ever. Beautiful words… I'm gonna love you like nobody's loved you come rain or shine…

The album falls more into Donna’a Christian roots, and highly flavored with her newly rediscovered faith. The album boasts great production, perfect vocals and a wonderful message all the way.  

Rest in Peace you wonderful singer. We Miss You.

Manufacturer: ‎ Polygram Records

Original Release Date: ‎ 1990

Date First Available: 12^th ‎ January, 2007

Label: ‎ Polygram Records

Rating:*****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira