Paul Jabara and Donna Summer at the 51st Academy Awards in 1979. Photo from the collection of Dario and Hannah Salvi
Aug. 14, 1979. In a newly renovated studio in Santa Monica, two legendary figures are face-to-face. On one side, Barbra Streisand, an indisputable music hall icon with nearly 20 years of career and over 50 million albums sold. On the other, Donna Summer, a dazzling representative of the disco era in full swing, riding a wave of popularity celebrated by critics and disc jockeys — true king- and queen-makers in America’s vanity-driven kingdom.Brought together in secret for the recording of a song specially designed to meet their respective demands, the prima donnas warm up their vocal cords with nonsensical murmurs and cups of imported tea. They know this collaboration, which is anything but friendly, is intended first to modernize Streisand’s classic repertoire and add a touch of prestige to Summer’s.Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand in...
Aug. 14, 1979. In a newly renovated studio in Santa Monica, two legendary figures are face-to-face. On one side, Barbra Streisand, an indisputable music hall icon with nearly 20 years of career and over 50 million albums sold. On the other, Donna Summer, a dazzling representative of the disco era in full swing, riding a wave of popularity celebrated by critics and disc jockeys — true king- and queen-makers in America’s vanity-driven kingdom.Brought together in secret for the recording of a song specially designed to meet their respective demands, the prima donnas warm up their vocal cords with nonsensical murmurs and cups of imported tea. They know this collaboration, which is anything but friendly, is intended first to modernize Streisand’s classic repertoire and add a touch of prestige to Summer’s.Donna Summer and Barbra...