THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

78-Donna Summer-Love to Love You Baby.

1975-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 11.40. (It’s well worth the wait.) If you were born sometime in 1976, then there is a fair chance that you were conceived to this song.

Donna Summer (see also best songs 11) was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31st, 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, she died from lung cancer on May 17th, 2012, at the age of 63. In 1973 she married the Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer, and took his surname for her recording career, but due to an error in printing on the record cover of her 1974 single ‘Denver Dream,’ Donna Sommer became Donna Summer, and the name stuck. Donna Summer who was a leading light in the ‘Disco’ era of the 1970’s, also became known as the ‘Queen of Disco.’

In 1968 Donna Summer landed the part of ‘Sheila’ in the Munich production of ‘Hair,’ (see also best songs 202) and moved to Germany, where she became fluent in the language. It was in 1968 as Donna Gaines that she released her first single, a German version of ‘Aquarius,’ from the musical ‘Hair.’ During the next three years Donna would appear on three Albums of cast recordings, and release three commercially unsuccessful singles. For a more in depth discography for Donna Summer see best songs 11.

It was while working as a part time model, and backing singer in Munich in 1973 that Donna Summer first met the music producers Giorgio Moroder, and Peter Bellotte, which led to the recording of Summer’s debut studio Album ‘Lady of the Night,’ which was issued in February 1974, and included her breakthrough hit single ‘The Hostage,’ which peaked at Number 2 in the Netherlands.

‘Love to Love You Baby’ which was also the title track of Donna Summer’s second studio Album from August 1975, was co-written by Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and Pete Bellotte, with the songs production being credited to Bellotte. It was Summer who suggested to Moroder that the lyrics ‘Love to Love You Baby’ might make for a song, and Moroder went away and came up with a demo recording. A tape was sent to Neil Bogart (1943-1982) who was the president of ‘Casablanca Records’ who played it at a party at his home. His guests were so impressed that they kept on asking to hear it again, leading to Bogart asking Moroder if he could write a longer version. Moroder came up with a recording that lasted 16.49, which became an inspiration for extended ‘Disco’ versions of songs to be made, and it also was one of the songs that kick started the release of the 12 inch single format.

Donna Summer had had a religious upbringing, and at first wanted someone else to record the song, but after hearing Donna’s erotic moans and groans Moroder was very impressed, and managed to persuade her to perform the song. Summer tried to record the track in the conventional manner, but realised she was too shy, so Moroder suggested that that she could have the studio to herself with all the lights turned down. In an interview in 1976 Summer finally answered the question everyone was asking.’Were you alone in the studio?’Yes, I was alone in the studio. ‘Did you touch yourself?’ Yes, well, actually I had my hand on my knee.’ According to a tally by ‘Time’ magazine, Summer can be heard simulating 22 orgasms over the course of the song.

‘I love to love you baby. When you’re laying so close to me, there’s no place I’d rather you be than with me. Do it to me again and again, you put me in such a awful spin, in a spin.’