"Dinner with Gershwin" is a song written by Brenda Russell and recorded by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer. The song was produced by Russell and Richard Perry. It was released on August 14, 1987 as the lead single from her 13th studio album All Systems Go (1987) by Geffen Records.
| "Dinner with Gershwin" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Donna Summer | ||||
| from the album All Systems Go | ||||
| B-side | "Dinner with Gershwin (Instrumental)" | |||
| Released | August 14, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | Studio 55, Los Angeles, 1987 | |||
| Genre | Dance-pop, R&B | |||
| Length | 4:12 (7" version) 4:35 (LP version) 4:52 (Instrumental) 7:43 (Extended version) | |||
| Label | Geffen (U.S.) Warner Bros. Records (Europe) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Brenda Russell | |||
| Producer(s) | Richard Perry & Brenda Russell | |||
| Donna Summer singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Dinner with Gershwin" on YouTube | ||||
Despite its parent album receiving mixed-to-negative reception, "Dinner with Gershwin" was reviewed as a standout from All Systems Go. The song gave Summer her final top ten hit on the Hot R&B Singles chart, peaking at number ten and was her first top ten on the chart since 1983's "Unconditional Love". Despite that, the song became her first lead single since 1978 to miss the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 48. The song was better received in the UK, thanks to Summer's first appearance on Top of the Pops on 19 November 1987, leading to a peak of number 13 there.
The song was edited from the original album version for its release as a single, and the 12" edition also contained an exclusive non-album track called "Tearin' Down the Walls." Brenda Russell later recorded her own version of the song for her 1990 album Kiss Me with the Wind.
Track listing edit
- 7" - Geffen Records 7-28418 / Warner Bros. - 258 237-7
- "Dinner with Gershwin" – 4:12
- "Dinner with Gershwin (Instrumental)" – 4:52
- 12" - Warner Bros. U 8237 T
- "Dinner with Gershwin (Extended Version)" – 7:43
- "Dinner with Gershwin (LP Version)" – 4:35
- "Tearing Down the Walls" – 3:59
- Also released as a picture disc (U 8237 TP)
Official Versions edit
- Album Version (4:38)
- 7" Version (4:12)
- Extended Version (7:43)
- Instrumental (4:52)
- Special Edited Dance Mix (4:36)
Personnel edit
- Donna Summer – lead vocals
- Steve Lindsey – acoustic piano, synthesizers, organ, drum programming
- Brenda Russell – additional synthesizers, backing vocals
- Howie Rice – clavinet
- Stanley Clarke – clavinet concept
- Larry Klein – additional synthesizer programming, fretless bass
- Donald Griffin – guitar
- Collyer Spreen – percussion
- Terral (Terry) Santiel – additional percussion
- Gary Herbig – clarinet
- Maxi Anderson – backing vocals
- Bunny Hull – backing vocals
- Joe Turano – backing vocals
Production Credits
- Richard Perry – producer
- Brenda Russell – associate producer
- Glen Holguin – engineer, mixing
- Jim Tract – mixing
- Steve Peck – additional engineer
- Ken Felton – second engineer
- Scott Maddox – second engineer
- Craig Miller – second engineer
Chart positions edit
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 39 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[1] | 13 |
| Italy (Musica e dischi)[2] | 23 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[3] | 34 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[4] | 43 |
| Spain (AFYVE)[5] | 43 |
| Spain Airplay (Los 40)[5] | 19 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 13 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 48 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[8] | 13 |
| US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard)[9] | 16 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[10] | 10 |
References edit
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Donna Summer". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ Racca, Guido (2019). M&D Borsa Singoli 1960–2019 (in Italian). Independently Published. ISBN 9781093264906.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Donna Summer" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Donna Summer – Dinner with Gershwin" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ a b Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Donna Summer: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Donna Summer Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Dance Singles Sales Chart for 24 October 1987". Billboard. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 March 2023.