"Sunset People" is a song by American singer Donna Summer from her seventh studio album Bad Girls (1979). It was released as a single in some countries in 1980.

"Sunset People"
Front sleeve of the German 7-inch vinyl release
Single by Donna Summer
from the album Bad Girls
B-side"Our Love"
ReleasedJuly 11, 1980
Recorded1978–1979
Genre
Length
  • 6:27 (album version)
  • 3:55 (7" edit)
LabelCasablanca
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Donna Summer singles chronology
"On the Radio"
(1979)
"Sunset People"
(1980)
"Our Love"
(1980)

Overview

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Bad Girls, released on Casablanca Records in the US, had already produced several chart-topping singles for the disco star, but Summer had resigned from the label and taken a lawsuit against them. She had since signed to Geffen Records and was getting ready to release her first album with them (which had moved away from the disco sound). The single was not released in the North American market because of ongoing litigation.[1]

The song was also used for the unsold 1985 game show pilot called Split Decision hosted by Jim McKrell.

Critical reception

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Stephen Holden, in his review of the album Bad Girls for Rolling Stone, noted a large social subtext in the song, which describes the whole truth about the nightmarish underside of the glamorous world of Hollywood, about the inhabitants of the Sunset Strip at night.[2]

Chart positions

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Chart performance for "Sunset People"
Chart (1980) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[3] 42
Netherlands (Tipparade)[4] 14
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 46

Cover versions

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The song was covered by E. G. Daily in 1985 for her debut album Wild Child.[6]

References

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  1. ^ McLean, Craig (13 June 2008). "Donna Summer: too hot to handle". The Telegraph. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Holden, Stephen (July 12, 1979). "Donna Summer: Bad Girls : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Donna Summer – Sunset People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 29, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  5. ^ "Donna Summer: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Henderson, Alex. Wild Child Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
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