If you were to talk about the sound of the 1970s, there’s few other names who come so close to typifying the era than Donna Summer. Complete with a dominating disco brand, the life that summer painted through her music was a permanent party – and who wouldn’t be drawn in by that intoxicating elixir? Storming nightclub dancefloors the world over and subsequently setting the charts ablaze, it was only right that Summer was then bestowed a proper regal moniker.
Thus, as the bona fide Queen of Disco, Summer took the royal oath as the ultimate creator of only the best dance anthems. That was a role she took seriously – she produced no less than 17 albums over the course of 1974 to 2008 – but it was one earlier effort in particular that sealed her legacy as the disco dominator for the rest of time, due to the seismic feats it achieved while dancing its way to the top.
This was, of course, the iconic 1976 album Four Seasons of Love, which defined a chunk of history not only for Summer’s record books but for the charts at large. It peaked at number 29 in the US, which admittedly doesn’t seem all that remarkable in itself, but what made the record so defining was that when it came to the disco charts, every one of its five tracks took their turn shooting to the top spot.
For such a short track listing – two songs on the first side, and three on the other – Summer clearly was using the mantra of less is more when it came to leaving a lasting impression. But from an artistic standpoint, despite its smaller span, these five tunes were a spectacle to behold in terms of their emotional weight documenting the passing of time.
This was, of course, the iconic 1976 album Four Seasons of Love, which defined a chunk of history not only for Summer’s record books but for the charts at large. It peaked at number 29 in the US, which admittedly doesn’t seem all that remarkable in itself, but what made the record so defining was that when it came to the disco charts, every one of its five tracks took their turn shooting to the top spot.
For such a short track listing – two songs on the first side, and three on the other – Summer clearly was using the mantra of less is more when it came to leaving a lasting impression. But from an artistic standpoint, despite its smaller span, these five tunes were a spectacle to behold in terms of their emotional weight documenting the passing of time.
If it was already fairly obvious from the name, Four Seasons of Love lamented romance throughout the changing weathers of the year, devoting one song to a season each. ‘Spring Affair’, ‘Summer Fever’, ‘Autumn Changes’ and ‘Winter Melody’ – alongside a ‘Spring Reprise’ thrown in for good measure – all respectively stormed their way to the top of the charts, transforming Summer not only into the Queen of Disco but also the winner of a solid concept album.
As such, with each one of its tracks having a full score of commercial approval, there is a valid argument backing the claim of Four Seasons of Love being the greatest album in the entire history of the disco canon. It may have met a lukewarm critical reception at the time, but the numbers proved that the nightclub punters lapped up the tunes as quintessential Summer – and spring, autumn, and winter, in this case – providing the ultimate chance to dance.
Even though they may not be the floor fillers of choice by today’s standards, Summer’s effect on disco and dance music at large can never be understated or diminished, as so few artists generally can also lay claim to the chart feats that she single-handedly achieved. The next time you’re looking for a retro boogie number, stick on Four Seasons of Love – and the classic sounds of the ‘70s are guaranteed to all come rushing back.