1984 Donna Summer – Cats Without Claws
Cats Without Claws is the twelfth studio album by American pop singer Donna Summer, released on September 11, 1984. Summer had achieved monumental fame during the disco era of the 1970s, and in 1980 was signed to Geffen Records. She had had some degree of success with them, though her previous album had been released on another label. It peaked at No. 40 on Billboard’s album chart.
Her previous album, She Works Hard for the Money (1983), had been her most successful since the disco era, and as a result, its producer Michael Omartian was asked to produce the next album as well. Again the majority of tracks were written by Summer and Omartian, though a couple of other writers were credited including Summer’s husband Bruce Sudano. As with the previous album, Cats Without Claws was pop/dance oriented but included soulful ballads. The album also contained a cover of “There Goes My Baby”, originally made popular by the Drifters, which became the first single. Although Summer requested “Oh Billy Please” as the first single, again Geffen and his executives rejected her request. A gospel song written by Reba Rambo and Dony McGuire entitled “Forgive Me” would win Summer a Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance.
Cats Without Claws produced three singles: “There Goes My Baby”, “Supernatural Love” (also released as a 12″ Single) and “Eyes”, “There Goes My Baby” reached No. 21 on the pop chart. Further 12″ dance remixes included “Eyes” and “I’m Free”.
Tracks
1 Supernatural Love (Bruce Sudano; Donna Summer; Michael Omartian) 03:34
2 It’s Not The Way (Donna Summer; Michael Omartian) 04:24
3 There Goes My Baby (Benjamin Nelson; George Treadwell; Lover Patterson) 04:07
4 Suzanna (Donna Summer; Michael Omartian) 04:31
5 Cats Without Claws (Donna Summer; Michael Omartian) 04:24
6 Oh Billy Please (Donna Summer; Michael Omartian) 04:56
7 Eyes (Donna Summer; Michael Omartian) 04:47
8 Maybe It’s Over (Donna Summer) 04:44
9 I’m Free (Bruce Sudano; Donna Summer; Michael Omartian) 04:31
10 Forgive Me (Dony McGuire; Reba Rambo) 04:28
Biography
Musicians
Bass | Nathan East |
Drums | Mike Baird |
Drums | Michael Omartian |
Guitar (solo) | Mike Landau |
Guitar | Paul Jackson Jr |
Keyboards | Michael Omartian |
Programming | Erich Bulling |
Sax | Gary Herbig |
Percussion | Michael Omartian |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
Background Vocals | Bruce Sudano |
Background Vocals | Cydney Davis |
Background Vocals | Dara Bernard |
Background Vocals | Eugene van Buren |
Background Vocals | Khaliq Glover |
Background Vocals | Kin Vassy |
Background Vocals | Mary Ellen Bernard |
Background Vocals | Portia Griffin |
Background Vocals | Siedah Garrett |
Background Vocals | Susannah Melvoin |
Background Vocals | Terry Williams |
Vocals | Donna Summer |
Liner Notes
Producer – Michael Omartian
Arranged By – Michael Omartian
Coordinator – Ronnie Puccinelli
Engineer – John Guess
Engineer (Second) – David Ahlert, Larry Ferguson, Ross Pallone, Tom Fouce
Mastered By – Steve Hall
Mixed By – John Guess
Design – Jeffery Fey
Photography – Larry Langdon
Mastered At Future Disc
Mastered At Sheffield Lab Matrix
Recorded At Lion Share Studios, LA
Recorded At United Western Studios, Hollywood
Recorded At Rhema Studios, LA
Phonographic Copyright WEA International Inc
Copyright WEA International Inc