Donna Summer I'm A Rainbow: Recovered & Recoloured Clear Double 180gm Vinyl LP

Double 180gm clear vinyl gives this Donna Summer release a distinctive physical format for listening at home or adding to a vinyl collection.

I'm A Rainbow: Recovered & Recoloured reshapes material from the album Donna Summer recorded with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. The 2021 release presents a 10-track reimagining rather than the original 18-track CD edition.

A lineup of international producers brings new arrangements across soul and dance, with two radio edits and three extended mixes adding different versions to explore.

Worth noting

The album was originally withdrawn shortly before its planned release in 1981 and later issued in 1996. This 2021 edition revisits its songs with new production from Junior Vasquez, Le Flex, Figo Sound, Jean Tonique, Ladies On Mars, and Oliver Nelson. Their contributions give the record a connected sequence that moves from the title track through soul and dance and builds toward the closing “Leave Me Alone (Ladies On Mars)” (Independence Remix).

The compact 10-track program makes this a focused way to hear the reworked material. Two radio edits and three extended mixes offer variation within the album, while the clear double-LP presentation makes the edition visually distinctive for record shelves as well as listening sessions.

Listeners often praise Donna Summer’s vocals, the disco character, and the variety of the material, including its mix of ballads and pop-oriented tracks. Feedback on sound quality is mixed: while many respond positively to the music, one listener describes the recording as poor. These are individual listening impressions, not a substitute for the album’s documented format and track approach.

Practical tips

For the intended album sequence, start with the title track and listen through to the closing remix. The progression is part of this edition’s design, moving through soul and dance before reaching its energetic final statement. The radio edits and extended mixes also make it easy to revisit the album’s alternate versions as part of a focused listening session.

If you are choosing between this release and the earlier 18-track CD, the key distinction is the presentation: this is a 10-track reimagining on double clear vinyl, with updated production and a different sequence. It suits listeners interested in hearing the songs through the contributions of the newer producer lineup, rather than seeking that earlier CD track count.

Best use cases

This edition is suited to a Donna Summer collection, a vinyl listening session centered on disco, soul, and dance, or a closer look at how familiar songs can be reworked by different producers. The album’s progression gives a full-side listening session a clear arc, while the edits and extended mixes provide distinct versions within the same release. It can also serve as a way to explore a less familiar chapter of Summer’s catalog: recordings made in 1981, later released in 1996, and newly reimagined for this 2021 edition.

Is it worth it?

For listeners who want Donna Summer’s material in a newly produced form, this release combines a double 180gm clear-vinyl format with a curated 10-track sequence and contributions from an international group of producers. Its strongest appeal is the contrast between the original recording context and the later soul-and-dance rework. Choose it for that reinterpretation and the focused vinyl presentation, it is especially relevant for collectors and fans who enjoy hearing how production changes shape an album’s feel.