When Donna Summer joined Geffen Records in 1980 after roughly five years on Casablanca, she brought along Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, the producers of her era-defining hits such as "I Feel Love," "Hot Stuff," and "Dim All the Lights."  The trio was off to an auspicious start at Geffen with the release of The Wanderer, and planned to follow it up with an album entitled I'm a Rainbow.  Yet weeks before a scheduled October 5, 1981 release date, David Geffen opted to shelve the album.  Reports swirled that the mogul was unhappy with the material and sought a more R&B-oriented sound of the singer.  Summer was teamed with Quincy Jones for her next project, and while some of the songs intended for I'm a Rainbow trickled out, the complete recordings remained in the vault until 1996.  Now, the album that (almost) never was is returning for its 40th anniversary as I'm a Rainbow: Remixed and Recoloured.  On October 8, this reimagined release will arrive from Summer's Driven by the Music imprint on CD, vinyl, and digital formats.

I'm a Rainbow: Remixed and Recoloured features 10 of the original 18 tracks recorded during the I'm a Rainbow sessions (all of which likely wouldn't have made the cut had the album been released in 1981) including the title song written by Summer's husband Bruce Sudano and a cover of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita showstopper "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina."  All ten tracks have been remixed and reconceived by an array of international producers including Junior Vasquez, Le Flex, Figo Sound, Jean Tonique, Ladies On Mars and recent Atlantic Records signee Oliver Nelson.

The project has been curated by Demon Music Group's Michael Neidus.  He states in the press release, "The thought behind editing down the number of tracks from its original 'double-LP' was to make a cohesive and compact album, which meant selecting the more melodic tracks that really showed the power and versatility of Donna's voice. Several songs' inclusion were a given due to their popularity, with two of them having featured in movie soundtracks ('Highway Runner' from Fast Times At Ridgemont High and 'Romeo' from Flashdance). The album did vary in style, but the one constant was Donna's voice, which became even stronger after she'd left Casablanca Records. Each of the tracks selected had to have a certain feel that could be moulded into an album that had a thread lacing it together. Without the final mixes, you can't nail the actual sequence but the album had to have that thread running through it. I knew that I wanted the album to start slowly and build throughout but it would have to work well not just a continuous digital album but also on vinyl, so it meant there would be two different sides starting with the beautiful title track and building throughout the album through soul and dance, to its zenith."

The first single, Figo Sound's remix of "I Believe (In You)," is currently streaming.  The song is a duet with Joe "Bean" Esposito of Brooklyn Dreams who co-wrote 1979's Grammy-nominated chart-topping "Bad Girls."  Neidus observes, "I already knew the producers with whom I wanted to work, so it was a case of contacting them, give the album's historical backstory and where I'd like the album to go. The rest was down to their respective individual creative and technical expertise to craft something special, with the all-important factors that despite having a more contemporary vibe, they had to retain the authenticity of the original songs and that Donna's voice is paramount. Also, could they imagine Donna performing that version today?"

The Remixed and Recoloured album is due on October 8 from Driven by the Music/Crimson Productions on CD (housed in the same mediabook format as prior releases from the late artist including 2020's A Hot Summer Night and The Wanderer: 40th Anniversary), 180-gram clear double vinyl, and digitally.  Christian John Wikane has penned the liner notes.  You'll find the complete track listing and pre-order links below.

Donna Summer, I'm a Rainbow: Remixed and Recoloured (Driven by the Music/Crimson Productions, 2021)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

1. I'm A Rainbow [Junior's Shiny Rainbow Remix]
2. I Believe (In You) [Figo Sound Version] - duet with Joe 'Bean' Esposito
3. Back Where You Belong [Jean Tonique Remix]
4. You To Me [Oliver Nelson Remix]
5. Don't Cry For Me Argentina [Ladies On Mars "Buenos Aires" Remix]
6. Sweet Emotion [Le Flex Remix]
7. Brooklyn [Ladies On Mars "Child Of Rhythm" Remix]
8. Romeo [Ladies On Mars "Luv NRG" Remix]
9. Highway Runner [Ladies On Mars "Street Race" Remix]
10. Leave Me Alone [Ladies On Mars "Independence" Remix]
11. Brooklyn [Ladies On Mars "Child Of Rhythm" Remix-Radio Edit]
12. I Believe (In You) [Figo Sound Radio Version]
13. Highway Runner [Ladies On Mars "Street Race" Extended Mix]
14. Brooklyn [Ladies On Mars "Child Of Rhythm" Extended Remix]
15. Romeo [Ladies On Mars "Luv-NRG" Extended Remix]

2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Side One:

1. I'm A Rainbow [Junior's Shiny Rainbow Remix]
2. I Believe (In You) [Figo Sound Version] - duet with Joe 'Bean' Esposito
3. Back Where You Belong [Jean Tonique Remix]
4. You To Me [Oliver Nelson Remix]
5. Don't Cry For Me Argentina [Ladies On Mars "Buenos Aires" Remix]

Side Two

1. Sweet Emotion [Le Flex Remix]
2. Brooklyn [Ladies On Mars "Child Of Rhythm" Remix]
3. Romeo [Ladies On Mars "Luv NRG" Remix]
4. Highway Runner [Ladies On Mars "Street Race" Remix]
5. Leave Me Alone [Ladies On Mars "Independence" Remix]

Side Three

1. Brooklyn [Ladies On Mars "Child Of Rhythm" Remix-Radio Edit]
2. I Believe (In You) [Figo Sound Radio Version]
3. Highway Runner [Ladies On Mars "Street Race" Extended Mix]

Side Four

1. Brooklyn [Ladies On Mars "Child Of Rhythm" Extended Remix]
2. Romeo [Ladies On Mars "Luv-NRG" Extended Remix]