Heaven Knows (Donna Summer song)

"Heaven Knows"
Single by Donna Summer
from the album Live and More
B-side	Only One Man (Live)
Released	December 9, 1978
Format	7" single
Recorded	1978
Genre	Disco, pop, R&B
Length	3:54
Label	Casablanca
Writer(s)	Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte
Producer(s)	Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte
Certification	Gold (US)
Donna Summer singles chronology
"MacArthur Park" (1978) "Heaven Knows" (1978) "Hot Stuff" (1979)

"Heaven Knows" is a song by American singer and songwriter Donna Summer, with guest vocals from Brooklyn Dreams released at the height of her fame during the 1970s disco era. It is adapted from the Live and More album where it is a part of the Mac Arthur Park Suite. It became a number 4 hit for Summer in the US^[1] in early 1979. The song features singing by the group Brooklyn Dreams with lead vocals by Joe "Bean" Esposito.

On the single version released by Summer (credited as Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams), singer Joe "Bean" Esposito sings second lead to Summer, while Summer and the group provide backing vocals. However, on the version that appears on Brooklyn Dreams's 1979 album, Sleepless Nights, it is Esposito who sings the lead vocal with Summer singing second lead, with Summer and the group provide backing vocals. On the group's album, this version is credited as Brooklyn Dreams with Donna Summer.

A 12" single version, at 6:45, was released, the first verse sung by Summer solo, the remainder with Summer and Esposito.

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1979) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 4 US R&B 10 US Cash Box Top 100 4 Canadian RPM 3 New Zealand 14 Australia 15 UK 34

Year-end charts Chart (1979) Position US Billboard Hot 100[2] 39 US Cash Box Top 100[3] 38 Canada[4] 43

Cover versions and appearances in other media

• In 1980 the song was performed by Pink Lady on their variety show Pink Lady and Jeff.
• Nell Carter and guest star Ray Parker, Jr. sang a duet of the song in a 1984 episode of Gimme a Break.
• In November 2000, Ann Curless from the girl group Exposé released a version on Waako Records.
• In 2003, the song was covered by Faith Evans in the film, The Fighting Temptations.
• In 2013, following Summer's death, Nadia Ali released a downtempo acoustic cover as a tribute.

References

1. "Donna Summer - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
2. "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
4. "RPM - Library and Archives Canada | RPM - Bibliothèque et Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-13.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics