State of Independence

Recorded between December 1981 and April 1982 during sessions for Donna Summer's self-titled album at Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, Ocean Way in Nashville and Allen Zentz Recording in Hollywood. Quincy Jones produced the track, with Bruce Swedien engineering and an all-star choir including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick and James Ingram. Released as the album's second single, the cover reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one in the Netherlands. Its large gospel-style choir transformed the Jon and Vangelis composition into one of the album's most distinctive recordings. The recording became the best-known interpretation of the song and remains celebrated for its unusually prominent ensemble of guest vocalists. It later returned to the charts through reissues and remixes, including a UK top-20 release in 1996.