156. Bruce Sudano Discusses Donna Summer, Bad Girls

Send us Fan MailIn celebration of the album’s 45th anniversary, musician and songwriter Bruce Sudano (Brooklyn Dreams, Alive N Kickin’, solo) visits YMAAA to talk about Donna Summer’s Bad Girls. He talks about the role he played in the making of the album, his relationship with Summer, to whom he was married for 32 years, and how Bad Girls represents the “peak era” of Summer’s musical career. Bruce also discusses Summer’s versatility as a vocalist and songwriter and how those gifts helped to make Bad Girls one of the most important albums of its era. Bruce concludes by talking about his latest solo album, Talkin’ Ugly Truth, Tellin’ Pretty Lies, and working with esteemed producer Ken Lewis.Keep up with Bruce’s music, tour dates and more at brucesudano.com! Also be sure to give him a follow on Facebook and at @brucesudano on Instagram.Al is on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Instagram and Threads at @youmealbum. Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter! https://youmealbum.substack.com/1:29 Bruce joins the show1:49 How did Bruce wind up on the cover of Bad Girls?3:51 Bruce had not known Summer long when they started working on Bad Girls4:45 Bruce talks about the general creative approach Summer took on the album12:04 Bruce addresses the diversity of songs on Bad Girls18:32 Bruce talks about the writing and recording of “Bad Girls”22:50 Bruce explains how “Lucky” came together24:32 Bruce discusses the futuristic quality of Side 426:17 The Bad Girls period was an extremely busy one for Bruce and Donna30:57 “Hot Stuff” is a “very L.A.” recording35:28 Bruce explains why Summer started writing songs on the piano38:03 Bruce reveals which rock star Summer wrote “Dim All the Lights” for40:09 Bruce talks about how Summer took on different personas for different songs43:51 Bruce discusses how music—and their lives—changed after Bad Girls48:01 Summer was the complete entertainer49:48 Bruce talks about making Talkin’ Ugly Truth, Tellin’ Pretty Lies57:36 Bruce alerts us to his upcoming live datesOutro music is from “Talkin’ Ugly Truth, Tellin’ Pretty Lies” by Bruce Sudano.Support the show