November 11, 1978 –
Donna Summer started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with her version of Jimmy Webb’s MacArthur Park, which was also a hit for actor Richard Harris in 1968, (made No.5 in the UK). (Sorry for the earworm.)
Donna Summer recorded her disco version in 1978 with her producers, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. Moroder had been searching for a song to rework with Summer, and when Richard Harris‘ version of MacArthur Park came on the radio, he knew it was the one, perfect for Summer’s vocal range. Packed with synthesizers, horns and washes of background vocals, Summer’s version ran 8:27 and was the first part of the MacArthur Park Suite, which took up the entire D-side of her 1978 2-disc Live And More album.
The Haus of Dcaligari 