Dinner with Gershwin

"Dinner with Gershwin" is a song written by Brenda Russell and recorded by American singer-songwriter Donna Summer. The song was produced by Russell and Richard Perry. It was released on August 14, 1987 as the lead single from her 13th studio album All Systems Go (1987) by Geffen Records.

Despite its parent album receiving mixed-to-negative reception, "Dinner with Gershwin" was reviewed as a standout from All Systems Go. The song gave Summer her final top ten hit on the Hot R&B Singles chart, peaking at number ten and was her first top ten on the chart since 1983's "Unconditional Love". Despite that, the song became her first lead single since 1978 to miss the top forty on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 48. The song was better received in the UK, thanks to Summer's first appearance on Top of the Pops on 19 November 1987, leading to a peak of number 13 there.

The song was edited from the original album version for its release as a single, and the 12" edition also contained an exclusive non-album track called "Tearin' Down the Walls." Brenda Russell later recorded her own version of the song for her 1990 album Kiss Me with the Wind.

Track listing

 * 7" - Geffen Records 7-28418 / Warner Bros. - 258 237-7
 * 1) "Dinner with Gershwin" – 4:12
 * 2) "Dinner with Gershwin (Instrumental)" – 4:52


 * 12" - Warner Bros. U 8237 T
 * 1) "Dinner with Gershwin (Extended Version)" – 7:43
 * 2) "Dinner with Gershwin (LP Version)" – 4:35
 * 3) "Tearing Down the Walls" – 3:59
 * Also released as a picture disc (U 8237 TP)

Official Versions

 * Album Version (4:38)
 * 7" Version (4:12)
 * Extended Version (7:43)
 * Instrumental (4:52)
 * Special Edited Dance Mix (4:36)

Personnel

 * Donna Summer – lead vocals
 * Steve Lindsey – acoustic piano, synthesizers, organ, drum programming
 * Brenda Russell – additional synthesizers, backing vocals
 * Howie Rice – clavinet
 * Stanley Clarke – clavinet concept
 * Larry Klein – additional synthesizer programming, fretless bass
 * Donald Griffin – guitar
 * Collyer Spreen – percussion
 * Terral (Terry) Santiel – additional percussion
 * Gary Herbig – clarinet
 * Maxi Anderson – backing vocals
 * Bunny Hull – backing vocals
 * Joe Turano – backing vocals

Production Credits
 * Richard Perry – producer
 * Brenda Russell – associate producer
 * Glen Holguin – engineer, mixing
 * Jim Tract – mixing
 * Steve Peck – additional engineer
 * Ken Felton – second engineer
 * Scott Maddox – second engineer
 * Craig Miller – second engineer