Protection (Donna Summer song)
Encyclopedia
Protection is a song written by Bruce Springsteen
for Donna Summer
. It was originally featured on the 1982 Donna Summer
album which was produced by Quincy Jones
. In 1997 it was also included on One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen. It was released as a single in Belgium
and Japan
and was nominated for a Grammy as Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
David Geffen
approached Jon Landau
, Springsteen’s manager and producer, and asked if Springsteen would be interested in writing a song for Summer. Summer had just recently signed for Geffen Records
. Springsteen agreed to write a song and, while working with Gary U.S. Bonds
, he gathered the E Street Band
to record a demo. However when Landau heard the result, "Cover Me", he persuaded Springsteen to keep that song for himself. Springsteen then wrote "Protection". He recorded a version with the E Street Band at The Hit Factory
during January or February 1982 and registered it at the United States Copyright Office
on March 8, 1982. In the same month Springsteen and Roy Bittan
also travelled to Los Angeles
to help record Summer’s version of the song. Bruce and Donna allegedly also recorded a duet vocal version at her sessions but it remains unreleased. On the released version by Summer, Springsteen played the guitar solo and can clearly be heard on fadeout vocals. Springsteen’s own version of the song was seriously considered for Born In The USA, however it remains unreleased. He has never performed the song in concert, although it was rehearsed in early 1988 for the upcoming Tunnel Of Love Express Tour
.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
for Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
. It was originally featured on the 1982 Donna Summer
Donna Summer (album)
- Personnel :*David Alexander – photography*Bill Barnum – supervisor*H.B. Barnum – director*Dara Lynn Bernard – chorus*Roy Bittan – piano*Michael Boddicker – programming, vocoder, vocoder programming, polymoog*Larry Bunker – drums...
album which was produced by Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
. In 1997 it was also included on One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs Of Bruce Springsteen. It was released as a single in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and was nominated for a Grammy as Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
David Geffen
David Geffen
David Geffen is an American record executive, film producer, theatrical producer and philanthropist. Geffen is noted for creating Asylum Records in 1970, Geffen Records in 1980, and DGC Records in 1990...
approached Jon Landau
Jon Landau
Jon Landau is an American music critic, manager and record producer, most known for his association in all three capacities with Bruce Springsteen.He is currently the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....
, Springsteen’s manager and producer, and asked if Springsteen would be interested in writing a song for Summer. Summer had just recently signed for Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
. Springsteen agreed to write a song and, while working with Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds is an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer. He is also a prolific songwriter.-Career:...
, he gathered the E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
to record a demo. However when Landau heard the result, "Cover Me", he persuaded Springsteen to keep that song for himself. Springsteen then wrote "Protection". He recorded a version with the E Street Band at The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory
The Hit Factory was a recording studio in New York City famous for its clientele. It was officially closed for business April 1, 2005 whereas other Hit Factory studio locations remained open, such as in Miami, Florida.-History:...
during January or February 1982 and registered it at the United States Copyright Office
United States Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office, a part of the Library of Congress, is the official U.S. government body that maintains records of copyright registration in the United States. It is used by copyright title searchers who are attempting to clear a chain of title for copyrighted works.The head of...
on March 8, 1982. In the same month Springsteen and Roy Bittan
Roy Bittan
Roy Bittan is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974...
also travelled to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to help record Summer’s version of the song. Bruce and Donna allegedly also recorded a duet vocal version at her sessions but it remains unreleased. On the released version by Summer, Springsteen played the guitar solo and can clearly be heard on fadeout vocals. Springsteen’s own version of the song was seriously considered for Born In The USA, however it remains unreleased. He has never performed the song in concert, although it was rehearsed in early 1988 for the upcoming Tunnel Of Love Express Tour
Tunnel of Love Express Tour
The Tunnel of Love Express was a concert tour featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band that took place in 1988. It followed by four and a half months the release of Springsteen's 1987 album, Tunnel of Love.-Itinerary:...
.
Musicians
- Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
- lead vocals - Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
- guitar solo, backing vocals - Ernie WattsErnie WattsErnest James "Ernie" Watts is an American jazz and rhythm and blues musician. He plays saxophone and flute. He might be best known for his work with Charlie Haden's Quartet West and his Grammy Awards as an instrumentalist...
- saxophones - Steve LukatherSteve LukatherSteve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
- guitars - David PaichDavid PaichDavid Frank Paich is a session musician, keyboard player, recording producer, arranger, vocalist and main composer of the Los Angeles-based rock/pop band Toto. David is the son of the late jazz composer, musician, and arranger Marty Paich...
- synthesizers - Greg PhillinganesGreg PhillinganesGreg Phillinganes is an active session keyboardist in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Cass Technical High School, Detroit Michigan....
- synthesizers - Roy BittanRoy BittanRoy Bittan is an American keyboardist, best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, which he joined on August 23, 1974...
- acoustic piano - Louis JohnsonLouis Johnson (bassist)Louis Johnson is an American bass guitarist.Johnson is best known for his group The Brothers Johnson and his session playing on several hit albums of the 1970s and '80s including the "best selling album of all time" Thriller...
- bass - Jeff PorcaroJeff PorcaroJeffrey Thomas "Jeff" Porcaro was an American session drummer and a founding member of the Grammy Award winning band Toto. Porcaro was one of the most recorded drummers in history, working on hundreds of albums and thousands of sessions...
- drums - Steve PorcaroSteve PorcaroSteven Maxwell "Steve" Porcaro is an American keyboardist and composer, who was an original member of the rock/pop band Toto....
- synthesizer programming