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Heaven Knows (Donna Summer song)

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"Heaven Knows"
German single picture sleeve
Single by Donna Summer featuring Brooklyn Dreams
from the album Live and More
B-side"Only One Man (Live)"
ReleasedDecember 9, 1978
Recorded1978
GenreDisco[1]
Length3:39
LabelCasablanca
SongwritersDonna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte
ProducersGiorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte
Donna Summer featuring Brooklyn Dreams singles chronology
"MacArthur Park"
(1978)		 "Heaven Knows"
(1978)		 "Hot Stuff"
(1979)

"Heaven Knows" is a song by American singer Donna Summer, featuring guest vocals from Brooklyn Dreams. Released as a single from Summer's Live and More album, where it appeared as part of the "MacArthur Park Suite", the song reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100[2] the week of March 17, 1979, holding that position for three weeks. It also reached No. 3 in Canada. It features the group Brooklyn Dreams with vocals by Joe "Bean" Esposito.

On the single version released by Summer (credited as Donna Summer with Brooklyn Dreams), Brooklyn Dreams singer Joe "Bean" Esposito sings second lead to Summer on the verses while Summer sings the chorus. However, on the version that appears on Brooklyn Dreams's 1979 album, Sleepless Nights, it is Esposito who sings the lead vocal on the verses with Summer singing second lead, and with Summer and the group provide backing vocals on the chorus. On the group's album, this version is credited as "Brooklyn Dreams with Donna Summer".

A 12" single of Summer's version, combined with "MacArthur Park (Reprise)" at 8 minutes and 26 seconds, was exclusively issued at the time in Mexico as the B-side to "Dim All the Lights". In 2010, the 12" version reappeared sans "MacArthur", at 6 minutes and 45 seconds, as a bonus track on a reissue of Sleepless Nights.

Cash Box said of Summers' single version that "Esposito has a deep shimmering voice while Donna reigns during soaring moments."[3] Record World said that the song is "as polished as you'd expect."[4]

Chart performance

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Certifications and sales

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Certifications for "Heaven Knows"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19] Gold 75,000^
United States (RIAA)[20] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ↑ Guardian Staff (22 November 2007). "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die: Artists beginning with S (part 2)". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2025. ...[the] Chic-rivalling disco rhapsody "Heaven Knows
  2. ↑ "Donna Summer - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  3. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 13, 1978. p. 14. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  4. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. January 13, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  5. 1 2 "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
  6. ↑ "Adult Contemporary. Volume 31, Issue 2 (1979-04-07)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Dance/Urban. Volume 30, Issue 19 (1979-02-03)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Top Singles. Volume 30, Issue 25 (1979-03-17)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Donna Summer – Heaven Knows". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Donna Summer Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Donna Summer Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Donna Summer Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Cash Box Top 100 3/17/79". Cash Box. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  16. ↑ "RPM - Library and Archives Canada | RPM - Bibliothèque et Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  17. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  18. ↑ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979". Cashbox Magazine. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  19. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Donna Summer – Heaven Knows". Music Canada. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ "American album certifications – Donna Summer – Heaven Knows". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
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