Mistaken Identity is the fifteenth studio album by Donna Summer, released in 1991.
Since making her name as the biggest female star of the disco era in the 1970s, Summer had experimented with different musical genres throughout the 1980s with varying degrees of success. For Mistaken Identity, Summer adopted a more urban style. The first released single "When Love Cries", peaked at number 77 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Once again her vocal prowess is on display with tracks like "Cry of A Waking Heart", "Friends Unknown", and "Heaven's Just A Whisper Away".
Before the release of the album, New York magazine printed an article about alleged statements Summer had made back in 1983, which cast her in a homophobic light. Summer, who had always denied making the statements, held a press conference in regards to the article printed, and again denied ever making the statements. She sued the magazine (50 million) for libel. The case was settled out of court but the damage had been done.
The album was not a commercial success and failed to chart on both the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. It spent a single week on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart, at #97. Although "When Love Cries" did reach #18 on the Billboard R & B charts.
Steven McLoughlin - "on a Harley D" on "Body Talk"
Danny Wilensky - saxophone
The 'Heart' Strings (Suzie Schumway, Sally Schumway, Suzanne Ornstein, Ann Labin and Cathy Metz) - strings
Background vocals: Donna Summer; The New York crew: Craig Derry, Yogi Lee, Cliff Dawson, Biti Straughn, Lauren Kinham, Tracy Amos, 'Sabelle'; The Los Angeles crew: Marry Ellen Bernard, Gene Miller, Susan Macke
Strings on "Friends Unknown" arranged by Keith Diamond and Eve Nelson
Engineered by George Karras
Additional engineers: Bob Rosa, Acer Key, Peter Robbins, J.C. Convertino
Assistant engineers: Steven McLoughlin, Shawn 'Fido' Berman, Andy Udoff, Adam Yellin, Carl Glanville, Jeff Lippay, Danny & Steve, Welcome, Darien Sahanaja, Joe Seta
Recorded at Unique Studios, NY; Hit Factory, NY; Electric Lady, NY; Rumbo Studios, LA; Encore Studios, LA; Track Record Studios, LA; American Studios, LA; Presence Studios, CT; R.P.M. Studios, NY; Interface Studios, NY; My Blue Heaven Studios, NY
Studio managers: Tony Drootin - Unique, NY; Vicki Camblin - Rumbo, LA; Troy Germano - Hit Factory, NY; Bob Mason - R.P.M., NY; Daryl - Encore, LA; John Russell - Presence, CT
