Heaven Knows (Donna Summer song)

1978 single by Donna Summer featuring Brooklyn Dreams

"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)"

Released

December 9, 1978

Recorded

1978

Genre

Disco

Length

3:39

Label

Casablanca

Songwriter(s)

Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte

Producer(s)

Giorgio 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, with guest vocals from Brooklyn Dreams. It is a single from Summer's Live and More album. The song became a number 4 hit for Summer in the US^[1] the week of March 17, 1979, and held there for three weeks. 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, at 6 minutes and 45 seconds, was prepared with the first verse sung by Summer solo, and the remaining verses with Summer and Esposito. It was unissued at the time but later appeared 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."^[2] Record World said that the song is "as polished as you'd expect."^[3]

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Heaven Knows"
Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	15
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[5]	2
Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)^[6]	20
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[7]	3
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[8]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	34
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[10]	17
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[11] As part of "MacArthur Park Suite"	1
US Billboard Hot 100^[12]	4
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[13]	10
US Cash Box Top 100^[14]	4

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "Heaven Knows"
Chart (1979)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[4]	96
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[15]	43
US Billboard Hot 100^[16]	39
US Cash Box Top 100^[17]	38

Certifications and sales

Certifications for "Heaven Knows"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[18]	Gold	75,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[19]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "Donna Summer - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 13, 1978. p. 14. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. January 13, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
^ ^a ^b "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". Kent Music Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023 – via Imgur.com.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 4519." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 0092." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4521a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Donna Summer – Heaven Knows". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Donna Summer: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Donna Summer Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Donna Summer Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Donna Summer Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 3/17/79". Cash Box. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^ "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.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1978/Top 100 Songs of 1978". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1979". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
^ "Canadian single certifications – Donna Summer – Heaven Knows". Music Canada. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
^ "American album certifications – Donna Summer – Heaven Knows". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 8, 2023.