Vinyl plays with occasional light-crackles; clicks mid-way through "say Something Nice" (play-graded). Double LP. Gate-fold cover looks good; a few creases near edges; moderate scuffing, tiny surface abrasions, discoloration spots and surface impressions (front/back/inner-gate); more noticeable surface abrasions near top/bottom-center where jacket stuck together on inner-gate. Inner-sleeves are original (lyrics); two seams partially split. Spine is mostly easy-to-read (printed off-center) with mild-wear. Minor shelf-wear along top-edge; heavier wear along bottom-edge and corners. Openings are crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.)
Once Upon a Time was Donna Summer's first double album, telling a modern-day Cinderella-themed story through means of disco music. Throughout the album, the songs tell the story of a young woman who lives in a fantasy world of make-believe in which she is seemingly trapped, but thanks to her belief in her dreams she embarks on an adventure that ends with the man she loves entering her life. The "rags to riches" story is brought into the modern day via the use of the electronic disco sound which is found constantly throughout the album. Although positive themes permeate Once Upon A Time, darker thought-provoking ones create an emotion filled artistic journey. This would confirm Summer's status as the leading female song writer and vocalist within the disco genre. Summer's previous albums had portrayed her as a fantasy/sexual figure both in their artwork and material. The cover of Once Upon A Time showed Summer in a white wedding-style dress against a plain light blue background, giving more of an image of a fairytale fantasy character rather than just a sexual one. The album's gatefold sleeve opened to reveal a full-length picture of Summer in the white dress against a romanticized night sky filled with stars. The theatrical-allusions of the album are emphasized in the album's sequencing where-in the four sides of the double album are dubbed "Act One," "Act Two" etc., and the inner sleeve was printed in the style of a libretto. Donna Summer stated in a radio interview that the Once Upon a Time album went from no idea what they were going to record to a completed album in a space of 3 days. No one from her team had any sleep during those 3 days including Donna. When the album finally completed after 3 days, Donna was hospitalized for exhaustion. The album peaked at #26 on the US Billboard 200, #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #24 on the UK Albums Chart. The entire album charted as one entry at number one on the Hot Dance/Disco chart. Once Upon a Time includes the singles I Love You, Fairy Tale High, Once Upon a Time and Rumour Has It.