At an incredibly divisive point in pop history, Donna Summer managed to create an undeniable across-the-board experience of mass pleasure - after 'Bad Girls,' nobody ever tried claiming disco sucked again. It set the template for what Michael Jackson would do a few months later with 'Off The Wall.'

- Rob Sheffield

Donna Summer's 'Bad Girls' is a landmark album that brought disco back to the forefront of popular music, setting the stage for Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' and cementing the genre's place in the cultural zeitgeist.

The album's success can be attributed to its ability to bring people together, transcending the genre's typical associations with superficiality and excess, and instead embracing its capacity for mass pleasure and communal celebration.

Released in 1979, 'Bad Girls' marked a turning point in the disco era, which had been facing backlash and criticism in the preceding years. The album's impact was significant, as it helped to revitalize the genre and pave the way for future disco and funk influences in popular music.

Rob Sheffield is an American author, music critic, and journalist. He is best known for his work as a music critic for Rolling Stone, and has written several books on music and popular culture, including 'Love Is a Mix Tape' and 'Turn Around Bright Eyes'.

The album's influence can be seen in the many artists who have been inspired by its sound and style, from contemporary disco and funk revivalists to rock and pop musicians looking to incorporate elements of the genre into their own work.

While 'Bad Girls' was widely praised by critics and fans alike, some have criticized the album's perceived superficiality and excess, as well as the genre's association with the excesses of the 1970s disco era.

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