4:43 (Columbia 7"), 8:19 (
Wetalbum mix),
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" is a duet from 1979 by
Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand. While Summer was famous for
her disco material and Streisand for her more easy listening
and soundtrack work (though both had crossed over into other
genres before), this song fused both sounds with a slow
beginning (lasting almost two minutes) which then evolved into
a disco song. The song then becomes something of a feminist
anthem with two women taking action against their men and
throwing them out.
The song was recorded for Streisand's
Wetalbum and also as a new track for Summer's
compilation double album entitled
On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes 1 & 2. The
full-length version was found on Streisand's album, while a
longer 11 minute plus version (the 12" version) was featured on
Summer's album. The Summer version features additional
production by frequent collaborator Harold Faltermeyer, and
incorporates the harder rock edge symbolic of her work with
him. The single was released on both Casablanca Records
(Summer's label) and Columbia Records (Streisand's label) and
sales of the two were amalgamated. The versions on the two 7"
singles differed slightly however, with different mixes and
slightly different background vocal arrangements. The formats
differed between nations - in the UK for example, only the
Casablanca version was released as a 12" and Columbia released
the 7".
Although the sales of the two labels' releases were
amalgamated, both the 7" and the 12" were certified Gold by the
RIAA in early 1980. The 7" single was eventually certified
Platinum by 1997. The single spent two weeks at number one on
the U.S. singles chart (making it both singers' fourth
chart-topping single in the U.S.). It was also a big
international hit, and made the top three in the UK.
During the recording of the song, Summer is said to have
passed out and fallen off her chair having been out partying
the night before. Streisand supposedly carried on singing her
long note and waited until she had finished it before stopping
and asking Summer if she was okay. Another rumour regarding the
song is that Streisand's son, Jason Gould, is the one who
talked his mother into recording the duet as he was a fan of
Summer's work.
It has been said that "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"
almost never made it on to the
Wetalbum. The song was originally entitled, "Enough Is
Enough", where the ballad introduction was never recorded
between the two women. When the final song selections were
being made, it was said by the producers that "Enough Is
Enough" was not to be included, for it had nothing in common
with the other songs, since the track did not interpret water
of any kind (which was the theme of the
Wetalbum). Barbra Streisand really wanted the song on
the album and thus changed the title of the song to "No More
Tears (Enough Is Enough)", upon which the ballad introduction
was written, to give more of an explanation of water to the
song..."It's raining, it's pouring, my love life is boring me
to tears after all these years...", and so forth.
The Swedish pressing of the Casablanca Records 7" single had
a B-side called "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" (Special
Disco Version) - a truth with modification since it was the
exact same version as on the A-side, only without the ballad
intro ( - 3:04).
To date Summer or Streisand have never performed the song
together live since recording it, although Summer still sings
the song live in concert with other female performers, most
recently her sister Mary Gaines Bernard.
Comedian Eddie Murphy recorded a parody version of the song
as it would be performed by exercise guru Richard Simmons and
Little Rascals star "Buckwheat." The song appears on his
self-titled comedy album.