Donna Summer’s Personal Dye Transfer Print with Working Overlay

Original 1983 Album Cover Production Proof for “She Works Hard for the Money” by Harry Langdon

An extraordinary and rare piece of music and photographic history: an original dye transfer print with transparent production overlay used in the design and proofing of Donna Summer’s landmark 1983 LP, She Works Hard for the Money.

Measuring 20" X 16" this vibrant dye transfer print was created from the original Harry Langdon photograph and retains its transparent editing overlay — a working studio element used during the finalization of the album’s iconic cover design. This is not a later reproduction or promotional print, but a true production artifact tied directly to the creative process behind one of the most recognizable covers of the 1980s.

Released in 1983, She Works Hard for the Money became Donna Summer’s defining anthem of resilience and empowerment. The album marked a powerful career resurgence and remains one of the most culturally enduring pop statements of the decade. The cover image — Donna portrayed as a working-class waitress with name tag reading “Donna” — became instantly iconic, symbolizing dignity, strength, and perseverance.

The presence of the transparent overlay elevates this work into the realm of production history. Such overlays were used by art directors and designers to position typography, adjust layout, and finalize album artwork before printing. Most notably, the transparency clear overlay bears a handwritten production notation in black felt-tip pen reading: “remove hair” with an arrow and circled area indicating a specific section to be retouched. The annotation appears possibly in Summer’s hand, though not formally authenticated. Regardless of authorship, the notation confirms Summer’s direct involvement in the artwork’s refinement and provides rare insight into the album’s creative process. Such surviving annotated overlays are extremely scarce, as most were discarded after production.

Condition: The dye transfer print retains strong color saturation across the background and overall image. A minor localized discoloration or tonal shift is present around the facial and upper chest areas, consistent with age and long-term storage. The remainder of the print remains vivid and structurally sound. The transparency overlay remains intact and retains its original handwritten production marking.

For collectors of music history, 1980s pop culture, album design, or estate-origin artifacts, this represents a rare opportunity to acquire not just an image—but a piece of the creative process itself.