A rare pair of original color test photographs considered for use on the cover of Donna Summer’s single “There Goes My Baby,” released in 1984 from her album Cats Without Claws.

These mounted proof images survive as working production materials from the design stage of the single’s artwork. Each photograph (approximately 9 x 7 in.) is mounted to its original 14 x 9 in. board and covered by a black overlay mat with precisely cut windows indicating proposed crops for final layout. The overlays functioned as practical design tools, allowing art directors and production teams to visualize framing and composition before committing to print. Such presentation boards were typically discarded after artwork approval. The survival of both examples from Summer’s personal collection is exceptionally rare. One mount is labeled prominently in white grease pencil: “INSIDE / SINGLE.” The reverse bears the handwritten notation “inside / single sleeve,” confirming its intended placement within the packaging layout. These annotations provide direct insight into the album production workflow and document the physical decision-making process behind the visual presentation of Donna Summer during the mid-1980s.

Released in 1984, Cats Without Claws marked a stylistic evolution for Summer in the post-disco era. “There Goes My Baby” blended pop and R&B influences, reflecting the changing musical landscape of the decade while maintaining Summer’s unmistakable presence. The imagery from this period captures Donna in a confident, fashion-forward, 1980s aesthetic—strong, glamorous, and fully in command of her persona.

These test shots represent the transitional moment when photography becomes packaging—when the Queen of Disco’s image was being refined for global release.