When you talk about limited edition singles, the poster sleeve is another nice giveaway used by record companies to boost sales. Grace Jones is probably the most unlikely poster girl around. The photograph on the cover of this single is replicated as a 21" x 14" poster inside, and although it is a provocative pose, I wouldn't exactly choose this as a decoration on my wall.
The music, fortunately, is for listening, and listening well. Both 'Pull up to the bumper' and 'La vie en rose' have been big hits for Grace Jones in 1981 and 1977 respectively, and this package sought to capitalize on the big success of 'Slave to the rhythm' in 1985. The strategy worked: this single got to number 12, which was the exact same peak position as 'Slave to the rhythm' a few months earlier.
My collection: 7" single no. 5407
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Pull up to the bumper' / 'La vie en rose'
Showing posts with label Grace Jones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace Jones. Show all posts
Monday, 17 November 2014
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Slave to the rhythm - Grace Jones
A deluxe cd version of her career-overshadowing album 'Slave to the rhythm' has still not been issued, so all we can do in the mean time is pick up all the releases and rip the tracks from vinyl. Such as this one, the 12" single of Grace Jones' album's title track. I couldn't find it for a long time, but I finally found a good copy today - and for a very reasonable price, too.
The sleeve doesn't give you much information about the tracks contained on this disc, so I turned to Discogs.com for help. Fortunately, there is a decent listing for this disc. The 'blooded' version on the A-side is probably the best version of 'Slave to the rhythm' I've heard in a long time, as it adds much interesting things to the all too familiar single version. As for the B-side... Well, experimentation can be fruitful sometimes.
My collection: 12" single no. 648
Found: Record fair, Utrecht
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Slave to the rhythm (blooded)' / 'Junk yard', 'Annihilated rhythm'
The sleeve doesn't give you much information about the tracks contained on this disc, so I turned to Discogs.com for help. Fortunately, there is a decent listing for this disc. The 'blooded' version on the A-side is probably the best version of 'Slave to the rhythm' I've heard in a long time, as it adds much interesting things to the all too familiar single version. As for the B-side... Well, experimentation can be fruitful sometimes.
My collection: 12" single no. 648
Found: Record fair, Utrecht
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Slave to the rhythm (blooded)' / 'Junk yard', 'Annihilated rhythm'
Friday, 21 October 2011
Sexdrive - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsfKOXLdQKo/TqHAvPTBrsI/AAAAAAAALVc/QEMhR-SKZQo/s200/gracejones13.jpg)
This American promotional 12" single was released on see-through red vinyl. The track reached number 82 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 12" single no. 595
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Sex drive (Sex pitch mix)', 'Sex drive (Sexstrumental)' / 'Sex drive (Hard drive mix)'
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Victor should have been a jazz musician - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2d5ONITZmKk/Tfphkp45WBI/AAAAAAAAK_0/V18nB-2mPTc/s200/gracejones12.jpg)
The single reached number 35 in the Dutch Top 40, but failed to chart in other territories.
My collection: 7" single no. 5176
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' / 'Crush'
Friday, 15 January 2010
Pull up to the bumper - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S1Dd3zBe4iI/AAAAAAAAH8k/zMlTOrEmuaU/s200/gracejones9.jpg)
Upon its original release, the single reached number 53 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40. In the UK, 'Pull up to the bumper' was re-released in 1985, reaching number 12 on that occasion.
My collection: 7" single no. 2860
Found: August 9, 1997
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Pull up to the bumper' / 'Feel up'
Monday, 21 December 2009
Victor should have been a jazz musician - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Sy_-RKrtOrI/AAAAAAAAHk4/tW55fbsuOxg/s200/gracejones8.jpg)
The single 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' is a far cry from 'Slave to the rhythm', as it's a slow jazz track. The single was successful in the Netherlands, where it reached number 26 in the Dutch Top 40, but it failed to chart in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 2625
Found: March 2, 1996
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' / 'Crush'
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
La vie en rose - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SygN6qbMjMI/AAAAAAAAHcI/rsdG_5lBaLs/s200/gracejones7.jpg)
Of course, 'La vie en rose' was a hit for French singer Edith Piaf first. Written by Piaf and Louis Gugliemi, her songwriting team did not think the song would be successful, but it turned out to be a favourite with audiences. The same goes for Grace Jones' version: it was released as a single in 1977 and 1982, and on both occasions it became a big hit in several countries.
My collection: 7" single no. 1626
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, April 18, 1992
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'La vie en rose' / 'I need a man'
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Jones the rhythm - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SxEdCuMuaKI/AAAAAAAAHHw/Z-OUKisGnok/s200/gracejones6.jpg)
It was quite interesting to find this single, the second one taken from the album. 'Jones the rhythm' is a less familiar single from 'Slave to the rhythm', primarily because it didn't chart. It features an edit of the album version, as well as a very interesting instrumental B-side track. 'Junkyard' is constructed in the same style as the album, and as such could easily be tacked on to the track listing. I do hope it happens someday.
My collection: 7" single no. 4287
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Jones the rhythm' / 'Junkyard'
Sunday, 4 October 2009
I've seen that face before - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SsjERejWtVI/AAAAAAAAF7M/uhd87WFrKzY/s200/gracejones5.jpg)
This version of the single, which I've only seen once (when I bought it), features not only a beautiful sleeve, but also a Spanish version on the B-side. It replaces the French spoken verse 'Tu cherches quoi ? À rencontrer la mort ? Tu te prends pour qui ? Toi aussi tu détestes la vie...' with a literal translation in Spanish. The single reached number 2 in the Dutch Top 40. Bizarrely, it did not chart in the UK.
My collection: 7" single no. 2995
Found: London, May 27, 1998
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'I've seen that face before' / 'I've seen that face before (Spanish version)'
Saturday, 10 January 2009
La vie en rose - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SWkCZOusNvI/AAAAAAAAA1c/XSpvCkQK-3Y/s200/gracejones4.jpg)
Grace Jones recorded a cover version of this track in 1977 as part of her debut album 'Portfolio'. The radical bossanova/disco interpretation of the track became Jones's first international hit single, even if the single version was heavily edited. The original album version was included on this 12" single, lasting over seven minutes.
My collection: 12" single no. 318
Found: Record fair, 2002
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'La vie en rose' / 'I need a man'
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Slave to the rhythm - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SUGJrRs6sQI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/QVFYQcjKqrg/s200/gracejones3.jpg)
I bought my copy of this single in fact today, as part of a collection of 18 singles in a second hand shop in my hometown. Sometimes all a man needs is a good stack of vinyl to perk up his mood.
My collection: 7" single no. 3485
Found: Empire Records, Den Haag, December 11, 2008
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Slave to the rhythm' / 'GI Blues'
Download: here
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
I've seen that face before / Pull up to the bumper - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SSSKlueiBvI/AAAAAAAAAHc/Y0jz3cMN--Q/s200/gracejones2.jpg)
Grace Jones is an icon, and 'I've seen that face before' is her best song, in my opinion at least. If only for that one line: 'toi aussi, tu déteste la vie'. There's only one woman who can snarl like that.
My collection: 12" single no. 325
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1995
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'I've seen that face before' / 'Pull up to the bumper'
Friday, 14 November 2008
Victor should have been a jazz musician - Grace Jones
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623140026im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SR3v7-98_AI/AAAAAAAAABU/GWetRVKOYII/s200/victor.jpg)
I was less impressed with the tracks themselves when they were released. To me, Grace Jones peaked with 'Slave to the rhythm', and then faded into obscurity. But I have to admit I was wrong. 'Victor should have been a jazz musician' is not only a great title (it's up there with 'You will always find me in the kitchen at parties' and 'I don't know what you want but I can't give it anymore'), but also a classy, cool track. The remixes, then. Ben Liebrand did a reasonable job on 'Victor', but the remix of 'I'm not perfect' is slightly too manic for me.
My collection: 12" single no. 274
Found: 1996
Cost: 2,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Victor should have been a jazz musician (Jazz club million minute mix)' / 'I'm not perfect (but I'm perfect for you) (C + VI minimix)'
Download: Victor should have been a jazz musician, I'm not perfect (But I'm perfect for you).
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