Classic music
Eliation | 07/03/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Universal Masters Collection may just be the most extensive Grace Jones collection there is.
All of the songs are in their original album lenghts; no radio edits or shortage, a wonderful sampler of this truly unique performer - Grace Jones. 13 tracks included, I'll go through each song in my review.
1. "Private Life" - One of her absolute best song to date. The original was by Chrissie Hynde; but the song belongs to Grace - there's no doubt about it. The style is reggae/ rock; Grace doesn't do a whole lot of singing, she growls through the lyrics, but that's style and not lack of a singing voice. A great song, indeed.
2. "Inspiration" - Taken from her 1982 album "Living My Life". The song is a beautiful ballad and Grace delivers a beautiful vocal performance. The song is often overlooked (it wasn't included on the 1998 retrospective two disc "Compass Point Sessions") and has not been compiled anywhere else. For Grace Jones fans who doesn't own the album "Living My Life" makes this compilation a necessity.
3. "Warm Leatherette" - What a bizarre song indeed. The heavy beat is vicious and Grace sounds so damn sexy. Dare I even say it? It's way better than Miller's ominous club legend. "Quick let's make love - before we die" what a great song. One of the highlights of Grace's musical career.
3. "Pull Up to the Bumper" - Is Grace's best known and most successful song to date. The jungle beat mixed with the continuous hint at sex "Drive it in between" makes this one a classic. The song is so catchy; the beat; the lyrics; and most of all, Grace's devotion to this cut. Grace knows it's her most successful song to date - and she gets it to work. Slave to the Rhythm is the only song that rivals it's chart success.
4. "Love Is the Drug" - Finally we have the original album edition compiled. The edition that appears on "Island Life" is the Thorngren Mix and the other editions found are the radio edits. This is the best edition; it's definitive and one of Grace's best songs - great cover of Roxy Music's classic rock tune. The song runs on 8:42 minutes, 8:42 minutes people! Classic I tell you, classic.
5. "Nightclubbing" - What a scary cover of Iggy Pop's club tune. The mood is very dark; the beat is heavy and the rhythm runs along on a very grotesque tempo. Her vocal performance is damned, the voice is slow and very sexy - she really knows how to breathe life into a song and make it her own, what a great tune. The Universal Masters Collection is the only compilation on which "Nightclubbing" appears on.
6. "Nipple to the Bottle" - Taken from the album "Living My Life". Nipple to the Bottle is so rhythmically compelling; true it bares a faint resemblance to "Pull Up to the Bumper" - the jungle beats and detached vocal performance. As great as the song is; I prefer the 12" version of the song - that being said; it's still a very great song, Grace Jones really knows how to adapt herself and become one with the song.
7. "Breakdown" - Originally by Tom Petty. The faint voice is stunning and the aggressive demand, burries the original completely. The vocals in "Breakdown" are stunning; the range is three-octave - Grace manages to rise her voice above the usual two-octave range. A great song, but hardly a song I'd compiled on a greatest hits. Let's be frank; Breakdown is not one of Grace Jones' greatest hits - what's it doing here?
8. "Demolition Man" - Is one of my personal favourites off Grace's music catalogue. The song is so fierce and suits Grace Jones so well. The song was originally done by "The Police" and was written by Sting; it was also used in the movie "Demolition Man" with Sly Stallone and Wesley Snipes. At the end of the day "Demolition Man" belongs to Grace; she's the one who made the song popular - not The Police.
10. "La Vie En Rose" - Is my absolute favourite Grace Jones song to date. She recorded the song in 1976 and was included on her debut album "Portfolio". While most of that album had crackling disco tunes; La Vie En Rose blossomed as the prettiest rose right in the middle of the frenzy. Grace delivers her most affectionate vocal performance to date; she perseveres and but knows her limit. The song was originally by the legendary French chanteuse "Edith Piaf" - Grace's edition has been called one of the finest of the bunch.
11. "My Jamaican Guy" - I first saw Grace Jones perform this song live in 1987 on the show "Reggae Session" and I was floored. The beat is obviously Jamaican reggae; the tribal feel of this song is amazing - she truly is an Amazon warrior. Great song and definitely one of her greatest hits - of all time.
12. "Walking in the Rain" - Is an incredible tough song, but she gets it to work. Walking in the Rain suited "Nightclubbings" theme perfectly well. The song is dark - and Grace talks her way through it with such a conviction that it nearly leaves you strangled. Walking in the Rain has been included on each and every Grace Jones compilation there's ever been made - why comes as no surprise to me. It's one of her best.
13. "I've Seen That Face Before" - Quel est ton problème? It really is a terrific song. The theme is dark (a common theme used on Nightclubbing) but I wouldn't want it any other way. I've Seen That Face Before is one of Grace's greatest hit singles, it's widely recognized and people seem to love it - in spite of the dark tone. "Tu cherches quoi, rencontrer la mort, Tu te prends pour qui, toi aussi tu detestes la vie."
All in all: The Universal Masters Collection is perhaps (next after Island Life 2) the most extensive Grace Jones collection to date. Now all we can hope for is the ultimate collection or a new album release.
A live album is also very welcome - for god sakes (and ours) please release a new record Grace.
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Track Listings (13) - Disc #1