Following the excellent Warm Leatherette (1980) album, her debut on the Island Records label which saw her rewarded with more commercial acceptance, the outrageous and off-the-wall diva, Grace Jones returned to the recording studios in early 1981 for the unforgetable Nightclubbing project. ... Read review
A review by IanPhillips on Nightclubbing - Grace Jones September 7th, 2006
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
The funky Pull Up To The Bumper
Disadvantages:
None that really springs to mind
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Following the excellent Warm Leatherette (1980) album, her debut on the Island Records label which saw her rewarded with more commercial acceptance, the outrageous and off-the-wall diva, Grace Jones returned to the recording studios in early 1981 for the unforgetable Nightclubbing project.
Grace Jones second album on Island Records is possibly the greatest of her considerably short recording career and captured Jones at her artistic peak. It features a series of remarkable recordings, encapsulating a multitude of styles such as New Wave, Reggae, Funk, Jazz and Soul. She was again aided by the fabulous production skills of those reggae kings, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare.
Nightclubbing (1981)begins with the curiously compelling, Walking In The Rain, which sets a dark, atmospheric tone for the duration of the project. The hypnotic, trancey arrangements are ignited by a compelling performance from Jones who literally inteprets the lyrics into an interesting spoken interlude. This is one of her most bizarre and off the wall recordings, yet there is something fascinating about this recording despite its blatant weirdness.
Jones then delivers what's possibly her very, very best recording ever - Pull Up To The Bumper. This funk-driven track, complete with spiralling rythms, is totally infectious. The lyrics are scattered with double entendres . In the U.S, Pull Up To The Bumper catapulted to No.5 on the Black music singles whilst shooting to No.2 on the Club Play listings. In the U.K Pull Up To The Bumper fell just outisde the top 50 charts though on its re-issue in 1986 zoomed in at No.12.
Her cover of Bill Withers ,Use Me has a striking musical arrangement and holds a surprisingly strong and assertive vocal performance from Grace. Her unique version of Iggy Pop's Nightclubbing is a total contrast to the original, flowing with strange, synchronized sounds that was way ahead of its time.
The New Wave sounds of Art Groupie is another interesting concoction, but the music steadily steers direction, driving into jazz on the eccentric but undeniably brilliant, I've Seen That Face Before in which Grace delivers both English and French spoken passages.
The disappointment of the album comes in the lacklustre version of Feel Up - the reason being was that she did a far better version in her A One Man Show (1982).
However the album soon gets back on track with the stomping rock track, Demolition Man which is ignited by tough, thrashing musical arrangements and a red blooded, ferocious performance from Jones who conveys a lot of spirit and fire.
The album gradually winds down with a surprise in the jazz-soul number I've Done It Again. This number allows you to appreciate the surprisingly soothing qualities of her voice. Never have I heard her sound so effeminate as she does on this track.
Nightclubbing is an ESSENTIAL Grace Jones album. It raced to No.9 on the black music album charts, whilst gliding into the U.K and U.S Top 40 album Charts. It was also voted album of the year by New Musical Express magazine.
Advantages: Hurricane emerges as Grace Jones most compelling recording project Disadvantages: None that springs to mind
...WOW! This stunning. literally perfect new studio album by the inimitable, off-the-wall GraceJones (her first project since 1989's Bulletproof Heart) far surpassed what i'd originally expected. Now, don't get me wrong, i've always loved the weird but wonderful GraceJones, but had long since given up hope of her returning to the music scene, let alone with such concise precision, depth and fire. Her last project Bulletproof Heart was a rather hit-and-miss affair, alternated by some stunning results (Love On Top Of Love<, Bulletproof Heart and On My Way) and some rather forgettable, nondescript recordings. Bulletproof Heart failed to re-capture the glories of GraceJones recognised masterpieces - Warm Leatherette (1980), Nightclubbing (1981) and Slave To The Rhythm (1985). On the excellent albums Warm Leathrette, Nightclubbing and Living...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: The super-infectious Nipple To The Bottle Disadvantages: Is less than 40 minutes long
...Firstly, I have to admit that as much as I love and enjoy Living My Life, this is my least favourite in the trilogy that GraceJones recorded with Sly & Robbie etc. It just doesn't quite hit the heights of the critically-acclaimed Nightclubbing (1981) and the still-superb Warm Leatherette (1980) though Living My Life certainly has its moments with the outstanding tracks Nipple To The Bottle, The Apple Stretching, Everybody Hold Still and Inspiration. Regardless of it being the weakest in the trilogy (which, of course, is just my own humble opinion), Living My Life stands as a solid piece of work and is totally essential to any GraceJones fan. So theres plenty to recommend here and it must be noted that the whole sound of this album was groundbreaking for its time.
Produced by Alex Sadkin and Chris Blackwell, these sessions were all...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: These two discs capture some of Grace Jones most enthralling recording work Disadvantages: Strangely omits the classic "Slave To The Rhythm" - one of Grace's biggest sellers
...with double entendres and the fabulous arrnagements contain lots of groovy, spiralling rhythms, incessant jangly guirtars and a persistent, squelching, reggae-like beat. "Pull Up To The Bumper" was originally released in 1981 and stalled at a disappointing #53. Upon its re-issue in 1986, following the top 5 success of her compilation album "Island Life", it raced into the Top 20 and flew up the Club and R&B Charts. One of GraceJones definitive classics.
The swirling, dark, hypnotic sounds and vibes of the trancey "Walking In The Rain" from 1981's critically-acclaimed "Nightclubbing" (a top 10 R&B album and also voted "Album Of The Year" by readers of NME magazine) is a stand out! Grace delivers her trademark half-sung, half-spoken passages, all adding to the intensity of the mood and atmosphere. The boisterous, utterly superb "Use Me", a Bill...
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Album Notes: One of Jones' best post-disco albums, recorded in Nassau, Bahamas, with a truly remarkable studio band, including the legendary reggae rhythm team of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, along with Marianne Faithful collaborator Barry Reynolds on guitar. The songs are generally arranged in an innovative, ahead-of-their-time way (echoey yet spare, with lots of deep bass) that owes a bit to dub and in any case provides a perfect backdrop for Jones' Queen of the Undead vocals. Highlights include the proto-rap "Walkin' in the Rain," (by Easybeats/AC/DC auteurs Vanda and Young) and a spooky cover of Bill Withers' "Use Me."
Titles on disc 1
1.: Feel Up
2.: Walking In The Rain
3.: Pull Up To The Bumper
4.: Use Me
5.: Art Groupie
6.: Libertango
7.: I've Done It Again
8.: Demolition Man
9.: I've Done It Again
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