Customer Reviews

Collection

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Do we really need another "best-of" CD by Grace Jones?
With the exception of 2 tracks, "Everybody Hold Still" and "All On a Summer's Night,"
all of these songs are already available on one of her other FOUR compilation CDs:
("Island Life 2" "Private Life" "20th Century Masters" & "The Universal Masters Collection")

"All On a Summer's Night" is at least notable for being an obscure track from her second album "Fame,"
which has not been available on CD for several years now.

To be fair, this is NOT a bad collection; it's actually an interesting assortment of songs.
It covers all of her various musical styles; it features some of her well-known hits
with some obscure album tracks along with some rare remixes and B-sides.
My complaint is that there's really nothing new here. It's just more of the same.

If they're going to give us a FIFTH compilation, can't they pick a collection of songs that AREN'T on any of the others?
I would love to see Island come out with a special compilation of songs from her first three "Disco" albums,
("Portfolio" "Fame" & "Muse") or maybe a special collection of rare remixes.
Or why not a "best-of" compilation from her two non-Island albums, "Inside Story" and "Bulletproof Heart"?

I would recommend getting "Private Life" and "Island Life-2", the latter CD having the distinction
of including her rare, 1992 techno track "Sex Drive."

There has yet to be a career-spanning collection of Grace Jones's music. If there was, I think the track listing would appear as follows:

Grace Jones: The Ideal Collection
01. La Vie En Rose
02. I Need a Man
03. Do or Die
04. Private Life
05. Love is the Drug
06. Breakdown
07. She's Lost Control
08. Pars
09. Nightclubbing
10. Pull Up to the Bumper
11. Use Me
12. Walking in the Rain
13. Demolition Man
14. Living My Life
15. Nipple to the Bottle
16. My Jamaican Guy
17. I've Seen That Face Before
18. Feel Up
19. Slave to the Rhythm
20. I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect for You)

So with that in mind, this CD is a bit lacking. Blame it on record company licensing issues, but it often seems to be oversight (or incompetence) that so many good songs and big hits are missing. And the inclusion of remixes, b-sides, and live recordings is always a nice edition; but, a little Grace Jones is better than none at all. Still, not including "Pull Up to the Bumper" or "My Jamaican Guy" is just stupid. With that in mind, it would be better (and more economical) to either save money and buy the less-expensive "20th Century Masters Collection" or splurge a little and get "Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions".

This is mostly a collection of Grace Jones' avant-garde explorations of the 1980s. The two exceptions are her magnificent version of Edith Piaf's La Vie En Rose and the anthemic I Need A Man from the Portfolio album, a disco classic.

Her version of The Normal's Warm Leatherette is still ominous and impressive, whilst her cover of The Pretenders Private Life is interesting. Feel Up is a buoyant exploration of jungle rhythms and soulful vocals, whilst The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game is a lovely ballad.

Her famous torch songs are represented by the timeless Walking In The Rain and I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango), two of her most memorable performances. Other tuneful and rhythmically exciting numbers include Nipple To The Bottle and Everybody Hold Still.

Many of these tracks are the long album versions of the songs and the album includes a demo of Ring Of Fire, which makes it an essential purchase for the devoted fan.

The album is of course not comprehensive and the most glaring omissions are the brilliant My Jamaican Guy and the evocative The Apple Stretching. Still, the collection is a worthwhile showcase of the contribution of this innovative and unique vocalist who transformed herself from disco star into art-rocker and torch singer.

Grace Jones has always lived on the cutting edge of: music, movies and modeling. Her high camp disco years were great, but the chronicles of her art lies within the Compass Point Sessions. Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare helped Grace built a musical reputation, and "The Collection" covers a lot of their finest work. Assembled by Universal Music, I don't understand many of the track's selected for this compilation, okay, her three biggest hit singles are missing: Pull Up to the Bumper, My Jamaican Guy and Slave to the Rhythm, and that's really its failing point. However, absence of these, it allows more ignored songs to appear such as the everyday drama of "Everybody Hold Still", the hot "Feel Up" and the alouf "She's Lost Control". It also manage to pay a generous nod to her disco period; including her then theme "I Need a Man", the legendary cover of Edith Piaf's "La Vie En Rose" and the obscure "All on a Summers Night" from the album "Fame". Despite of its flaws, the music is still going strong after nearly 20 years. Her unforgettable covers still works perfectly well in today's pop trash-area. Love Is the Drug is amazing, "Private Life" stands as one of her most successful singles, "Walking in the Rain" is as ferocious as it was in 1981 and "Living My Life" would probably scare off most guys, yes, even today. Ultimately, "The Collection" fails to give a rounded presentation of Grace Jones' underrated career, her music has been a huge influence on many artists, and even to this day the shock thrill is felt whenever you listen to her stunning gestures. If they release another "Best of" please be sure to make it complete.

The above is not an actual title but a request for an LA appearance of the ever so mysterious GRACE JONES...

I experienced Ms. Jones at the Pantages Theater during the 80's, and to this day I will never forget the alluring POWER & MYSTERY behind her piercing eyes, unique costumes, captivating walk and movements, and most importantly her VOICE and MUSIC!

There will NEVER be another GRACE JONES, but LIKE many other fans out there...I would like THE DIVA to enchant her fans with a world tour that would ruffle the feathers of all those WANTABE performers using up air time to fill the radio slots!

I know that Ms. Jones would bring to light the old and the present in a spectacular event that can reminisce in our minds for decades to come!

A great compilation of Grace's true successes!

BORED OF THE SAME...DOESN'T GRACE HAS ANYTHING BETTER TO OFFER THAN THIS ? REPEATING THE SAME STORY AGAIN AND AGAIN.
I'D BETTER ACCEPT IT SHE AS A SINGER IS ALREADY DEAD !!!!

MY RATE IS -0