The Ultimate Collection |
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Artist:
Grace Jones
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £29.99
Our Price: £16.90
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0602498327623
Format: Box set
Label: Universal
Manufacturer: Universal
Number Of Discs: 3
Publisher: Universal
Release Date: 2007-01-08
Studio: Universal |
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Disc 1:
| 1. La Vie En Rose | | 2. Send In The Clowns | | 3. I Need A Man | | 4. Do Or Die | | 5. All On A Summer's Night | | 6. Fame | | 7. Am I Ever Gonna Fall In Love In New York City | | 8. Don't Mess With The Messer | | 9. Sinning | | 10. Saved | | 11. Private Life | | 12. Love Is The Drug | | 13. Warm Leatherette |
Disc 2:
| 1. Hunter Gets Captured By The Game | | 2. I've Seen That Face Before | | 3. Pull Up To The Bumper | | 4. Nightclubbing | | 5. Walking in The Rain | | 6. Demolition Man | | 7. Nipple To The Bottle | | 8. Apple Stretching | | 9. Inspiration | | 10. My Jamaican Guy | | 11. Slave To The Rhythm | | 12. I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You) | | 13. Victor Should Have Been A Jazz Musician | | 14. Love On Top Of Love |
Disc 3:
| 1. Paris | | 2. Private Life | | 3. Use Me | | 4. She's Lost Control | | 5. Nipple To The Bottle | | 6. My Jamaican Guy | | 7. Ring Of Fire | | 8. Man Around The House | | 9. Living My Life | | 10. Slave To The Rhythm | | 11. Sex Drive |
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Not fully comprehensive, 2007-07-10
FOUR AND A HALF STARS
As compilations go, this one is not bad but there are still certain omissions. Disc One draws on albums like Portfolio (1977), Fame (1978), Muse (1979) and Warm Leatherette (1980), whilst Disc Two draws on Nightclubbing (1981), Living My Life (1982), Slave To The Rhythm (1985), Inside Story (1986) and Bulletproof Heart (1989). The third disc contains special remixes and extended versions, including the demo of Ring Of Fire.
The tracks are arranged chronologically so it maps out her musical development from the disembodied robotic 1970s disco sounds of La Vie En Rose and Send In The Clowns through her new wave experiments with Private Life, her torch song phase on the Nightclubbing album up to the funky R&B of My Jamaican Guy and on to the pure pop of I'm Not Perfect and Love On Top Of Love.
She wasn't taken seriously as a musician up until the release of Warm Leatherette in 1980, but I have always enjoyed her early disco work, especially the Portfolio album with its great tracks like Tomorrow, Send In The Clowns, I Need A Man and La Vie en Rose.
The following album, Fame, was weaker but still contained a sprinkling of memorable disco musings like Autumn Leaves (not here) and Do Or Die. The almost totally unknown Sinning and Saved are powerful numbers from the rare Muse album.
Warm Leatherette really put her on the musical map, especially her version of the title track that was an obscure synth-pop single by Daniel Miller's The Normal. She also did interesting versions of Private Life (The Pretenders) and Love Is The Drug (Roxy Music).
Disc Two, tracks 2 to 6 come from Jones' very commercially successful Nightclubbing album. I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) and Walking In the Rain are witty, accessible pop ballads while the funky Pull Up To The Bumper is controversially sensual. The tracks from Nipple To The Bottle to My Jamaican Guy are jerky, funky and tribal with stunning vocal arrangements - all from the innovative Living My Life album.
Victor and I'm Not Perfect come from the underrated Inside Story (1986), which also contains gems like Barefoot In Beverly Hills and the soaring title track, both omitted here. Love On Top Of Love is the only track from Bulletproof Heart (1989) and a poor choice; I would have selected Amado Mio and Someone To Love.
Devoted fans will appreciate the 12-inch dance mixes on Disc Three. My favorites are She's Lost Control, Ring Of Fire and Slave To The Rhythm. This is the most extensive of the various Grace Jones compilations available as of this writing. I'm giving it 5 stars because it does offer a stunning selection of tracks. A box set is the ultimate answer to a completely comprehensive Grace Jones collection.
 The Ultimate Collection, 2007-01-25
It's amazing how many compilations Universal Music have in store for this lady. There are ten compilations available on the market, and even though The Grace Jones Story is the only comprehensive anthology; the Ultimate Collection is a three-disc compilation and perhaps the one that truly lives up to its title. The Ultimate Collection starts with a trip through her disco years, produced and conceived by disco pioneer Tom Moulton, much of the material obviously dates back to the late 70's. Many of these tunes captured the glitter and ferocity of the late 70's nightclubbing, and Grace managed to get herself the title of "Queen of Gay Discos". "I Need a Man" was a huge club hit back in 1977 and "Do or Die" and "Fame" were equally as successful, both reaching number three on the US Dance Chart, and her rendition of "La Vie en Rose" has almost become legendary over the years. All of her staple songs are here: "Pull Up to the Bumper, " "My Jamaican Guy," "Private Life" and of course her epic collaboration with Trevor Horn on "Slave to the Rhythm." There's also a bonus disc with extended and 12" versions of the songs. Many of these track are available elsewhere, and the packaging is sparsely done, but all of the songs are remastered in a 32-bit sound and they all sound better than ever. Fans may not see the need for another compilation, although the album version of "Do or Die" might be worth the purchase for some, the Ultimate Collection is an affordable and palatable purchase for the casual admirer of this mysterious, but creative artist.
Absolutley great CD, 2008-11-20
This is an absolute brilliant collection of Grace Jones tracks. All digitally remastered and revamped!!! So unlike all the other million collection of Grace tracks!!!
This is a perfect collection and a must for any fan casual or die-hard!!!
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