Ministry Of Grace.
Grace Jones. 71. & Newness.
Grace Jones is 71. Nope, it’s not her birthday, and she’s not dead. Just an observation. I don't know if that is surprising or not. I mean it’s ridiculous. But we'll get to that in a sec. She seems like the definition of timeless to me. Like she's always been there and older, but also somehow younger and more fearless than people half her age.
Here she is live from JUNE, 2019…. 71 people.
You hear about models making records every day… most are terrible. No offense to Karen Elson, but let’s face it…. There are other things to listen to, like drying paint. The less we talk about Jamie Bochert’s Francis Wolf, Abbey Lee Kershaw's Our Mountain or Rina Sawayama the better.
Here’s something of a discovery. While modeling in Paris, Grace shared an apartment with Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange. Hall and Jones frequented Le Sept (ne of Paris's most popular gay clubs of the 1970’s), featuring one of the worlds best ever DJs Guy Cuevas. Which might have been a eye opening experience to a young Jamaican Lady who grew up in a Pentecostal family.
Let’s look at at Grace’s first LP with its run of the mill 70’s coke + model “let’s hope for a hit"production. It leads with a disco version of “Send in the Clowns” that, not only should be skipped, but somehow makes ya wanna reach for Ethel Merman’s disco record. There are a few highlights. You would think an LP mixed by Tom Mouton and featuring the best of the Philly Sound Players would not stink this much. Ainsi va la vie.
Speaking of which, the standout is La Vie en Rose. Grace puttered around disco for a couple of missable LPs Fame and Muse. So at this point she’s on the standard Model -> Musician trajectory.
But then BOOM!! Nightclubbing. What the actual F is this, y’all? It’s like getting hit with a stylistic truck thrown by a Superhero who’s Super power is not giving a F***. You've got yourself an insane Iggy Pop Cover. Bananas Bill Withers cover, a perverse Police cover, You also have and A Flash and the Pan cover.
FLASH IN THE MotherF*in PAN.
Not only does she cover Walking in the Rain. it opens the record. It contains the line Feelin' like a Woman/Lookin like a Man. She’s just letting you know now up front. She takes Walking to “De Yard" via the Compass Point All Stars. Bold my friends. Bold.
***Flash in the Pan are two fellas from The Easybeats.
Over to Kenn.
As a kid Grace Jones frightened me as much as attracted me. That's a weird feeling. Still got it. What the F was she? What planet was she from? Where did she get those pants?
I’m not sure I liked everything she did… Conan the Destroyer anyone? But I watched it all. Same with the records. I still cannot figure her cover of Warm Leatherette, but I think I like it, not sure. Still. But to me it sums her up. Then there was the resurgence of a lifetime with Hurricane. 71. Ridiculous.
Here she is doing Slave to the Rhythm live at the Jubilee Concert. Complete with COMPLETE Hula Hopping... for the Queen y'all ..... It really never gets old.
Ministry of the New
Some very enjoyable new things y’all
Loving your many epic works!