Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm (1985; 2015) [FLAC]
Violetta Wagganer
Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm (1985; 2015) [FLAC]
Grace Jones is a Jamaican singer, model and actress who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with her distinctive style and voice. She is known for her eclectic musical genres, ranging from disco to reggae to new wave to pop. One of her most iconic albums is Slave To The Rhythm, released in 1985 and reissued in 2015 as part of The Pop Masters Collection.
Slave To The Rhythm: A Concept Album
Slave To The Rhythm is not a conventional album, but rather a concept album that features eight variations of the same song, titled "Ladies and Gentlemen: Miss Grace Jones" on the album. The song was written by Bruce Woolley, Simon Darlow, Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn, and produced by Horn, who was the founder of ZTT Records and the producer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The song was originally intended for Frankie Goes to Hollywood as a follow-up to their hit "Relax", but was eventually given to Jones.
The album is subtitled a biography in the liner notes, as it intersperses the song versions with excerpts from conversations with Jones about her life, conducted by journalists Paul Morley and Paul Cooke. The album also features voice-overs from actor Ian McShane reciting passages from Jean-Paul Goude's biography Jungle Fever, which chronicles his relationship with Jones. The album explores themes such as fame, identity, sexuality and power through Jones' persona and performance.
Slave To The Rhythm: A Commercial Success
Slave To The Rhythm was one of Jones' most commercially successful albums, reaching the top 20 in several countries and spawning her biggest hit single, "Slave To The Rhythm". The single peaked at number 12 in the UK and number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. Its music video was directed by Jean-Paul Goude and featured Jones performing with a hula hoop in front of various backdrops. The video was praised for its artistic and innovative style and became one of the most influential music videos of the 1980s.
The album was also critically acclaimed for its originality and creativity. It was proclaimed the best single of 1985 by The Face magazine. In 1994, a newly remixed version of the song reached the top 40 in the UK charts. In 2015, the album was reissued as part of The Pop Masters Collection, a series of remastered albums by LMLR. The reissue featured the original album tracks in FLAC format, as well as bonus tracks and artwork.
Slave To The Rhythm: A Legacy
Slave To The Rhythm is widely regarded as one of Jones' masterpiece albums and one of the most innovative albums of the 1980s. It showcases Jones' versatility and charisma as a singer, model and actress, as well as Horn's production skills and vision. It also reflects Jones' cultural impact and influence on music, fashion and art. Slave To The Rhythm is a testament to Jones' status as a legend and an icon.