Grace Jones: Inside Story - 1986


Grace Jones got involved with production for the first time on this album, teaming up with flavour-of-the-month Nile Rodgers, fresh from his success with Chic and David Bowie. Apparently they rowed all the time and the studio atmosphere was tense, but listening to it, you would never have known. It remains of of my favourite albums of hers. It is vibrant, poppy, commercial-sounding and extremely accessible.

I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You) was a single, and it bore hints of Bowie's1983 Let's Dance in its infectious backing. Hollywood Liar is just as catchy as indeed is the deliciously upbeat and intriguingly-titled Chan Hitchhikes To Shanghai. Victor Should Have Been A Jazz Musician is just gorgeous - jazzy, late night in vibe but summery too, enhanced by Grace's semi-spoken vocal. It's one of her best and most underrated tracks.

Party Girl reminds me of mid-eighties Talking Heads quite a lot, something about the African-sounding, subtle rhythm. It is another of those Jones songs with a wine-bar cool about it. Crush is a typical serving of shuffling Jones-Funk, her distinctive vocals enhanced by the presence of some searing lead guitar. Again, it puts me in mind of Adrian Belew's work with Talking Heads. Funnily enough, no guitarist appears on the musician credits, maybe it was digitally created. If so, it's a damn good likeness.The best cut on the album, for me, is the instantly gratifying Barefoot In Beverley Hills, with its uplifting backing vocals and accompanying, insistent guitar/percussion sound. 

Scary But Fun is one of those mysterious, evocative numbers Grace specialised in. It morphs in the more sombre but still attractive eighties Bowie-esque vibe of White Collar Crime. This excellent album ends with the lush, smooth sound mixed with gospelly backing vocals of Inside Story. Love the brass interjections too. The album is never spoken of when Grace Jones' work is assessed. Maybe it should be.

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