The Grace Jones -- AC/DC Connection
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It's a pub quiz starter for 10: Explain the connection between Grace Jones and AC/DC. For an extra 5 points, how do we connect David Bowie? Shall we finish early and hit the bar? Then explain the Mad Max connection.The core, the nexus, the hub for the spokes, is an Australian music dynasty called Vanda and Young. In 1968 Harry Vanda and George Young's group The Easybeats had a massive global hit with the fabulous "Friday On My Mind". Here they are live on German TV - dig the dancers! I don't think the '60s had come to this part of the country. That's singer Stevie Wright with the swivel hips.
The Bowie connection - of course! - is his cover of the song on 'Pin Ups'. Next to the blindingly great original I think you'll agree David's version lacks a little something.
George Young is the older brother of AC/DC's Malcolm and Angus Young. Check those early AC/DC album covers and you'll see both songwriting and production credits for Vanda and Young. They also produced Rose Tattoo, whose singer Angry Anderson is one of the feral gang in Mad Max 2 (aka The Road Warrior).
In the late '70s Vanda and Young created the brilliantly strange Flash & the Pan. Characterised by a vocal that sounds like it's coming through a tin can on a string, the singer almost redefines "world-weary" with a delivery that would have emotion if only he could summon up the energy. It's pretty clear the whole thing is a wonderful joke and its finest sleepwalking moment is "Wallking In The Rain". Which brings us to Grace Jones.
Island Records was on a high, with owner Chris Blackwell living out his Atlantic/Jerry Wexler fantasies. He had Compass Point studios in Nassau and a house band that included Sly & Robbie, the hottest rhythm section in the Caribbean. Working with Alex Sadkin, Chris created the uber-groove that is 'Nightclubbing'. Looking at this period we tend to see weirdness and groove like The Cure and Gang of 4. But think about this for an idea: let's shove Iggy Pop's "Nightclubbing" motorik through a reggae-electro blender and slow it way down along the way…that'll get the boys on poppers cheering in the discos! Uh-huh.
Whoever chose the songs for Grace Jones deserves a medal.Grace's version of "Walking In The Rain" is one of my favourite songs (the 12" version is a stunnah). The band is a mix of reggae session kings, Bob Marley's band, and English musos and singers - the same motley crew that played on Marianne Faithful's 'Broken English'.
The svengali behind Grace was French design visionary Jean Paul Goude, who came up with all the visual flair and the conundrum of Grace's androgyny. Later on he made a Chanel advert that put Vanessa Paradis (Mrs. Johnny Depp) in a gilded bird cage. You can see it all here in this marvellous retrospective.Shall we get a drink?
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Comments (12)
fred poulet walking indurain
envoyé par mocky214