Last month in the U.K a wonderful documentary entitled Queens of Disco aired, it of course included the incomparable Grace Jones. Wearing a smashing headpiece and talking in her brilliantly kooky manner, she discusses her background and life as part of the New York downtown scene of the 1970s, where she was a regular at the famed Studio 54.
There is loads of great vintage footage thrown into the mix, as well as interviews with different people including Maripol and producer Tom Moulton, who admits he basically told her she couldn’t sing (then produced her first three albums). Can’t imagine she took that well!
Right at the end of the piece narrator Graham Norton confirms that she is currently working on a new album, we’re chomping at the bit for it!
This interview is also the perfect excuse for me to post this absolutely amazing footage of Grace in action at Studio 54 (she is featured from 7.41) I stumbled across on YouTube. It was filmed at the launch party for Grease back in 1978, when Grace has just begun her music career, and shows her dancing up a storm surrounded by friends including Studio 54 owner Steve Rubell.
“Turn it up!” she yells while gyrating against Steve as the classic Boogie Oogie Oogie plays, while the crowds look on surely mesmerized! Listen out for the delightful line “Watch out my pussy’s starting to hang out!” (9.10)
Wouldn’t you have given anything to be hanging out at Studio 54? They clearly had a blast!
