~
Today is the birthday of singer, actress, model, record producer and song writer
Grace Jones who was ranked 82nd on the
100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll list by
VH1.
Jones has been one of my idols since the early days of
disco (
link below) when I heard her first album,
Portfolio, with her big hit,
I Need a Man. But it was her versions of the 1946
Édith Piaf hit,
La Vie en rose, and the 1974
Argentine tango classic
I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango), by
Astor Piazzolla, that really did it for me.
On my first visit to
New York, in January of 1983, my first night was pretty much a nightmare. I'd found lodging in the 36th Street
YMCA in
Manhattan
which proved to be a disaster because of drug dealers and miscellaneous
shady characters knocking on my door all night and strange noises coming from who knows where! After a dismal,
sleepless night I couldn't wait to get out of there.
I
staggered out of the Y around 6 or 7 in the morning (I don't wear a
watch). As I walked down the street merchants were opening their shops
for the day. One of them had a hose and was washing down the sidewalk in front
of his store. By a fluke the weather was warm for January and it was warming up already, the door of the shop was open and
music was drifting out from the interior; the song was
The Apple Stretching. At first I had no idea who the singer was then I recognized the voice of
Grace Jones. I stood there
mesmerized and listened to the song all the way through; it was the
extended version of the song, a languid and sensual
New Wave reggae. I was totally enchanted by the lyrics (
link below), felt the warmth of the rising sun on my face and fell in love with
New York. I have never forgotten that magical moment; it was sublime.
I had to buy the record right there in
Manhattan, of course; I could not wait to get back home.
The Apple Stretching was recorded in June of 1982 and released in November, so it was brand new and it was easy to find a
DJ copy.
My version of the recording has
Nipple to the Bottle on the "
A" side with
The Apple Stretching on the "
B" side. It seems the best song usually ends up on the "flip" side. Both singles are from the album,
Living My Life (
link below).
The Apple Stretching was written by
Melvin Van Peebles for his 1982 play
Waltz of the Stork. The song describes
New York City in the early morning. It was included on Jones' sixth album
Living My Life and later released as a double A-side single with
Nipple to the Bottle, written by Jones and
Sly Dunbar,
which also got a separate single release. The original 7-minute song's
single edit was just the album version, faded out at 3:33.
The Apple Stretching was simultaneously released in a 12" version, clocking in at
8 minutes and 40 seconds. It included an omitted (on the album) second verse of the song,
where Grace sings together with a bass guitar only along with funky
percussion. This version remains unreleased on CD. The song has been
described as "the best record ever about New York."
Van Peebles said of being able to do the song, "I couldn't have done
[that track before], because people weren't used to [paying attention
to] music and words simultaneously}.
12" 45 RPM label, side 2
Tracklist:
Side 1:
Nipple To The Bottle, written by Grace Jones, Sly Dunbar - 6:59
Side 2:
The Apple Stretching, written by Melvin Van Peebles - 8:40
Companies, etc.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Island Records Inc.
Published By – Yeah Inc.
Published By – Rydim Music Ltd.
Pressed By – EMI Records
Mastered At – The Sound Clinic
Credits:
Mastered By – JONZ*
Mixed By – Steven Stanley
Producer – Alex Sadkin, Chris Blackwell
Notes:
12WIP 6779 also exists in a different pressing "Nipple To The Bottle (Club Cut) / The Apple Stretching" with switched sides.
℗ 1982 Original sound recording made by Island Records Inc
A. Yeah Inc / MCPS
B. Rydim Music Ltd
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (Label A side): 12WIP 6779-A
Matrix / Runout (Label B side): 12WIP 6779-B
Rights Society: MCPS
Matrix / Runout (Stamped A side (JONZ etched)): 12 WIP 6779 A-2U-1-1-1 JONZ
Matrix / Runout (Stamped B side (SOUND CLINIC etched)): 12 WIP 6779 B-2U-1-1-0 SOUND CLINIC
Grace Jones – The Apple Stretching / Nipple To The Bottle
Label: Island Records – 12WIP 6779
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Dub, Disco
Viewfinder links:
Happy Birthday, Grace, and
thank you for my magic moment
