Pull Up to the Bumper

Infobox Single
Name = Pull Up to the Bumper


Artist = Grace Jones
from Album = Nightclubbing
Released = 1981
Format = 7", 12", cassette single
Recorded = 1981
Genre = New Wave/Pop rock
Length = 3:41
Label = Island Records 103 337
Writer = Koo Koo Baya, Grace Jones, Dana Mano
Producer = Chris Blackwell / Alex Sadkin
Chart position =
Last single = "Demolition Man" (1981)
This single = "Pull Up To The Bumper" (1981)
Next single = "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)" (1981)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Cover for 86 rerelease
Type = single


Lower caption =

"Pull Up to the Bumper" was the second single released by Grace Jones from her critically-acclaimed 1981 album "Nightclubbing" and has since come to be one of Jones' signature tunes. The song was co-written Jones herself, Sly Dunbar, Dana Mano and Robbie Shakespeare.

Upon its release, the song spent seven weeks at #2 on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot Dance Club Play chart,Whitburn, Joel (2004). "Hot Dance/Disco 1974-2003", (Record Research Inc.)] as well as becoming a Top-5 single on the U.S. R&B chart. The original 1981 release peaked at #53 on the UK Singles Chart. [ [http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=9440 1981 UK Singles Chart info from chartstats.com] ] It was re-released as a single in 1985, then with the 1977 recording of the song "La Vie en Rose" as the B-side, and this reached #12 on the UK pop chart in early 1986 [ [http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=13071 1986 UK Singles Chart info from chartstats.com] ] (see cover on the right).

The song was also recorded for Jones' "A One Man Show" in 1982, and two music videos were produced: one a live version of the song; and another the studio version containing images included from the film "Koyaanisqatsi".

12" versions

The song was released with several different mixes, the original 12" featured an extended mix (in fact the unedited album master) ( - 6:45), an extended dub version was released as the B-side of the "Walking in the Rain" 12" single in the UK (- 7:15). The UK "Walking in the Rain" 7" single also had an alternate dub mix as the B-side, called "Peanut Butter" and credited to "The Compass Point All Stars". A third extended 12" mix entitled "Party Version" was released on the 1981 "Feel Up" 12" single. In 1985 the track was again remixed and re-released to promote the "Island Life" compilation, and was released in two different 12" mixes, one an extended mix with additional keyboard overdubs and remix by Paul "Groucho" Smykle, the other an eight-minute megamix entitled "Musclemix" which included excerpts from tracks like "Warm Leatherette", "Walking In The Rain", "Use Me", "Love Is The Drug" and "Slave To The Rhythm". All of these mixes remain unreleased on CD.

Controversy

The song sparked some controversy for its suggestive lyrics, as it appears to literally describe sexual intercourse. Among the racy images along the lines of this topic: "Pull up to my bumper baby / In your long black limousine / Pull up to my bumper baby / Drive it in between", as well as "Grease it / Spray it / Let me lubricate it". It is said that she is talking about anal sex with the song's lines, although interestingly, she has suggested in interviews that the song is about oral sex.

Other versions

*Danish artist Funkstar De Luxe remixed the song with Jones' original vocals, and released it as a single in 2000. The song reached #4 on the US "Billboard" dance chart and #60 on the UK pop chart. [ [http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=28688 2000 UK Singles Chart info from chartstats.com] ]

*A cover version was released by Australian R&B singer Deni Hines, which featured in 2000 film "The Wog Boy". It reached #36 on the Australian ARIA Charts in February 2000.

References