Private Life (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Private Life


Artist = Grace Jones
from Album = Warm Leatherette
B-side = "She's Lost Control", "Pars"
Released = June 27, 1980
Format = 7" single, 12" single
Recorded =
Genre = Reggae Rock
Length = A: 4:37, B: 3.50
Label = Island Records WIP 6629
Writer = Chrissie Hynde
Producer =
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Love Is the Drug" (1980)
This single = "Private Life" (1980)
Next single = "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" (1980)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate Cover
Type = single


Lower caption = 1986 Remix

"Private Life" is a song written by Chrissie Hynde, included on The Pretenders' eponymous 1979 debut album. The following year the track was covered by Grace Jones on her first post-disco album "Warm Leatherette", recorded at the Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas with among others Sly and Robbie. In the liner notes to Island Records' 1998 compilation "" Hynde is quoted as saying; " - Like all the other London punks, I wanted to do reggae, and I wrote "Private Life". When I first heard Grace's version I thought 'Now that's how it's supposed to sound!' In fact it was one of the highpoints of my career - what with Sly and Robbie being the masters, and Grace Jones with her scorching delivery. Someone told me it was Chris Blackwell's idea - thanks Chris!" "Private Life" was released as the third single from the "Warm Leatherette" album but it became the single that marked a new era in Jones' career as she left her disco persona behind her and began exploring genres like reggae, rock and new wave, combined with an entirely different image and it in fact became Grace Jones' first ever chart entry in the U.K., peaking at #17. The single's B-side was a non-album track; "She's Lost Control", originally recorded by Joy Division. Both tracks were remixed and re-edited for the 7" single and both of these mixes have yet to be released on CD. In The Netherlands the B-side was the French language "Pars" from the "Warm Leatherette" album. [ [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Grace+Jones/] [ [http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/grace_jones/a_rolling_stone//] In Germany, "La Vie En Rose" was re-issued as a follow-up single to "Private Life" whereas the UK and the Netherlands preferred "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game".

Video

The original video for this song presented the famous Grace Jones mask for the first time. The entire video shows Grace's face in close-up, her taking the mask off and on and off again, singing straight into the camera and it is filmed in one take without any cuts. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thtQngqG4vg&feature=related] The song was later also featured in Jones' "A One Man Show", then as an on-stage performance.

Remix version

Following the release of the compilation "Island Life" in 1985 the song was remixed and re-issued as a single in the U.K. (Island Records IS 273), then with "My Jamaican Guy" as the B-side.

Track listings

*NE 7" single (1980) 102.305
#A1) "Private Life" (7" Mix) - 4:36
#B1) "Pars" - 4:05
*UK 7" single (1980) WIP 6629
#A1) "Private Life" (7" Mix) - 4.36
#B1) "She's Lost Control" (7" Mix) - 3:39

*UK 12" single (1980) 12WIP 6629
#A1) "Private Life" (Long Version) - 6:19
#B1) "She's Lost Control" (Long Version) - 8:23

*GE 7" single (1980) 102 261-100
#A1) "Private Life" (7" Mix) - 4.36
#B1) "She's Lost Control" (7" Mix) - 3:39

*GE 12" single (1980) 600 261-213
#A1) "Private Life" (Long Version) - 6:19
#B1) "She's Lost Control" (Long Version) - 8:23

*US 12" single (1980)
#A1) "Private Life" (Long Version) - 6:19
#B1) "She's Lost Control" (Long Version) - 8:23

*UK 7" single (1986)
#A1) "Private Life" (1986 7" Mix) - 3:57
#B1) "My Jamaican Guy" (1986 7" Edit) - 4:16

*UK 12" single (1986)
#A1) "Private Life" (1986 Mix) - 7:00
#A2) "My Jamaican Guy" - 6:00
#B1) "Feel Up" (Long Version) - 6:14
#B2) "She's Lost Control" (12" Edit) - 5:45

References

* Liner notes: Grace Jones "Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions", Island Records 524 601-2, 1998