Private Life (song)
Encyclopedia
"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 Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions
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 UK, 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 with the 7" of "Private Life" lasting 4m38s now available on the Spectrum
Universal Music
Music For Girls Night Out compilation CD. The Original 7" Version of "She's Lost Control" is still yet to be released on CD. In The Netherlands the B-side was the French language "Pars" from the Warm Leatherette album. 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
".
, then as an on-stage performance.
in 1985 the song was remixed and re-issued as a single in the UK (Island Records
IS 273), then with "My Jamaican Guy
" as the B-side.
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
, included on The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
' eponymous 1979 debut album
Pretenders (album)
Pretenders is the debut studio album by the British New Wave band The Pretenders, released on 19 January 1980 on Real Records . A combination of rock, punk, and pop music, this album made the band famous...
. The following year the track was covered by Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, model and actress.Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and...
on her first post-disco album Warm Leatherette, recorded at the Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios
Compass Point Studios were founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, the owner of Island Records.In the late 1970s and mid-1980s, many musical artists from across the world came to the Bahamas to record music at its facilities. Many producers, including Chris Blackwell himself, used the studio to produce...
in the Bahamas with among others Sly and Robbie
Sly and Robbie
Sly and Robbie is the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production team of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare who joined in the mid 1970s after having established themselves separately in Jamaica as professional musicians...
. In the liner notes to Island Records' 1998 compilation Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions
Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions
Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions is a two disc anthology of recordings by Grace Jones released by Island Records in 1998.Grace Jones recorded three albums with Sly & Robbie in the legendary Compass Point Studios, Bahamas during the period of 1980-1982; Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing and...
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
Chris Blackwell
Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...
'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
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, combined with an entirely different image and it in fact became Grace Jones' first ever chart entry in the UK, peaking at #17. The single's B-side was a non-album track; "She's Lost Control", originally recorded by Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
. Both tracks were remixed and re-edited for the 7" single with the 7" of "Private Life" lasting 4m38s now available on the Spectrum
Spectrum
A spectrum is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. The word saw its first scientific use within the field of optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light when separated using a prism; it has since been applied by...
Universal Music
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
Music For Girls Night Out compilation CD. The Original 7" Version of "She's Lost Control" is still yet to be released on CD. In The Netherlands the B-side was the French language "Pars" from the Warm Leatherette album. 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
The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game
"The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" is a 1966 song recorded by The Marvelettes for the Motown label, from their self-titled album released that year....
".
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 ShowA One Man Show
A One Man Show is a music documentary featuring American singer Grace Jones, filmed in 1981–1982. The film was first released in 1982 to promote the album Living My Life and was re-issued on VHS and laserdisc by Island Records, PolyGram and Spectrum Music through the 1980s and early 1990s...
, then as an on-stage performance.
Remix version
Following the release of the compilation Island LifeIsland Life
Island Life was Grace Jones' 1985 compilation album, featuring songs from her Island Records albums Portfolio, Fame, Warm Leatherette, Nightclubbing, Living My Life, and Slave to the Rhythm. No tracks from Muse were included...
in 1985 the song was remixed and re-issued as a single in the UK (Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
IS 273), then with "My Jamaican Guy
My Jamaican Guy
"My Jamaican Guy" was the lead single to Grace Jones' 1982 album Living My Life, her third and last album recorded in the Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. The single was released in January 1983....
" 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