Pull Up to the Bumper
Encyclopedia
"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 by 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, 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
. 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 (see cover on the right).
The song was also recorded for Jones' A One Man Show
in 1982, and two music video
s were produced: one a live version of the song; and another the studio version containing images included from the film Koyaanisqatsi
.
ed several times. The original 12-inch single
featured the unedited album master recording as an extended mix of 6m45s. There also appears to be an untitled long album version lasting 5m48s which can be found on the U.S. (Rebound Records) Polygram Records World Of Dance The 80's compilation CD. An extended dub version lasting 7m17s also known as "Remixed Version" was included as the B-side on the 12-Inch release of Jones' "Walking in the Rain
"; this version can be found on the Universal Music
compilation CD 12"/80s. The "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. The full mix of "Peanut Butter" lasting 7m02s as well as Pull Up To The Bumper "Party Version" lasting 5m01s can be found on the U.S. Hip-O Records
Universal Music
Sly & Robbie - In Good Company CD. 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, which can be found on the very rare (Netherlands-Only) EVA Records 1986 Now Dance compilation CD. 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" which remains unreleased on CD.
. Among the lines are "Pull up to my bumper baby / In your long black limousine / Pull up to my bumper baby / Drive it in between", and "Grease it / Spray it / Let me lubricate it".
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...
from her critically acclaimed 1981 album Nightclubbing
Nightclubbing
Nightclubbing is the fifth studio album by Grace Jones, released in 1981. It is the second of three post-disco albums that Jones made at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas and became Jones' commercial breakthrough and also formed the basis of her groundbreaking concept tour A One Man Show...
and has since come to be one of Jones' signature tunes
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
. The song was co-written by Jones herself, Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar
Lowell "Sly" Fillmore Dunbar is a drummer.-Biography:Dunbar, whose nickname was reportedly given for his passion for Sly & the Family Stone, launched his musical career while still in his adolescence, playing with a local group, The Yardbrooms, at the age of fifteen...
, Dana Mano and Robbie Shakespeare.
Upon its release, the song spent seven weeks at #2 on the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, as well as becoming a Top-5 single on the U.S. R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. The original 1981 release peaked at #53 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It was re-released as a single in 1985, then with the 1977 recording of the song "La Vie en Rose
La vie en rose
"La Vie en Rose" was the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf.-Signature song of Édith Piaf:Édith Piaf first popularized La Vie en Rose in 1946. The lyrics were written by Piaf and the melody of the song by "Louiguy" . Initially, Piaf's peers and her songwriting team did not think the song...
" as the B-side, and this reached #12 on the UK pop chart in early 1986 (see cover on the right).
The song was also recorded for Jones' A One Man Show
A 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...
in 1982, and two music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
s were produced: one a live version of the song; and another the studio version containing images included from the film Koyaanisqatsi
Koyaanisqatsi
Koyaanisqatsi also known as Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance, is a 1982 film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke....
.
12" versions
Over the years, "Pull Up to the Bumper" has been remixRemix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ed several times. The original 12-inch single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
featured the unedited album master recording as an extended mix of 6m45s. There also appears to be an untitled long album version lasting 5m48s which can be found on the U.S. (Rebound Records) Polygram Records World Of Dance The 80's compilation CD. An extended dub version lasting 7m17s also known as "Remixed Version" was included as the B-side on the 12-Inch release of Jones' "Walking in the Rain
Walking in the Rain
"Walking in the Rain" was the third single from Grace Jones' 1981 album Nightclubbing. The song was originally composed and recorded by Australian band Flash and the Pan and included on their eponymous debut album....
"; this version can be found on the 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...
compilation CD 12"/80s. The "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. The full mix of "Peanut Butter" lasting 7m02s as well as Pull Up To The Bumper "Party Version" lasting 5m01s can be found on the U.S. Hip-O Records
Hip-O Records
Hip-O Records is a record label, currently part of Universal Music Group, which specializes in reissues and compilations. Their Hip-O Select label is currently in the midst of releasing the Complete Motown Singles, a series of fourteen box sets which include both sides of every 45 from Motown...
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...
Sly & Robbie - In Good Company CD. In 1985 the track was again remixed and re-released to promote the Island Life
Island 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...
compilation, and was released in two different 12" mixes, one an extended mix with additional keyboard overdubs and remix by Paul "Groucho" Smykle, which can be found on the very rare (Netherlands-Only) EVA Records 1986 Now Dance compilation CD. 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" which remains unreleased on CD.
Controversy
The song sparked some controversy for its suggestive lyrics, as they figuratively describe sexual intercourseSexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
. Among the lines are "Pull up to my bumper baby / In your long black limousine / Pull up to my bumper baby / Drive it in between", and "Grease it / Spray it / Let me lubricate it".
Other versions
- A cover versionCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
was released by reggae singer PatraPatra (singer)Patra is a reggae singer. In her beginnings as a Female Dancehall deejay in the late 1980s, she used the stage name, Lady Patra...
in 1995 from her second album Scent of Attraction. It reached #60 on the U.S. Hot 100, #21 on the R&B chart, and #15 on the dance chart.
- Danish artist Funkstar De LuxeFunkstar De LuxeFunkstar De Luxe is a Danish House music producer and remixer.In 1999 and 2000 he had several hits. Remixes of two Bob Marley songs, "Sun Is Shining" and "Rainbow Country", peaked at numbers one and seven on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart...
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.
- Another cover version was released by Australian R&B singer Deni HinesDeni HinesDohnyale "Deni" Sharon Hines is a solo R&B artist who had chart success in the 1990s in Australia and New Zealand. She is the daughter of Marcia Hines....
, which featured in 2000 filmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
The Wog BoyThe Wog BoyThe Wog Boy is a 2000 Australian motion picture comedy starring Nick Giannopoulos, Vince Colosimo, Lucy Bell, Abi Tucker, John Barresi, Stephen Curry, Hung Le, Geraldine Turner, Tony Nikolakopoulos and Derryn Hinch. -Plot:...
. It reached #36 on the Australian ARIA Charts in February 2000.
- Also in 2000, short lived British band Made in LondonMade in LondonMade in London was a pop group made up of three members, British Kelly Bryant and Sherene Dyer, and Norwegian Marianne Eide, who released several records in 2000....
covered it as a B-side for their only charting single "Dirty Water".
- The bands The GossipThe GossipGossip is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control . A follow-up, Music for...
and LCD SoundsystemLCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
did a duet/collab. cover together at Coachella 2010.
- Coolio sampled the song on his 1997 hit "Oh La La"