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Hurricane (Grace Jones album)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane is the tenth studio album
by singer Grace Jones
and her first album of new material in nineteen years.
. After becoming acquainted Guest played Jones a track he had been working on. Jones set her lyrics "Devil in My Life" to it and they ended up recording 23 tracks. According to Jones some of these tracks will make up her next album.
In September 2008 Guest announced that he and Jones had completed recording the album. Other participants on the new album were Sly and Robbie
, Leopold Ross
, Brian Eno
, Bruce Woolley
, Wally Badarou
, Tricky
, Wendy and Lisa
, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson, Mikey 'Mao' Chung
, Barry Reynolds, John Justin, Martin Slattery
, Philip Sheppard, Jones's son Paulo Goude, Robert Logan, Don-E and Tony Allen, with recording engineering duties by Cameron 'Engine' Craig.
's Meltdown festival
in London on 19 June 2008 during which she performed four new songs from the album. The music video for "Corporate Cannibal" was premiered at the festival. The video was officially uploaded onto YouTube
on 4 July 2008. "Corporate Cannibal" and its remixes
by Atticus Ross
, Robert Logan, and The Bug (aka Kevin Martin) were made available on iTunes
in late August 2008. The mixes are also streamed on her official Myspace
page.
The album was released on Wall of Sound, on November 3, 2008 in the United Kingdom. At her signing with the label, it was announced that album would be named Hurricane. PIAS
, the parent company of Wall of Sound, distributed Hurricane worldwide, excluding North America. "Williams' Blood" was the second single, released on 8 December 2008. "Love You To Life
" was the third single, containing remixes by Cagedbaby & Guy Williams, it was released on May 4, 2010.
To promote the album, Jones embarked on The Hurricane Tour in 2009.
-influenced "This Is", exhibits Jones' Jamaican accent against an electro beat. The soaring "Williams' Blood
" describes how Jones took after her mother's side of the family by pursuing music. "Corporate Cannibal
" is an aggressive industrial
personification of corporate capitalism
which has been favorably compared to Massive Attack
's Mezzanine
. "I'm Crying" is a sentimental ode to her mother. On "Well Well Well" Jones considers home as a "refuge from her vices." On the titular track "Hurricane
", first recorded as a 1997 collaboration with Tricky
, Jones embodies that force of nature "ripping up trees". "Love You To Life" urges an ill friend not to die. "Sunset Sunrise" ponders mankind's relationship with nature. The final song, "Devil In My Life", was written after a party in Venice
while Jones was standing in the corner observing partygoers.
.
that the album cover features chocolate heads of herself. These including her arms and legs were molded by life-casting experts John Schoonraad
, Tristan Schoonraad and artist Nick Reynolds (Alabama 3
); she subsequently filled the moulds at the Thorntons Chocolate factory, where the artwork was shot.
whilst wearing a sparkling hat. Disc 1 is identical to the original Hurricane, whilst Disc 2 features the new tracks.
Arranged By [Strings] - Ant Genn* (tracks: 4, 9) , Philip Sheppard (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Artwork By [Design And Art Direction] - Tom Hingston Studio
Backing Vocals - Ladonna Harley-Peters* , Sharlene Hector
Bass Guitar - Robbie Shakespeare
Co-producer - Ant Genn* (tracks: 1 to 3, 7) , Bruce Woolley (tracks: 8)
Conductor [Strings Conducted By] - Philip Sheppard (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Drums [Drum Kit], Programmed By [Mpc Overdubs] - Sly Dunbar
Engineer [Additional Pro-tools Engineering] - Will Johnstone , Will Worsley
Engineer [Additional Sound Engineering] - Steve Pelluet
Engineer [Advanced Pro-tools Engineering] - Richard Flack
Engineer [Recording Engineer] - Cameron Craig
Guitar - Adam Green (6) , Barry Reynolds , Leopold Ross , Mikey "Mao" Chung*
Keyboards - Wally Badarou
Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Ant Genn* , Bruce Woolley , Don-E
Keyboards, Effects [Treatments], Backing Vocals - Brian Eno
Keyboards, Marimba, Backing Vocals - Paul Goude*
Keyboards, Programmed By [Programming] - Ivor Guest
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals - Grace Jones
Mastered By - Bob Ludwig
Mixed By - Cameron Craig , Ivor Guest
Other [Lifecast By] - Lifecast
Other [Make Up] - Neil Young
Other [Prop Stylist] - Eric Rehl
Other [Score Reading] - Roberto Borzoni (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Other [Strings Fixer] - Isobel Griffiths (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Other [Styling] - Zoe Bedeaux
Percussion - Uzziah "Sticky" Thompson*
Photography - Jonathan De Villiers
Piano, Organ [Hammond / Rhodes] - Martin Slattery
Producer - Ant Genn* (tracks: 4, 8, 9) , Grace Jones
Producer [Production Consultation] - Brian Eno
Producer, Arranged By - Ivor Guest
Recorded By [Strings] - Cameron Craig (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Technician [Mix Assistant] - Neil Comber
, the second time performing the song "Love You To Life" live. She also appeared at the NME Awards
, MOBO Awards
and the Q Awards
. Jones also made promotional stops at several radio and television shows worldwide. She also made appearances at various celebrity parties to promote the album.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by singer 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...
and her first album of new material in nineteen years.
Creation
Jones had decided not to do another album again before meeting music producer Ivor Guest by mutual friend Philip TreacyPhilip Treacy
Philip Treacy OBE is an Irish milliner.Born in Ahascragh,in the West of Ireland, he lived with his parents, seven brothers and sister across the road from the village church...
. After becoming acquainted Guest played Jones a track he had been working on. Jones set her lyrics "Devil in My Life" to it and they ended up recording 23 tracks. According to Jones some of these tracks will make up her next album.
In September 2008 Guest announced that he and Jones had completed recording the album. Other participants on the new album were 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...
, Leopold Ross
Leopold Ross
Leopold Ross is an English musician, record producer, recording engineer, music programmer and part-time model.Leopold is a guitarist in LA based band Io Echo, and an occasional contributor to the band 12 Rounds.-Career:...
, Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, Bruce Woolley
Bruce Woolley
Bruce Woolley is an English writer, performer, record producer and composer.- Early years :Bruce Woolley was born in Loughborough, England on 11 November 1953 and was educated at Loughborough Grammar School where he learned electric guitar, began to write songs and where he met his future wife,...
, Wally Badarou
Wally Badarou
Wally Badarou is a musician from Benin.-Biography:A synthesiser specialist, Badarou was the longtime associate of the British band Level 42, known for its blend of funk, pop, soul and rock...
, Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Wendy and Lisa
Wendy and Lisa
Wendy & Lisa are a music duo consisting of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. They began working with Prince in the early 1980s and were part of his band The Revolution, before branching out on their own and releasing their debut album in 1987...
, Uziah "Sticky" Thompson, Mikey 'Mao' Chung
Mikey Chung
Born Michael Chung in 1954, Mikey "Mao" Chung is a keyboard, guitar and percussion player, arranger and record producer of Jamaican music.-Biography:...
, Barry Reynolds, John Justin, Martin Slattery
Martin Slattery
Martin Slattery is a British multi-instrumentalist best known as a member of Joe Strummer's backing band The Mescaleros. He played there amongst others electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, saxophone, and flute. He is currently in the band The Hours alongside Antony Genn.- References :...
, Philip Sheppard, Jones's son Paulo Goude, Robert Logan, Don-E and Tony Allen, with recording engineering duties by Cameron 'Engine' Craig.
Release
Jones performed a two hour concert at Massive AttackMassive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
's Meltdown festival
Meltdown (festival)
Meltdown is an annual, English festival, held in London, featuring a mix of music, art, performance and film. Meltdown is held in June at Southbank Centre, the arts complex covering and including the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Hayward...
in London on 19 June 2008 during which she performed four new songs from the album. The music video for "Corporate Cannibal" was premiered at the festival. The video was officially uploaded onto YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on 4 July 2008. "Corporate Cannibal" and its remixes
RemixeS
RemixeS is a compilation of French singer Mylène Farmer's singles by various famous DJ's, including JXL, Felix Da Housecat and Paul Oakenfold.-Brackground, writing and release:...
by Atticus Ross
Atticus Ross
Atticus Ross is an English musician, composer and producer. Ross, along with Trent Reznor, won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Social Network in 2011.-Early career:...
, Robert Logan, and The Bug (aka Kevin Martin) were made available on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in late August 2008. The mixes are also streamed on her official Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page.
The album was released on Wall of Sound, on November 3, 2008 in the United Kingdom. At her signing with the label, it was announced that album would be named Hurricane. PIAS
Play It Again Sam (record label)
[PIAS] Recordings is the recorded music division of the [PIAS] Entertainment Group, a European independent artist and label services company.The record labels that operate under the [PIAS] Recordings umbrella are: Play It Again Sam, Wall of Sound and Different Recordings.Aside from the three London...
, the parent company of Wall of Sound, distributed Hurricane worldwide, excluding North America. "Williams' Blood" was the second single, released on 8 December 2008. "Love You To Life
Love You to Life
Love You to Life is the third single from Grace Jones' tenth studio album Hurricane.Originally scheduled for release on March 30, 2009, it would however be postponed for more than a year, finally being released on May 4, 2010.-Track listing:...
" was the third single, containing remixes by Cagedbaby & Guy Williams, it was released on May 4, 2010.
To promote the album, Jones embarked on The Hurricane Tour in 2009.
Songs
The album's assertive opening track, dancehallDancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
-influenced "This Is", exhibits Jones' Jamaican accent against an electro beat. The soaring "Williams' Blood
Williams' Blood
"Williams' Blood" is the second single from Grace Jones' tenth studio album Hurricane.-Song information:"Williams' Blood" is an autobiographical song, written by Jones and Wendy & Lisa, explaining how Jones takes after her mother's, Marjorie Jones née Williams, musical side of the family rather...
" describes how Jones took after her mother's side of the family by pursuing music. "Corporate Cannibal
Corporate Cannibal
"Corporate Cannibal" is the lead single from Grace Jones' 10th studio album Hurricane released on Wall of Sound records in 2008.-Song information:...
" is an aggressive industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
personification of corporate capitalism
Corporate capitalism
Corporate capitalism is a term used in social science and economics to describe a capitalist marketplace characterized by the dominance of hierarchical, bureaucratic corporations, which are legally required to pursue profit....
which has been favorably compared to Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
's Mezzanine
Mezzanine (album)
Mezzanine is the third studio album by English trip hop group Massive Attack, released on 20 April 1998. It was produced by Neil Davidge along with the group. The album was released on Virgin Records....
. "I'm Crying" is a sentimental ode to her mother. On "Well Well Well" Jones considers home as a "refuge from her vices." On the titular track "Hurricane
Hurricane (Cradle to the Grave)
"Hurricane " is a song recorded by Grace Jones in 1997 and intended for an album by the title Force of Nature. The song was a collaboration with Trip-Hop artist Tricky but due to heavy disagreements between Jones and Tricky, the album was never completed, and only "Hurricane" with the subtitle...
", first recorded as a 1997 collaboration with Tricky
Tricky
Tricky is an English musician and actor. As a producer and a musician, he is noted for a dark, rich and layered sound and a whispering sprechgesang lyrical style. Culturally, Tricky encourages an intertwining of societies, particularly in his musical fusion of rock and hip hop, high art and pop...
, Jones embodies that force of nature "ripping up trees". "Love You To Life" urges an ill friend not to die. "Sunset Sunrise" ponders mankind's relationship with nature. The final song, "Devil In My Life", was written after a party in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
while Jones was standing in the corner observing partygoers.
Excluded songs
Originally announced to be an 11-track album, four tracks; "The Key to Funky" (co-written by Jones and Diane Pernet in the late 80s), "Body Phenomenon", "Sister Sister" and "Misery" were ultimately removed from the track listing. Another track recorded by Jones, "Volunteer", was leaked in 2007 by Leslie Winer. Winer asserted that she had written it and "This Is" with Joe Galdo in the 1990s.Reception
The album was named BBC Radio 6 Music Album of the Day on the day of its release. It received a score of 72/100 on review aggregator MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
.
Album art
Jones revealed on Friday Night with Jonathan RossFriday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
that the album cover features chocolate heads of herself. These including her arms and legs were molded by life-casting experts John Schoonraad
John Schoonraad
John Schoonraad is a life-cast and special effects artist and has more than 2000 lifecasts under his belt throughout his 30 year career...
, Tristan Schoonraad and artist Nick Reynolds (Alabama 3
Alabama 3
Alabama 3 are a British band mixing rock, dance, blues, country, and gospel styles, founded in Brixton, London, in 1995. In the United States, they are known as A3, allegedly to avoid any possible legal conflict with the country music band Alabama...
); she subsequently filled the moulds at the Thorntons Chocolate factory, where the artwork was shot.
Dub Version
3 years since releasing Hurricane, Grace decided to release a dub version of this album. Hurricane/Dub came out on the September 5 2011 in the UK. It also exists as a special double vinyl edition. This version is remixed by Ivor Guest. In the US, Hurricane was released 1 day later via PIAS Records. This version also features new album artwork of Jones smoking a cigaretteCigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
whilst wearing a sparkling hat. Disc 1 is identical to the original Hurricane, whilst Disc 2 features the new tracks.
Track listing
CreditsArranged By [Strings] - Ant Genn* (tracks: 4, 9) , Philip Sheppard (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Artwork By [Design And Art Direction] - Tom Hingston Studio
Backing Vocals - Ladonna Harley-Peters* , Sharlene Hector
Bass Guitar - Robbie Shakespeare
Co-producer - Ant Genn* (tracks: 1 to 3, 7) , Bruce Woolley (tracks: 8)
Conductor [Strings Conducted By] - Philip Sheppard (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Drums [Drum Kit], Programmed By [Mpc Overdubs] - Sly Dunbar
Engineer [Additional Pro-tools Engineering] - Will Johnstone , Will Worsley
Engineer [Additional Sound Engineering] - Steve Pelluet
Engineer [Advanced Pro-tools Engineering] - Richard Flack
Engineer [Recording Engineer] - Cameron Craig
Guitar - Adam Green (6) , Barry Reynolds , Leopold Ross , Mikey "Mao" Chung*
Keyboards - Wally Badarou
Keyboards, Backing Vocals - Ant Genn* , Bruce Woolley , Don-E
Keyboards, Effects [Treatments], Backing Vocals - Brian Eno
Keyboards, Marimba, Backing Vocals - Paul Goude*
Keyboards, Programmed By [Programming] - Ivor Guest
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals - Grace Jones
Mastered By - Bob Ludwig
Mixed By - Cameron Craig , Ivor Guest
Other [Lifecast By] - Lifecast
Other [Make Up] - Neil Young
Other [Prop Stylist] - Eric Rehl
Other [Score Reading] - Roberto Borzoni (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Other [Strings Fixer] - Isobel Griffiths (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Other [Styling] - Zoe Bedeaux
Percussion - Uzziah "Sticky" Thompson*
Photography - Jonathan De Villiers
Piano, Organ [Hammond / Rhodes] - Martin Slattery
Producer - Ant Genn* (tracks: 4, 8, 9) , Grace Jones
Producer [Production Consultation] - Brian Eno
Producer, Arranged By - Ivor Guest
Recorded By [Strings] - Cameron Craig (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Technician [Mix Assistant] - Neil Comber
Chart performance
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Austria Albums Chart | 23 | |
| Belgium Albums Chart | 14 | |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 63 | |
| European Top 100 Albums | 34 | |
| French Albums Chart | 36 | |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
19 | |
| Greek Albums Chart Greek Albums Chart International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Greece or IFPI Greece is the Greek branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and is the official charts provider and recording sales certification body for Greece. Currently two charts are compiled, one for sales of... |
27 | |
| Ireland Albums Chart | 61 | |
| Italian Albums Chart | 40 | |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 37 | |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 34 | |
| Swiss Albums Chart | 28 | |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
42 | |
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| Japan | 28 October 2008 |
| Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
3 November 2008 |
| Argentina Argentina Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires... |
14 April 2009 |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
6 September 2011 |
Promotional tour
A television and radio promotional tour was embarked on during 2008 and 2009. Jones twice appeared on British TV talk show Friday Night with Jonathan RossFriday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
, the second time performing the song "Love You To Life" live. She also appeared at the NME Awards
NME Awards
The NME Awards is an annual music awards show in the United Kingdom, founded by the music magazine, NME .The first awards show was held in 1953 as the NME Poll Winners Concerts, shortly after the founding of the magazine....
, MOBO Awards
MOBO Awards
The Music of Black Origin Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music....
and the Q Awards
Q Awards
The Q Awards are the UK's annual music awards run by the music magazine Q. Since they began in 1990, the Q Awards have become one of Britain's biggest and best publicised music awards, helped in no small part by the often boisterous behavior of the celebrities who attend the event...
. Jones also made promotional stops at several radio and television shows worldwide. She also made appearances at various celebrity parties to promote the album.