"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,^[1] 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.^[2] 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^[3] (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

• A cover version was released by reggae singer Patra in 1995 from her sophomore 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 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^[1] and #60 on the UK pop chart.^[4]

• Another 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.

• Also in 2000, short lived British band Made in London covered it as a B-side for their only charting single "Dirty Water".

References

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