Pull Up to the Bumper

Background

"Pull Up to the Bumper" was co-written by Grace Jones herself, Kookoo Baya and Dana Manno. The song's instrumental path was originally recorded in 1980 during the Warm Leatherette sessions, however, it did not make the album as Chris Blackwell found its R&B sound not fitting in the rest of the material. It was finally completed for the 1981 critically acclaimed album Nightclubbing and became its third single in June 1981.

The song sparked some controversy for its suggestive lyrics, as they figuratively describe sexual intercourse, prompting some radio stations in the United States to refuse to broadcast it. 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". However, in a 2008 interview with the Q magazine, Jones revealed that the meaning of the lyrics were not necessarily meant to be interpreted in a sexual context.

Over the years, "Pull Up to the Bumper" has been remixed 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"'s "Party Version" lasting 5m01s can be found on the US Hip-O Records/Universal Music In Good Company CD by Sly & Robbie.

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 both the Rodeo Media 2011 Dance Classics - Pop Edition Vol. 4 2CD Compilation and the very rare 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", remains unreleased on CD.

Upon its release, the song spent seven weeks at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, as well as becoming a Top 5 single on the US R&B chart. The track has since come to be one of Jones' signature tunes and her first transatlantic hit. Music critic and writer Glenn O'Brien called "Pull Up to the Bumper" "Grace's first car radio hit". The original 1981 release peaked at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. When it was re-released in 1985, then with the 1977 recording of "La Vie en rose" as the B-side, it reached number 12 on the UK pop chart in early 1986. The song then finally charted in Ireland and Germany, and became the singer's best-seller.

In 2011, The Guardian's Richard Vine ranked the release of "Pull Up to the Bumper" as one of 50 key events in the history of dance music, proclaiming it "one of those rare records that manages to replicate the sensation of actually being in a club."

Music video

The music video for "Pull Up to the Bumper" is a combination of live footage with Jones performing the song on her A One Man Show merged and edited alongside excerpts from Godfrey Reggio's 1982 experimental documentary film Koyaanisqatsi. The video uses the edited studio version of the song and its opening section includes excerpts from the song "Nightclubbing".

Another music video for the song was produced, also using the same live footage, cut and re-edited, but this time retaining the original concert soundtrack. The video ends with Jones jumping from the stage into the audience.

Cover versions