Pull Up to the Bumper

"Pull Up to the Bumper"
Single by Grace Jones
from the album Nightclubbing
Released	1981
Format	7", 12", cassette single
Recorded	1981
Genre	New Wave
Length	3:41
Label	Island 103 337
Writer(s)	Koo Koo Baya, Grace Jones, Dana Mano
Producer	Chris Blackwell / Alex Sadkin
Grace Jones singles chronology
"Demolition Man" (1981) "Pull Up To The Bumper" (1981) "I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango)" (1981)
Cover for 1985 rerelease

"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 videos were produced: one a live version of the song; and another the studio version containing images included from the film Koyaanisqatsi.

12" versions

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 "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.

Controversy

The song sparked some controversy for its suggestive lyrics, as they figuratively describe sexual intercourse. 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". The lyrics possibly refer to a presumably-large penis.

Other versions

• A cover version was released by reggae singer 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 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 and #60 on the UK pop chart.

• 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".

• The bands The Gossip and LCD Soundsystem did a duet/collab. cover together at Coachella 2010.

• Coolio sampled the song on his 1997 hit "Oh La La"