Having enjoyed a successful modelling career in Paris and New York in the early 1970s, Jones released a series of singles throughout 1975–1976. None of them, however, managed to succeed in mainstream charts. Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977 and found wider recognition only with her debut Island album, Portfolio.
The album was recorded and mixed in Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, and released in autumn 1977 as the first of three albums made with the legendary disco record producer Tom Moulton. Side one of the original vinyl album is a continuous disco medleycovering three songs from Broadway musicals, "Send in the Clowns" by Stephen Sondheim from A Little Night Music, "What I Did for Love" from A Chorus Line and "Tomorrow" from Annie. Side two opens with Jones' very personal re-interpretation of Édith Piaf's "La Vie en rose" and continues with three new recordings, two of which were co-written by Jones herself. The Italian release would omit "Sorry" and "That's the Trouble", adding an extended, over 7-minute-long version of "I Need a Man" instead. The album's artwork was designed by Richard Bernstein, an artist working for Interview, who would later contribute to Jones' two next albums' artworks and with whom the singer would re-team up for the 1986 album Inside Story.
Singlesedit
"I Need a Man" was Jones' debut single, originally released in 1975 by the minor French label Orfeus. It failed to make any chart impact until two years later, when it was re-mixed and released via the Beam Junction label, becoming a number-one dance hit in the US and introducing Jones to club audiences, primarily gay. The second single, "Sorry", was released a year prior to the Portfolio album, and was a modest success on the US singles chart. Its B-side track, "That's the Trouble", also received a separate A-side release. Both songs were Jones' first forays into songwriting. "La Vie en rose" was released as a single in autumn 1977 and became the biggest hit from Portfolio, having charted in the French and Italian top 5. When re-released in 1983, it reached the top 5 in the Netherlands. "What I Did for Love" became a top 10 dance hit in the US.
The album received unfavorable reviews from music critics. Andrew Hamilton from AllMusic website gave the album two out of five stars and wrote that "though polished [the album] tracks don't jump out at you" and conclude that it was more a "producer's album." He also gave credit to her because "she gives credence to old fuddies" like "Send in the Clowns," "La Vie en Rose" and "I Need a Man," whose according to him "displays a vulnerable Jones".
Rolling Stone magazine gave the album one out of five stars.
Commercial performanceedit
Portfolio reached number 52 on the Black Albums Chart in the US, while climbing to number 109 on Billboard's mainstream albums chart. It garnered more attention in Europe, entering the top 10 in both Italy in early 1978 and the Netherlands in 1983.
portfolio, grace, jones, album, portfolio, debut, studio, album, jamaican, singer, songwriter, grace, jones, released, 1977, island, records, spawned, first, rose, portfoliostudio, album, grace, jonesreleasedseptember, 1977recorded1975, 1977studiosigma, sound,. Portfolio is the debut studio album by Jamaican singer and songwriter Grace Jones released in 1977 by Island Records It spawned her first big hit La Vie en rose PortfolioStudio album by Grace JonesReleasedSeptember 6 1977Recorded1975 1977StudioSigma Sound Philadelphia GenreDisco R amp B 1 Length36 59LabelIslandProducerTom MoultonGrace Jones chronologyPortfolio 1977 Fame 1978 Singles from Portfolio I Need a Man Released 1975 Sorry Released September 1976 That s the Trouble Released 1976 La Vie en rose Released October 1977 What I Did for Love Released 1977 Contents 1 Background and production 2 Singles 3 Critical reception 4 Commercial performance 5 Track listing 6 Personnel 7 Charts 8 Certifications 9 Release history 10 References 11 External linksBackground and production editHaving enjoyed a successful modelling career in Paris and New York in the early 1970s Jones released a series of singles throughout 1975 1976 None of them however managed to succeed in mainstream charts Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977 and found wider recognition only with her debut Island album Portfolio The album was recorded and mixed in Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia and released in autumn 1977 as the first of three albums made with the legendary disco record producer Tom Moulton Side one of the original vinyl album is a continuous disco medley covering three songs from Broadway musicals Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim from A Little Night Music What I Did for Love from A Chorus Line and Tomorrow from Annie Side two opens with Jones very personal re interpretation of Edith Piaf s La Vie en rose and continues with three new recordings two of which were co written by Jones herself The Italian release would omit Sorry and That s the Trouble adding an extended over 7 minute long version of I Need a Man instead The album s artwork was designed by Richard Bernstein an artist working for Interview who would later contribute to Jones two next albums artworks and with whom the singer would re team up for the 1986 album Inside Story Singles edit I Need a Man was Jones debut single originally released in 1975 by the minor French label Orfeus It failed to make any chart impact until two years later when it was re mixed and released via the Beam Junction label becoming a number one dance hit in the US and introducing Jones to club audiences primarily gay The second single Sorry was released a year prior to the Portfolio album and was a modest success on the US singles chart Its B side track That s the Trouble also received a separate A side release Both songs were Jones first forays into songwriting La Vie en rose was released as a single in autumn 1977 and became the biggest hit from Portfolio having charted in the French and Italian top 5 When re released in 1983 it reached the top 5 in the Netherlands What I Did for Love became a top 10 dance hit in the US I Need a Man BE 7 single 1975 Pink Elephant PE 22 098Y I Need a Man single version 3 15 Again and Again 3 46 BR 7 single 1977 Top Tape CS 0277 I Need a Man 3 22 I Need a Man instrumental version 4 53 BR 7 single 1977 Top Tape TCD 54 I Need a Man 3 22 Sorry That s the Trouble I Need a Man instrumental version 4 53 FR 7 single 1975 Orfeus 990 140 I Need a Man single version 3 15 Again and Again 3 46 FR 12 single 1984 Orfeus 900 072 I Need a Man disco mix 7 30 I Need a Man instrumental version 4 53 GE 7 single 1976 Metronome M 25 710 I Need a Man single version 3 15 Again and Again 3 46 IT 7 single 1977 Derby DBR 5333 I Need a Man disco mix 7 30 I Need a Man instrumental version 4 53 PO 7 single 1975 Decca P 990 140 G I Need a Man single version 3 15 Again and Again 3 46 SP 7 promo 1977 Novola OOX 354 I Need a Man disco mix 7 30 I Need a Man instrumental version 4 53 US 7 single 1977 BJ104 I Need a Man 3 22 I Need a Man instrumental version 4 53 US 12 single 1977 Beam Junction 12 BJ 1004 I Need a Man disco mix 7 30 I Need a Man instrumental version 4 53 Sorry FR 7 single 1976 990 141 Sorry 3 58 That s the Trouble 3 30 US 7 single 1976 BJ102 Sorry 3 58 That s the Trouble 3 30 US 12 single 1976 12 BJ 1001 Sorry disco mix 6 42 That s the Trouble disco mix 7 02 US 12 promo 1976 Sorry Disco Mix 6 42 That s the Trouble Disco Mix 7 02 That s the Trouble FR 12 single 1976 900 071 That s the Trouble disco mix 7 02 Sorry Disco Mix 6 42 FR 7 single 1984 Carrere 13 611 That s the Trouble new mix 3 45 Sorry 3 58 FR 12 single 1984 That s the Trouble new mix 3 45 That s the Trouble instrumental I Need a Man Sorry 3 58 GE 7 single 1976 17 465 AT That s the Trouble Sorry GE 7 promo 1977 Island 15 582 XT That s the Trouble 3 36 IT 12 single 1976 DBR 9201 That s the Trouble disco mix 7 02 Sorry disco mix 6 42 JP 7 promo That s the Trouble Sorry NE 12 single 1977 Scramble MS 40 12 That s the Trouble disco mix 7 02 Sorry Disco Mix 6 42 US 12 single 1976 12 BJ1001 That s the Trouble disco mix 7 02 Sorry disco mix 6 42 La Vie en rose CA 7 single 1977 Island IS 098 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 CA 12 promo 1982 IS 865 La Vie en rose 7 24 I Need a Man 3 22 My Jamaican Guy 6 00 Pull Up to the Bumper 4 58 FR 7 single 1977 Island 6172 530 6172 530 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 GE 7 single 1977 Island 11 669 AT La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 GE 7 single 1984 Island 102 371 100 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 GE 12 single 1977 Island 600 266 213 La Vie en rose 7 27 I Need a Man 3 22 IT 7 single 1977 Island WIP 26514 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 Tomorrow 5 48 NE 7 single 1977 Island 102 371 11 636 AT La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 NE 12 single 1977 Island 600 266 La Vie en rose 7 27 I Need a Man 3 22 PO 7 single 1977 Island 5011 616 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 SP 7 single 1977 Island 11 459 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 SP 12 single 1977 Ariola F 600 266 La Vie en rose 7 27 I Need a Man 3 22 UK 7 single 1977 Island WIP 6415 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 35 I Need a Man 3 22 UK 12 single 1977 Island 11616 La Vie en rose 7 24 I Need a Man 3 22 UK 12 single 1985 Island 12 IS 240 La Vie en rose 7 24 Nipple to the Bottle 5 55 Pull Up to the Bumper Remix 6 29 Demolition Man 4 04 US 7 single 1977 IS 098 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 34 I Need a Man 3 22 US 12 single 1985 La Vie en rose 7 24 Nipple to the Bottle 5 55 Pull Up to the Bumper Remix 6 29 Demolition Man 4 04 US 7 promo 1977 Island IS 098 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 34 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 34 YU 7 single 1977 Island SI 88959 La Vie en rose 7 version 3 34 I Need a Man 3 22Critical reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 2 Christgau s Record GuideC 3 The Rolling Stone Album Guide nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 4 The album received unfavorable reviews from music critics Andrew Hamilton from AllMusic website gave the album two out of five stars and wrote that though polished the album tracks don t jump out at you and conclude that it was more a producer s album He also gave credit to her because she gives credence to old fuddies like Send in the Clowns La Vie en Rose and I Need a Man whose according to him displays a vulnerable Jones Robert Christgau gave the album a C and praise the way Jones sing the songs very liberated very punky He also wrote that Jones sings flat enough to make Andrea True sound like Linda Ronstadt and Tom Verlaine like Art Garfunkel Rolling Stone magazine gave the album one out of five stars Commercial performance editPortfolio reached number 52 on the Black Albums Chart in the US while climbing to number 109 on Billboard s mainstream albums chart It garnered more attention in Europe entering the top 10 in both Italy in early 1978 and the Netherlands in 1983 Track listing editAll tracks produced by Tom Moulton Side oneNo TitleWriter s Length1 Send in the Clowns Stephen Sondheim7 332 What I Did for Love Marvin HamlischEdward Kleban5 153 Tomorrow Martin CharninCharles Strouse5 48 Side twoNo TitleWriter s Length4 La Vie en rose Edith PiafLouis Guglielmi7 275 Sorry Grace JonesPierre Papadiamandis3 586 That s the Trouble JonesPapadiamandis3 367 I Need a Man Paul SladePapadiamandis3 23 Notes Side one s tracks are a non stop medley with its total playing time being 18 36 Italian releases of the record feature the same tracklist as the original release but exclude Sorry and That s the Trouble Personnel editWilbur Bascomb bass guitar Richard Bernstein album graphics concept design and painting Bobby Eli guitars Grace Jones vocals Francis Jug photography Carlton Cotton Kent keyboards piano Ron Have Mercy Kersey Rhodes piano Antonio Lopez photography Jay Mark recording and mixing engineering Vincent Montana Jr arrangement conducting vibraphone Cliff Morris guitars Moto tambourines Lance Quinn guitars Don Renaldo strings horns Jose Rodriguez mastering Allan Schwartzberg drums Arthur Stoppe recording and mixing engineering Sweethearts of Sigma Barbara Ingram Carla Benson Evette Benton backing vocals Larry Washington conga Duke Williams arrangementCharts editChart performance for Portfolio Chart 1977 1983 Peakposition Australia Kent Music Report 5 27 Dutch Albums Album Top 100 6 8 Italy Musica e dischi 7 9 Swedish Albums Sverigetopplistan 8 22 US Billboard 200 9 109 US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 10 52Certifications editCertifications for Portfolio Region Certification Certified units sales France SNEP 11 Gold 100 000 Italy FIMI 11 Gold 50 000 Sales figures based on certification alone Release history editRegion Year Format s Label Worldwide 1977 LP Cassette Island UK 1986 LP Europe 1987 CD Worldwide 1990 Island PolyGramReferences edit Todd Chris 12 June 2015 Disco by Grace Jones The Line of Best Fit Retrieved 20 November 2023 Hamilton Andrew Portfolio Grace Jones AllMusic Retrieved December 28 2006 Christgau Robert 1981 Consumer Guide 70s J Christgau s Record Guide Rock Albums of the Seventies Ticknor amp Fields ISBN 089919026X Retrieved February 27 2019 via robertchristgau com The Rolling Stone Album Guide Random House 1992 p 378 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 illustrated ed St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book p 160 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Dutchcharts nl Grace Jones Portfolio in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved 26 March 2016 Racca Guido 2019 M amp D Borsa Singoli 1960 2019 in Italian Independently Published ISBN 9781093264906 Swedishcharts com Grace Jones Portfolio Hung Medien Retrieved 26 March 2016 Grace Jones Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved 26 March 2016 Grace Jones Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved 24 December 2021 a b Grace Jones The Exotic May Day Baltimore Afro American Frances M Draper 25 June 1 1985 Retrieved 25 September 2023 External links editPortfolio on Discogs Portfolio on Rate Your Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Portfolio Grace Jones album amp oldid 1222307149, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
