Following 'Portfolio', Grace released 'Fame' (1978) & 'Muse' (1979), which would complete her awesome DISCO TRILOGY of albums. Grace Jones brought something unique to the table back when Donna Summer & The Bee Gees ruled the Disco Universe, so give her the upmost credit for that. IMO 'Portfolio' borders on campy fun, but it is pretty interesting listening to Grace's take on a few standards (1. The 1st side of the album features songs that are performed as a medley of sorts, and this is quite interesting. "Former fashion model Grace Jones became disco royalty with the release of 'Portfolio' in 1977, and the anthem 'Do Or Die' is a certified classic.
I also like Grace's later more avant garde "rock" work, but this album will forever remain a disco classic. All the songs are melodic, hummable and danceable. I Need A Man was considered quite risqué way back.
I love the way Grace discofied clasics like Sondheim's Send In The Clowns, the Broadway hit Tomorrow and Edith Piaf's La Vie En Rose. It's not just nostalgia, but this album has lost none and gained a lot of appeal for me when compared to modern dance music, including House. Disco had soul and personality which are lacking in techno today. "Grace was the leading light of disco in the late 70s, along with the Bee Gees and Donna Summer. "'Portfolio' is Grace Jones's debut album.It is comprised of seven tracks-six of which are based in mid 70's broadway disco,in other words the covers of show tunes done up in a very campy,stereotypical cartoon disco style.Now the first three cuts are nothing but that-"Tomorrow" and "Send In The Clowns" are embarrassing songs done in an embarrassing way.The compisitions are well mixed by Tom Moulton.But Grace Jones is not a real singer-she has no range,a very awkward vibrato and is sometimes off key.The only thing she does have is a lot of soul and expressive power and that's about all that saves the first three songs from being pretty stupid.The next set of songs are much better-"La Vie En Rose",sung and spoken parcially in French is a pleasant loungey groove with a good arrangement and more of Grace's personality."Sorry",That's The Trouble" and "I Need A Man" are far more credible disco tunes with much better singing on Grace's part and much stronger compositions.You could enjoy "Portfolio" as a cusionary example of music-as camp or kitch if you'd like.But there are some elements towards the end that are very enjoyable and even though everything here is unashamadely dated to the extreme it's still a joy to hear some of it to bring back at least some happy little guilty pleasures.Mind you-this is also Grace's debut.
Arranged By - Duke Williams/ (tracks: 04 -06) /Backing Vocals - Sweethearts Of Sigma/ Bass - Wilbur Bascomb/ Congas - Larry Washington/Drums - Allen Schwatzberg/Electric Piano - Ron "Have Mercy" Kersey/Guitar - Bobby El, Cliff Morris, Lance Quinn/ Keyboards, Piano - Carlton "Cotton" Kent/Mastered By - Jose Rodriguez/Recorded By, Mixed By - Arthur Stoppe, Jay Mark/ Strings, Horns - Don Renaldo's Strings And Horns/Tambourine - Moto/Vibraphone, Arranged By, Conductor - Vincent Montana, Jr.