BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1978
“Do or Die” – a single by Grace Jones, released in 1978, promoting her album Fame.
“Do or Die” was the first and in most parts of the world the only single release from Jones’ Fame, her second disco album. On Fame it made up the first part of the A-side non-stop medley “Do or Die”/”Pride”/”Fame”. The 7″ single featured a heavily edited version (3:22) with the French-language non-album track “Comme un oiseau qui s’envole” as the B-side, included as a bonus track on the Canadian edition of the Fame album. The 12″ single featured a slightly shorter mix of the album version with a cold end, and the B-side an extended mix of “Comme un oiseau qui s’envole”. “Do or Die” reached #3 on the U.S. Billboard dance chart, but failed to make a chart impact anywhere else.
In 1985 the 7″ edit of “Do or Die” was included as one of three disco tracks on the career retrospective Island Life, the other being the album versions of “I Need a Man” and “La Vie en rose” (1977).
A music video was shot as a part of an Italian TV show Stryx, for which Jones made several more clips. It uses the Stryx studio set and sees Jones dancing with a surreal scenography in the background.
Eartha Kitt recorded a cover of the song for her 1989 album I’m Still Here.
SIDE A:
Do Or Die 6:15
Music By – James Bolden
Words By – Jack Robinson
SIDE B:
Comme Un Oiseau Qui S’Envole 4:30
Lyrics By [French Lyrics] –J.C. Cosson*
Music By – Gil Slavin
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Do Or Die | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play | #3 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Island Records – IS 1008
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
Credits: Arranged By – John Davis (5)
Mastered By – Jose Rodriguez*
Producer, Mixed By –Tom Moulton
NOTES:
Produced for Beam Junction Prod.
“A Tom Moulton Mix”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Thanks for this new wave gem Paul. By the way check out Ultravox’s new album ” Brilliant”.
Cool single by Grace! Thanks a lot Paul!!
I love the B-side and thanks for the extended version, Paul!
Thank you so much, Paul! I guess this completes the 12″ disco mixes of Grace (’76-’79). You have my gratitude for the time and trouble you got into to give us these gems in such a good sound quality. It wss worth the wait!
as always,very impressive!!!!!!
thank u very much Paul!!!!!
Thank you so much. These sound the best I’ve ever heard them; my own 12″ of this — acquired very second hand — is in bad shape. (And that reminds me … do you — does anyone — have Ms. Jones’ version of “Anema e Core” that was used in some territories instead of “Comme un oiseau qui s’envole”?).
Thank you VanceMan 🙂 As far as I know “Anema e Core” was the b-side of the “Autumn Leaves” 7″ released in Italy and France. Unfotunately I don’t have it 🙁
hey Paul, thx a lot for this one! 78 was a good year for disco music 🙂
The sleeve is great, as they tried to make her into a japanese anime robot thingy…wich have been popular at that time…awesome 🙂
You’re welcome Buzz!!
HOORAY!!! Thanks so much, Paulito!
You’re welcome jbird 🙂
What a great sleeve!
Are these two tracks non-CD available? I can’t quite tell and it’s been a long day. 🙂
Hey there, this particular version of Do Or Die and the B-Side have never been on CD 🙂
Yep vinyl only. Enjoy!