Burning The Ground Exclusive
NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration
Original post date: October 4, 2011
“I’m looking for a real man… Strong hands, sweet lips, a warm heart!”
Before she was a New Wave fashion icon, avant-garde provocateur, and the fierce dominatrix of the 1980s, Grace Jones made her dance floor debut with the bold and unapologetically funky “I Need A Man.” Released in 1975 in France and later re-recorded for the U.S. market in 1977, this track marked the beginning of her transformation into a queer and club culture legend.
Originally written by Pierre Papadiamandis and Paul Slade and first released as a B-side, “I Need A Man” got a second life when it was reworked for the burgeoning disco scene. The 12-inch version—especially the U.S. promo pressing on Beam Junction/Island—delivered a punchier, extended arrangement that became a favorite in underground gay clubs, particularly in New York’s vibrant disco scene. It quickly gained momentum, ultimately landing Grace her first #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in 1977.
Produced by disco pioneer Tom Moulton, the remix retained all the raw sensuality of the original while dialing up the groove and extending it to nearly 8 minutes of funk-fueled seduction. With her commanding presence and deep contralto, Jones doesn’t just ask for a man—she demands one, flipping the script on gender dynamics and asserting herself with the kind of dominance that would soon become her signature.
The track’s thumping bassline, rhythm guitar licks, and gospel-inspired backing vocals give it a distinctly pre-disco feel—almost like a bridge between glam rock and Studio 54—making it one of the more unique dance singles of the mid-’70s.
This release would be the first in a string of club hits for Grace, laying the groundwork for her 1977 debut album Portfolio, and eventually leading to her more experimental collaborations with Sly & Robbie and Jean-Paul Goude in the ’80s. But it all started here—with a simple, sultry, and powerful declaration: “I Need A Man.”
If you’ve only known Grace Jones from her more aggressive ’80s output like “Pull Up to the Bumper” or “Slave to the Rhythm,” this early disco gem shows a different side of her artistry—flirtatious, fearless, and already way ahead of her time.
SIDE A:
I Need A Man (Disco Mix) 7:37
SIDE B:
I Need A Man (Instrumental Version) 4:57
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | I Need A Man | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #83 |
| 1977 | I Need A Man | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance / Disco | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Beam Junction – 12-BJ 1004
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genre: Funk / Soul
Style: Disco
CREDITS:
- Artwork – Richard Bernstein
- Mastered By – José Rodriguez
- Producer, Mixed By – Tom Moulton
NOTES:
“A TOM MOULTON MIX”
Promotional Copy Not For Sale
Made In U.S.A.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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hey, nice track
although i’m more into the Eurythmics’ I need a man (can’t remember if you’ve ever published this one by Eurythmics, will have to look for it…)
Cheers Paul
Here’s the Grace Jones 12” stock label giving credit at the bottom to José Rodriguez, without whose help & mastering expertise the 12-inch single might never have been accidentally created.
fun fact: on the US 7” and 12” labels under “A Tom Moulton Mix” you’ll see “mastered by José Rodriguez“. José is the man who was cleaning the studio when Tom Moulton was looking for a 7” blank test acetate disc for a song he’d just remixed and extended. José responded they were out of 7” blank discs, but would a 12” blank do? So the 5 minute song’s grooves spread over a 12″ provided a hotter, louder recording that Tom took to one of the NYC clubs to a phenomenal response because of the tight, hot bass response on… Read more »
Wow – thanks for this one Paul! What a great track.
Nubben
Wow those strings are beautiful on the instrumental. I loved the 80’s Grace Jones singles particularly on her 12” issues.
Would it possible to see her biggest hit Slave To The Rhythm in future on here?
Thanks Paul
Hi Mark, I have posted it before. I will attempt to give it a new transfer at some point. 🙂
Tom Molten! Grace Jones! It can’t miss, can it? Would love the original 1975 version to compare of course…hint hint… sadly I’ve always liked her but only have Slave To The Rhythm in my collection that I am aware of (love it). So so sad to see her stuff on streaming without the iconic images! 🤨 plain label just doesn’t suit her!
Thanks for this!!!!
You’re so right—Tom Moulton and Grace Jones really were a dream team, especially in those early days! 🔥 The reworked disco mix of “I Need A Man” is such a moment—pure underground club energy with that unmistakable Grace attitude. And yes… you’re not alone in wishing for the original 1975 version to make a proper appearance 😉. Let’s just say your hint is received loud and clear! Totally agree with you on the streaming presentation—Grace without her iconic visuals feels almost sacrilegious. The woman is high art. Plain labels and generic thumbnails just don’t cut it when her entire image… Read more »
Spun Slave during game night and it’s such a trip still… there really isn’t another album like it. I always meant to dig into her other albums and now seems like a great time!!! Thanks again!
Hi Paul. I love Grace Jones so much and having such a great transfer is a real treat! If you happen to have the 1975 single, which I think was only released as a 45 with no 12″ version, it would be wonderful to have that as well sometime.
Hi Dean, I currently do not have the 1975 version; however, I will try to locate a copy for a future post.
I’ve never heard of this song. But after listening to it, the way the lyrics are sung (not the chorus) is the same as how In The Navy by The Village People is sung! I instantly thought of In The Navy when listening to Grace. Have a great weekend, Paul!
That’s such a great observation! Now that you mention it, I totally hear that vocal similarity—especially in the phrasing and delivery of the verses. Both tracks definitely carry that bold, theatrical flair that defined a lot of mid-to-late ’70s disco. Grace just added her own fierce spin on it! 🎤⚓
Thanks for giving this one a listen—it’s always fun when a track sparks a connection like that.
Wow, thanks Paul for resurrecting this 12 inch! I’m actually blown away by Grace Jones’ command of this performance and her deep contralto. Admittedly I’m not too familiar with her body of work. I was mostly aware of her through her unique appearance, some modeling work and, of course, her role in A View To A Kill (with that killer DD title track!). Like Jeff said, I think it’s worth exploring her work through the 70s and 80s, when her career (like most artists) really hit its zenith. I’m with Jeff… Ms. Jones just exudes sexuality, whether on the dance… Read more »
I love hearing this, Retro Hound—thank you for such a thoughtful comment! Grace really does own this performance, doesn’t she? That deep contralto, the fearless attitude… she commands every second of it. She’s one of those rare artists where the voice, the look, and the presence all form one unforgettable package. Totally get where you’re coming from—many folks first got to know her through modeling or her film roles (and A View to a Kill is such a fun one, killer Duran Duran theme and all!). But yes, her ’70s and ’80s output is absolutely worth exploring. From early disco… Read more »
I am so enamored with Miss Grace Jones!! She has always fascinated me with her music and image ever since I saw her performing on television. I’m proud to say that I not only love and respect her, but I also LUST HER!! Big time!!!!!! Being an “Ivory” fellow myself, there is something so intensely eroticizing as a beautiful “Ebony” woman! Grace is such an icon. As a blossoming adolescent, Grace Jones pressed all my buttons. Especially when she came out with her X- Rated dance track, “Pull Up to The Bumper” which is an unapologetic paean to anal intercourse,… Read more »
Jeff, your passion for Grace is absolutely infectious—and I’m right there with you! She really is the total package: daring, elegant, commanding, and yes, absolutely sensual in every way. Few artists have pushed boundaries quite like Grace, and she did it all with style, wit, and zero apologies. That mix of power and allure has made her an icon for generations. “Pull Up to the Bumper” is such a perfect example of her boldness—it’s cheeky, groovy, and subversive all at once. Only Grace could make a track like that a dance floor staple and a cultural statement at the same… Read more »