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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