Overview

Disco is a compact box set released in May 2015 that gathers the early disco-era recordings of Jamaican singer and cultural figure Grace Jones. The package reunites her first three studio albums — Portfolio (1977), Fame (1978) and Muse (1979) — presented in their full album-length formats. These records document Jones's initial musical period, when she transitioned from fashion and modeling into a recording career centred on the sophisticated disco sound of the late 1970s.

Contents

  • Portfolio (1977) — Jones's debut studio album, blending disco arrangements with theatrical vocal performances.
  • Fame (1978) — a follow-up that continued the dance-oriented direction and studio collaborations from the same era.
  • Muse (1979) — the third album in this set, completing the trio of early disco records.

The collection emphasizes continuity: all three albums were recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios and produced with the involvement of disco pioneer Tom Moulton. The set presents the original track sequences and durations rather than edited single mixes, offering listeners the albums as they appeared in full-length form.

Background and production

During the late 1970s, Grace Jones moved from visual art and modeling into music, adopting a dramatic, androgynous persona that complemented the lush orchestral disco arrangements then in vogue. Sigma Sound was a key studio for the Philadelphia soul and disco scenes, and Tom Moulton was notable as an innovator of the extended disco mix and as a producer who favoured seamless, danceable arrangements. Together, the studio and production team helped shape the sound heard across the three albums in this box set.

Significance and reception

While these early albums differ from the more experimental and new wave–inflected work Jones would pursue in the 1980s, they are valued for their period detail and for introducing her distinctive vocal and performative approach. The box set offers a focused way to revisit this formative phase, useful for listeners tracing the development of Jones's career or the broader history of disco-era production.

Notes and availability

Disco is mainly of interest to collectors and newcomers seeking a consolidated edition of Jones's initial albums. Packaging and pressings may vary between releases, and details such as liner notes, remastering credits, or bonus material depend on the specific issue. For album-specific information and track listings see the individual album entries for Portfolio, Fame and Muse, or consult comprehensive discographies linked from the artist page Grace Jones and production references at Tom Moulton.