Wally Badarou

Compass Point All Star and synth specialist Wally Badarou is one of the few musicians out there lucky enough to have recorded several times with Grace Jones, becoming an integral part of the unique dubwise pop sound she made her own in the mid-’80s. One of Island Records’ unsung heroes he’s collaborated with more major musicians than we’ve had hot dinners. When we asked, Wally gave us four or five reasons why ‘Private Life’ is his favourite Grace Jones record of all time.

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Grace Jones
‘Private Life’
(Island Records, 1980)

Listen / Buy

It would have to be ‘Private Life’, for many reasons, first of which, it resembles nothing I’ve heard before nor after. Second, it’s the song that sparkled reciprocal respect between all of us, and suddenly made us all realise the real potential of the team, starting with Blackwell and Sadkin: the Allstars were born with it that night. Third, I heard Chrissie Hynde herself was adamant of that version. Fourth, I couldn’t have thought of better keys, till today. Fifth, etc…

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