Portfolio

"Portfolio" is the debut studio album by Grace Jones, released in 1977 by Island Records. The album features her first major hit, "La Vie en rose," which helped establish her career. Portfolio is known for its blend of disco, funk, and pop influences, setting the stage for Grace Jones’s distinctive style and impact on the music industry.

Grace Jones’s debut studio album, Portfolio, released in 1977, marked a significant moment in her career. After a successful modeling career and several unsuccessful singles, Jones secured a record deal with Island Records. Portfolio was her first album with the label and the first of three collaborations with disco producer Tom Moulton.

The album was recorded and mixed at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. The original vinyl’s side one is a continuous disco medley featuring Broadway hits like "Send in the Clowns," "What I Did for Love," and "Tomorrow." Side two begins with Jones's personal take on Édith Piaf's "La Vie en rose" and includes three new tracks, two of which Jones co-wrote. The Italian release of the album replaced "Sorry" and "That's the Trouble" with an extended version of "I Need a Man."

The album's artwork was created by Richard Bernstein, a designer for Interview magazine, who would also work on the cover art for Jones's subsequent albums and rejoin her for the 1986 album Inside Story.