The first time I came across Grace Jones was in 1977 with her radical disco-meets-bossa nova take on Edith Piaf’s signature song La Vie En Rose.

It’s just an absolute classic from start to finish, from the irrepressible rhythm to the moment the melody comes in; to Jones whispering sweet nothings before bursting into song.

This is the three-minute pop version, which means you can watch Jones – elegance and beauty in one graceful package – in the video, but for the full aural experience you need to hear the extended disco version.

It was Grace’s first single on Island Records and it wasn’t a hit here but it was the only old song she kept in her repertoire when she became a superstar after teaming up with Sly & Robbie in the 1980s.

Born in Jamaica and raised in a strict religious family, the statuesque Jones soon found her natural habitat in Studio 54 after moving to New York to model and study theatre. One of her first high-profile jobs was (literally) Gracing the cover of Billy Paul’s 1970 album Ebony Woman.

This song appeared on her first Island album, Portfolio, featuring a bunch of disco numbers produced by Tom Moulton and played by Gamble & Huff’s crack team of Philly session players.