Though Grace Jones’ music is completely synched to the underground dance cultures of the '70s and '80s, her personality let her music transcend its time. The songs on The Collection are as fresh and inspiring to each new generation of clubgoers, outcasts, and artists as they were to the people who danced to them when they first came out. Because she was an inimitable cultural icon, Jones has never received proper credit for the boldness and sophistication of her music. She was completely fearless, turning songs by everybody from Johnny Cash to Joy Division into dub-driven new wave dance music. She never had to gussy up her personality, and she freely injected a very authentic sense of intimidation into her music, knowing that listeners wouldn’t be able to resist the grooves of “Nipple to the Bottle” and “Warm Leatherette.” Even as she insisted on having a good time, she was totally comfortably challenging her listeners and pushing them into dark places. At the same time, songs like “La Vie en Rose” and “I’ve Seen That Face Before” elevated her to become the grand dame of nightclub culture. Her peerless style in an era of conformity is kept alive in these classic recordings.