Patra - "Pull Up To The Bumper"

[Ling-Ling]

This song was the jam of 1995 as far as I'm concerned. It was a loose remake of the Grace Jones' 1981 top 5 R&B hit, and one of the few remakes that exceeds the original IMO.

Funky bass line and horns, and Patra proves to have a nice singing voice. This song should have helped Patra become a crossover success, but it failed to light up the charts, peaking at #21 on R&B and #60 on the Hot 100. Not bad for a reggae artist back in '95, but this song should have been bigger.

[Deleted]

I LOVE this song! This is one of the best reggae tracks of the 90's.

[stevie nice]

I usually agree with both of your calls 100% of the time, but this is the rare instance where I can happily disagree because I'm not saying something like "oh yeah great call, u guys know ur stuff!"

I definitely prefer Grace Jones version over this, and I think at least in the New York area, that most agreed with me. It was still a late nite club pleaser into the mid 90s.

As for Patra, I always liked "Romantic Call" a lot more. That was a huge dance hit in the New York area in 1994.

[Ling-Ling]

Yeah, Grace Jones' original peaked at #2 on the club play charts. Pretty big hit on that front. Not sure about Patra's chart history on the club charts. I always found it funny that "Romatic Call" and "Worker Man" did better on the Hot 100 (#55 and #53) than "Pull Up To The Bumper," when "PUTTB" was so much more radio-friendly.

Don't get me wrong, I love the original, have it on vinyl, but I think Patra improved on it. Her version is funkier and not as tinny sounding. Vocally, I think Patra improved on it as well, lets face it, Grace Jones sings like a robot, LOL.

[Ling-Ling]

Well, I found it, and I wasn't even looking for it.

Patra - Pull Up To The Bumper - Hot Dance Music/Club Play - #15
Patra - Pull Up To The Bumper - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales - #7
Patra - Worker Man - Hot Dance Music/Club Play - #1
Patra - Worker Man - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales - #7
Patra - Romantic Call - Hot Dance Music/Club Play - #21
Patra - Romantic Call - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales - #5
Patra - Think (About It) - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales - #44

[stevie nice]

I'm surprised at the discrepancy between "Worker Man" and "Romantic Call" on the dance charts, #1 and #21. I think I remember "...Call" being a bigger hit because it generated a great response from ladies when it was played in clubs/bars in the Queens area.

[stevie nice]

duh5 said:

...lets face it, Grace Jones sings like a robot, LOL.

I think you may have insulted a few robots out there... ;)

[Deleted]

Yeah, I also prefer Patra's version. I like the new production and the backing vocals in the chorus ["to my bumper baby".].

[mst3k]

Great song... Wild 98.7 uses it for their AM traffic reports (they use Alpha Team's "Speed" in the afternoon).

[irock]

I like both versions. The original was a HUGE dancefloor hit, at least here in the South. I got tired of it back in the day, but I wouldn't mind hearing it again. I've got in on vinyl around here somewhere.

The newer version was a hit as well, but it didn't seem to last as long. I never had a chance to get tired of it.

[reception]

Listen

[Hervard]

The only song I've ever heard by Patra is "Just Try And Get The Dungeon Map From Me, Link" ;)

[Ezekiel 23:20–21]

I have always liked this song! I used to see this on The Box all the time when it was on. The remix with Yo Yo was a lot more fun.

I still liked "Romantic Call" more.

[A Thug Named Slickback]

Why was this song not a bigger hit... It was really the jam.

But I like Grace Jones' original version even more.

[euge]

I nevered liked her music. I dont understand nothing she be saying.

[krazymack]

Does anyone remember this 1995 reggae track, it was by female reggae singer named Patra?  She had quite a few Urban hits in the mid 90's.  I remember seeing the video to this song on MTV quite a bit. I really liked this song.

I believe she covered Grace Jones' song from 1981. I found this song to be quite sexually symbolic.     I wonder where is Patra now.   ??? 

[Deleted]

I think there's another topic on this somewhere.

I love it. It could be my favorite reggae track of the 90's. I prefer it over the original too.

[mst3k]

I don't know where the other topic went either. I still like the song. :)

[reception]

I'm not feeling this.

[reception]

The said:

I think there's another topic on this somewhere.

pulsemusic.proboards12.com/index.cgi?board=nostalgia&action=display&thread=1064689447

[BookJones]

There was a upbeat mix to this song that sound better that the album version.
In the music video she and some girls were rubbing their @ss in some guys ? That is that the song is about.

[cartman2002]

This tune got to #56 on the Hot 100 in 1994 for the female dancehall singer

[rr1981]

I remember this song. Didn't she make the "butterfly" dance popular LOL?

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

I like the remix slightly better than the album version.

[jenglisbe]

This was a jam back in the day! I loved this and "Worker Man."

She actually did a cover of Mariah's "Love Takes Time."

[Ezekiel 23:20–21]

I love the original and the remix above. This was on The Box all the time.

The music video is so sexy. It makes me feel some kind of way.

[Agent Yoncé]

I just discovered this cover maybe last month. I really enjoyed her flavor on this.