I mean, I could still listen to stuff like "She Blew My Mind" and "You & I" without feeling any embarassment. As a matter of fact, the latest Rick James song I'm bumping to right now is "Pass The Joint". Hot damn, that's a tight groove.

"...Give me one more hit, I a'int finished with it, I got some mo' to say..."

I never have hated on him. No shame in this game here.

Spacey Love is mah CUT!

NWF said:

Yes...but only because you started this thread.

Rick was the shit back in the day, no one can deny that (those that know). I was listening to Dreammaker & Mary Jane today

Supernova said:

What are you implying?

Cocaine is a helluva drug!

Back in the day,Rick James was the man! I remember in 1978,I went out and bought the 45 of his first single "You And I".And then when I heard "Mary Jane",I was really hooked.From there,Rick came out with one fierce jam after another...."Bustin Out","Love Gun","Big Time".Then,in 1981,he dominated the R&B/funk world with his dazzling 'Street Songs' album.In the summer of '81,you couldn't go anywhere without hearing either "Give It To Me Baby","Super Freak" or "Fire And Desire".Man,Rick was on fire that year and that album is a CLASSIC! I'm so glad that they finally remastered it a few years ago,with bonus 12" mixes and a previously unreleased live concert from that period.I only wish they would do the same with other albums like 'Throwin' Down' (1982),'Cold Blooded'(1983) and his debut album 'Come Get It' (1978).They're planning to make a movie based on his life,so hopefully this means they will re-master his catalog too.

Rick James is, was, and always will be a true funk solider

DavidEye said:

I agree, Rick was the shit! He let Prince off the hook in 84 and beyond. If Rick could have kept his shit together, he would have gave P a serious run for his money and Purple Rain wouldn't have blew up as big as it did. Only if Rick would have kept the heat on P, he never would have released Around The World..

AMEN! Rick James was the King of Punk Funk. The baddest motherfucker next to Prince. Rick James kept Prince on his toes. Michael Jackson was no threat to Prince, it was RICK JAMES. Prince wasn't studying Michael Jackson. Prince was at his BEST when he had to compete with Rick James. If Prince was not at his very best, Rick James would have knocked his ass dead out of the water.

Rick James had his own little circle just like Prince. Rick James had the Stone City Band (which by the way had albums of their own, produced by Rick James) and the Mary Jane Girls. Rick also produced one of Kleeer's albums. Rick James is also responsible creating a reunion of the Temptations.

Every album Rick James did in the early days was excellent. Rick James put out a greatest hits album called "Reflections" with only three new tracks the year Prince came out with "Purple Rain". If Rick had put out a whole new album of good material that year.....it would have been ONE HELL OF A YEAR.

The year after "Purple Rain", before Prince released his new album, Rick put out his first sorry ass album, "Glow". I promise you, if Rick had put out an album like "Street Songs" or "Throw Down", Prince would have seriously reconsidered putting out "Around The World In A Day" and went back and pulled his album that he has referred to as the "followup to 1999".

I agree with you 100%!

No one is going to deny his funkiness and great songs. Unforunately, it was no surpise to see him go down the drugs road considering his background, but I ain't mad at his music. Bustin' out, Street Songs are must owns for true funk soldiers. " Give it to me BABY ".

Real Funksters do not see Rick James as a laughing stock - just a great talent who let drugs take over his life. He is hopefully past that. He is now touring with Teena Marie and those concerts are probably sold out. I wish he would come to Seattle so we could enjoy his show. Better late than never. I have one of his concerts from 1981 or 1982 in Germany on DVD. What a funky ass show. Peace.

I Loved Bustin Out at L-7,Give It To Me Baby,Superfreak and Glow..Ric k has Created very Cool Tunes. He's very Talented and shouldn't have let Drugs pull him down...He was so Big in the 80's. Ny Hot Tracks played Glow all the time and THE MARY JANE GIRL's In MY HOUSE was ULTRA COOL.

blackguitaristz said:

I still think PR would have been as big as it was, there was just no stopping that one. BUT I can see what you're saying about him releasing ATWIAD - with a healthy rivalry going on, he might have thought twice about that one

Rick was indeed funky!

But Prince is/was more original. He didn't bite as hard off the "P" Funk that is as Rick.