Ok, now it's time to figure out where his legacy is?

Rick James, "Street Songs," album is just as good, if not better than Prince's best stuff. Don't you think? 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT - where does Street Songs rank?

Street Songs is the essential Rick James album, IMO. I'd still choose Controversy or 1999 over it, though.

i rate bustin' out of l-seven over this one. street songs is okay, but i prefer l-seven.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

But it doesn't have Fire and Desire on it.

psykosoul said:

i don't care!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

And Give It To Me Baby.

OdysseyMiles said:

OdysseyMiles said:

And Ghetto Life.

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

Try and tell me these tunes don't remind of you of barbecues at the park back in the early 80's....

OdysseyMiles said:

If I was to compare any Prince album to Street Songs - 1999 comes to mind. I'm just wondering, what was the album prince released following Street Songs?

goat2004 said:

Controversy

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I got this CD playing at work right now in his honor....."Cop N' Blow" is currently playing.

goat2004 said:

I believe it was Controversy.

Yeah it's his Purple Rain basically. A classic album.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I would also personally put "Throwin' Down" (don't nobody start throwin' things!) right up there with "L-seven" and "Street Songs".

I have the remastered version with long versions, the production is amazing! Think of all the parts Rick put on his songs, great bass lines, horn lines, backup girls singin, Temptations backing up, cool guitar lines and always the funky backbeat..

It's a cliche, but his music will never die...

i know i posted this in the rip thread but rick's music especially street songs represented the black street culture at the time. there wasn't a pimp/ho/drug dealer/hustler that did not have that album playing as theme music. rick was nothing but a pimp with a record deal. street songs' importance is that you can listen to that album and know what was going on in 1981.

I like Street Songs a lot. But in retrospect thier albums r so different its apples &oranges. Comparing P and Ricks lyrics or subject matter would b cool 2do, but musically other than the chicken grease guitar playin its just hard 2 compare.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

OdysseyMiles said:

you're forgettin how old i am.

OdysseyMiles said:

Reminds me of high school! "You and I" was my joint!

It's a fantastic album, definately Rick's peak.

I can't believe how much I love his music, yet he is hardly known at all (here in the UK).

He is not well known at all, in fact I would imagine if you played Super Freak to a group of 100 people, 97 of them would immediately say MC Hammer.

I'm gonna blast out some Rick in the car this weekend show the whole fucking world how funky he was.

Rick James was the shit. I agree, comparing Rick and Prince is like apples and oranges. They compare in one way - in the late 70's and early 80's everything each of them dropped was off the chain. Rick - You Will Be Missed.

How do I rate "Street Songs" as compared to Prince's albums. O.K....I like "Street Songs" better than anything Prince did after the "Purple Rain" album. As far as "Street Songs" being my favorite Rick James album, it's not.

My favorites are in this order:

1. Throwin' Down
2. Street Songs
3. Fire It Up
4. Come Get It!
5. Bustin' Out Of L Seven
6. Cold Blooded
7. Garden Of Love
8. Glow
9. The Flag
10. Wonderful
11. Urban Rapsody

Sowhat said:



Yes! "Street Songs" is more popular, but "Throwin' Down" (the one after "Street Songs") is the best. Now I'm gonna start running too!




Oh and extra special props also go to Rick James productions like the Mary Jane Girls (my faves - "Candy Man" and "All Night Long"), Temptations' "Standing on the Top" (check out the long album version, on "Throwin' Down," for extra fun on the one), and Teena Marie's 1979 debut ("Wild & Peaceful").

People, check out Rick James 1985 LP Glow, it's almost unknown today but it's one of his very best! It was his last real stab at making a classic like Street Songs.

WatchThemFall said:

I don't remember the entire album, but I do remember thinking how the video to "Glow" was a rip-off of "Purple Rain", straight-up!

"Glow" was the beginning of the end.....one of Rick's worst albums.

revolution75 said:

Rick James always kept it real,and his songs reflected what was going on in the streets.That's one reason why he is so respected by the hip-hop community.
[This message was edited Mon Aug 9 1:51:56 2004 by DavidEye]