This DVD came out end of July... anyone watch it yet?



It's with the Stone City Band... it's friggen awesome.

here's the song list:

Ghetto Life
Big Time
All Day All Night
Freaky
Fire It Up
Love Gun
Big Day
Standing On The Top
Mary Jane
You And I
Give It To Me Baby
Super Freak

Moog keytars rule...

I want it now!

allmusic.com Review by Bret Adams

Rick James was in the midst of a pop culture comeback when he died in 2004 at age 56. He appeared as himself in hilarious sketches on comedian Dave Chappelle's hit Comedy Central television series Chappelle's Show, and Chappelle-as-James' "I'm Rick James, bitch!" line became a national catch phrase. The R&B and "punk funk" singer/songwriter/bassist/keyboardist/guitarist died of a heart attack, and the autopsy found several drugs in his system, including cocaine. He served more than two years in prison in the 1990s for crack-fueled, scuzzy, inexcusable assaults on women and had vowed to remain clean after his release.

Fortunately, the 2005 DVD Super Freak Live 1982 captures James at his creative prime, before his downfall. Riding high (literally) on the huge U.S. crossover success of Street Songs and Throwin' Down and the hits "Super Freak" and "Give It to Me Baby," the boisterous Super Freak Live 1982 was recorded at James' first-ever European performance at Grugahalle in Essen, Germany, on April 3, 1982, for the Rockpalast television show. Backed by the Stone City Band, James puts on an entertaining show — rife with his trademark marijuana references and lewd gestures — for what appears to be a primarily white audience. While his flashy showmanship owes a clear debt to R&B legends Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone, musically speaking James is arguably a rocker at heart; in fact, lead guitarist Tom McDermott plays and looks like the star of a Sunset Strip metal band. "Ghetto Life," "Big Time," "All Day All Night," "Freaky," "Fire It Up," and "Love Gun" are an impressive opening string of songs. "Big Day" is an interesting, lengthy ballad. During the middle of the slinky ganja ode "Mary Jane," James dedicates the rest of the set to reggae superstar/weed enthusiast Bob Marley, and "Mary Jane March" includes the operatic refrain "We love to smoke the reefer." The regular set ends with the killer grooves of "You and I" and "Give It to Me Baby." The encore of "Super Freak" predictably turns into an all-out jam.

I thought I missed "Big Day" on some album I didn't know that well or didn't own yet, but the song only appears on this concert and it's really good!

its a terrrrible thing
to beee alone
looking forrrr someone to love

you layyy in your bed
in your roooom all alone
its not youuu she's thinking of

this might be my big dayy
when my looooove comes

she will come
love comes
she always cums

I bought this DVD several months ago but I only watched it one time.I was kinda disappointed with this performance.There's too much "call-and-response" going on and whenever Rick gets a hot groove going,he spoils the song by playing those silly audience participation games.I was hoping he would just sing the songs straight through,without all the talking.


But it's still a worthwhile DVD,considering there are no other Rick James concerts available.

CinisterCee said:

I'm guessing that "Big Day" is an outtake from 'Throwin Down'.Maybe there is a studio version buried in the vault?

I've been playing it to death. As David Eye said though, too much audience participation. Other than that, I love it. I would have much rather preferred a DVD of the Long Beach show from the "Street Songs" Deluxe Edition. Also, why the hell do they keep leaving "Fire and Desire" out of these concerts?

vainandy said:

Probably 'cause Rick would sound like crap singin' it live
I'd love to see a live version of "Dream Maker", though.

I heard that,during the 1981 tour,Rick and Teena would perform a 20-minute version of "Fire And Desire".I'd love to see footage of that!

DavidEye said:

Man I hope I get to hear that some day. I only rented the DVD and ever since I had to return it, the song keeps popping into my head.