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PrintableAlasseon said: One area in which Rick James, 10 years Prince's senior, outshone Prince was in his choice of proteges.
Teena Marie ALONE could outsing any woman in Prince's camp; Bonnie Boyer, Sheena Easton, and Rosie Gaines, not withstanding. Vanity, Appolonia, Carmen Electra, even Mayte. Great looking women. But, ummm, not really singers. What's great about Prince in 2006 is that he's actually foregoing most of the theatrics for some good-old fashioned music. Ta'mar and the twins can all sing! His performances are less flashy and he's dazzling us with his musicianship and not his flash. Leave that to those who can't sing or play their own instruments... Agreed, Teena Marie could sing and had the voice, but like all of Princes girls, the choice of songs was bubblegummy, Square Biz come on, that girls talent was wasted. Prince DID show interest with her, she was support on the Dirty Mind Tour. And the Mary Jane girls were Apollonia 6 like. Ricks best singing partner was Smokey Robinson with that Gorgeous Ballad, Ebony Eyes, amazing considering both were on coke at the time. Also by 1981, Street Songs got to #3 on the pop album chart a true crossover, he had it a full 2 years before 1999. But unlike Prince, Rick never pushed a single higher than #13 on the pop chart, his music just did not ignite with rock fans I guess, although he had several R and B #1's, which meant little then. The suppport on the Controversy Tour Zapp had two R&B #1s and Roger Troutman a solo no 1, but were unknown virtually in the pop world. 17 Years ago I made a commitment to Prince | |
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100MPH said: When Rick was rehabbing in the hospital , he got a phonecall in his room from
 .... intimate friends who were over there in that room saw Rick's face lite up in joy ..... that's what it's all about in the end .Hey man, that's a really deep and encouraging little story. Not to be cynical or anything but what is your credibility threshold with regards to verifying it. I would personaly love for it to be true, however, given the fact that some of Rick's last public comments about P were not at all kind, I just have to wonder "What's up with that?"  | |
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Yeshua4all said: 100MPH said: When Rick was rehabbing in the hospital , he got a phonecall in his room from
.... intimate friends who were over there in that room saw Rick's face lite up in joy ..... that's what it's all about in the end .Hey man, that's a really deep and encouraging little story. Not to be cynical or anything but what is your credibility threshold with regards to verifying it. I would personaly love for it to be true, however, given the fact that some of Rick's last public comments about P were not at all kind, I just have to wonder "What's up with that?" Envy can sometimes make people act a fool! Sometimes the way people act towords something or someone is not true of their real feelings deep down inside.  | |
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DavidEye said: 7salles said: Rick could never do bambi.
Actually,yes he could have.Rick has flirted with the idea of doing a rock album.Remember,he used to play in a band with Neil Young.He was fully capable of playing rock,but he chose to remain loyal to the funk.In a 1982 interview,he said something like "I could easily sellout and do a rock album,but why should I?". I remember that interview. He was all about the funk. I also remember reading that he used to personally love rock music. He was always hanging out with Motley Crue in the early 1980s and going to the Hustler mansion. Oh course, Rick was always going to be hanging with the drugs, hookers, freaks, and hellraisers.  Andy is a four letter word. | |
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tane1976 said:[quote] Alasseon said: One area in which Rick James, 10 years Prince's senior, outshone Prince was in his choice of proteges.
Teena Marie ALONE could outsing any woman in Prince's camp; Bonnie Boyer, Sheena Easton, and Rosie Gaines, not withstanding. Vanity, Appolonia, Carmen Electra, even Mayte. Great looking women. But, ummm, not really singers. What's great about Prince in 2006 is that he's actually foregoing most of the theatrics for some good-old fashioned music. Ta'mar and the twins can all sing! His performances are less flashy and he's dazzling us with his musicianship and not his flash. Leave that to those who can't sing or play their own instruments... "Agreed, Teena Marie could sing and had the voice, but like all of Princes girls, the choice of songs was bubblegummy, Square Biz come on, that girls talent was wasted."
Murph says: Prince is my boy, but come on...do you really believe that? "Square Biz" was far from bubblegum...the woman trumpts just about any female protege Prince has ever nurtured..."Portequse Love" alone proves this... And the Mary Jane girls were Apollonia 6 like.
Murph says: Couldn't be further from the truth...The MJ Girls could really sing...Vanity and Apollonia 6 were eye candy...Fucking great eye candy!!! Also by 1981, Street Songs got to #3 on the pop album chart a true crossover, he had it a full 2 years before 1999. But unlike Prince, Rick never pushed a single higher than #13 on the pop chart, his music just did not ignite with rock fans I guess, although he had several R and B #1's, which meant little then. The suppport on the Controversy Tour Zapp had two R&B #1s and Roger Troutman a solo no 1, but were unknown virtually in the pop world.
Murph says: Now we are getting somewhere...You hit it out of the park on the crossover success of Street Songs...But his inability to attract rock fans had little to do with Rick's sound...It had more to do with MTV refusing to play Rick James because he was too black for them...They were playing racial games...MJ and Prince could get in because they were non-threatening acts...Rick was just too much for them, and he knew it...Dude still skated to 3 million copies of Street Songs, a huge number in 1982... | |
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I always thought a cute SAT question would be:
Teena Marie is to Rick James, as _____ is to Prince. A. Vanity B. Apollonia C. Sheila E D. Mayte With the correct answer being Sheila E of course ! 
Both Teena and Sheila are musicians in their own right, who write, sing, play multiple instruments etc. Regarding MJGs, I remember hearing that the vocals on their albums were really done by the Waters sisters, who did back up for a lot of aritsts in the 80s. I think they are credited on the slow jams for both soem of Teena Stuff and MJG and you can recognize their sound. I wonder if anyone besides JoJo actually sang on the MJG stuff?  |
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GaryMF said: I always thought a cute SAT question would be:
Teena Marie is to Rick James, as _____ is to Prince. A. Vanity B. Apollonia C. Sheila E D. Mayte With the correct answer being Sheila E of course !
Both Teena and Sheila are musicians in their own right, who write, sing, play multiple instruments etc. Regarding MJGs, I remember hearing that the vocals on their albums were really done by the Waters sisters, who did back up for a lot of aritsts in the 80s. I think they are credited on the slow jams for both soem of Teena Stuff and MJG and you can recognize their sound. I wonder if anyone besides JoJo actually sang on the MJG stuff? Hell, Jo Jo was the Mary Jane Girls (LOL)... | |
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DavidEye said: vainandy said: I don't think Rick James ever really got over 1999. That was the album he was trying to get to- a crossover rock/funk/pop smash that opened new doors. Rick had a crossover hit, "Super Freak", but he wasn't studying crossing over. He came back hard and funky on his next album "Throwin' Down" with no attempts at crossing over. Rick was about the funk. Exactly.I don't think Rick was ever overly concerned with "crossing over".When "Super Freak" became a huge crossover hit,he could have easily soldout and made a pop/rock album,but he didn't.He stayed loyal to R&B/funk.[/quote] Riiiight. And I could have easily been in the NBA but I decided that the playgrounds of Oakland are where it's at. 
I'd believe it if he weren't so bitter and destructive, but it doesn't really matter. For those that know Rick was still the shit. |
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Sinister said: DavidEye said: Actually,yes he could have played a song like "Bambi".Rick has flirted with the idea of doing a rock album.Remember,he used to play in a band with Neil Young.He was fully capable of playing rock,but he chose to remain loyal to the funk.In a 1982 interview,he said something like "I could easily sellout and do a rock album,but why should I?". I completely agree...Lots of people don't really know about Rick James and are going off comedy skits, excerpts from other things and god knows what else... | |
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whodknee said: DavidEye said: Exactly.I don't think Rick was ever overly concerned with "crossing over".When "Super Freak" became a huge crossover hit,he could have easily soldout and made a pop/rock album,but he didn't.He stayed loyal to R&B/funk. Riiiight. And I could have easily been in the NBA but I decided that the playgrounds of Oakland are where it's at.
I'd believe it if he weren't so bitter and destructive, but it doesn't really matter. For those that know Rick was still the shit. lol...I'm just saying that not every R&B/funk artist wanted to crossover.Some of them didn't care whether or not they had crossover success.George Clinton certainly didn't care about that. | |
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DavidEye said: whodknee said: Riiiight. And I could have easily been in the NBA but I decided that the playgrounds of Oakland are where it's at.
I'd believe it if he weren't so bitter and destructive, but it doesn't really matter. For those that know Rick was still the shit. lol...I'm just saying that not every R&B/funk artist wanted to crossover.Some of them didn't care whether or not they had crossover success.George Clinton certainly didn't care about that. TALK!!! Frankie Beverly was another.... | |
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funkpill said: DavidEye said: lol...I'm just saying that not every R&B/funk artist wanted to crossover.Some of them didn't care whether or not they had crossover success.George Clinton certainly didn't care about that. TALK!!! Frankie Beverly was another.... Yes. SynthiaRose said "I'm in love with blackguitaristz. Especially when he talks about Hendrix."
nammie "What BGZ says I believe. I have the biggest crush on him." http://ccoshea19.googlepa...ssanctuary http://ccoshea19.googlepages.com | |
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whodknee said:
Riiiight. And I could have easily been in the NBA but I decided that the playgrounds of Oakland are where it's at.
I'd believe it if he weren't so bitter and destructive, but it doesn't really matter. For those that know Rick was still the shit. Why should all R&B/funk artists be concerned with crossover success? There are such things as real funk lovers that do not want their funk weakened and watered down just so it can appeal to a broader audience. Rick had a great love for funk and he also knew the audience that made him a star before the pop fans got turned on to "Super Freak" would not like for him to suddenly start weakening his music to appeal to these new fans. His real fans were funk lovers and he knew they wanted funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk. Also, when everyone starts watering down the funk for mass apeal, good strong funk soons becomes extinct which is exactly what happened in the late 1980s. Andy is a four letter word. | |
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tane1976 said: Alasseon said: One area in which Rick James, 10 years Prince's senior, outshone Prince was in his choice of proteges.
Teena Marie ALONE could outsing any woman in Prince's camp; Bonnie Boyer, Sheena Easton, and Rosie Gaines, not withstanding. Vanity, Appolonia, Carmen Electra, even Mayte. Great looking women. But, ummm, not really singers. What's great about Prince in 2006 is that he's actually foregoing most of the theatrics for some good-old fashioned music. Ta'mar and the twins can all sing! His performances are less flashy and he's dazzling us with his musicianship and not his flash. Leave that to those who can't sing or play their own instruments... Agreed, Teena Marie could sing and had the voice, but like all of Princes girls, the choice of songs was bubblegummy, Square Biz come on, that girls talent was wasted. Prince DID show interest with her, she was support on the Dirty Mind Tour. And the Mary Jane girls were Apollonia 6 like. Ricks best singing partner was Smokey Robinson with that Gorgeous Ballad, Ebony Eyes, amazing considering both were on coke at the time. Also by 1981, Street Songs got to #3 on the pop album chart a true crossover, he had it a full 2 years before 1999. But unlike Prince, Rick never pushed a single higher than #13 on the pop chart, his music just did not ignite with rock fans I guess, although he had several R and B #1's, which meant little then. The suppport on the Controversy Tour Zapp had two R&B #1s and Roger Troutman a solo no 1, but were unknown virtually in the pop world. It's basically like this. Teena would have been a problem for P cuz she wouldn't have gave up all of her freedom like the others. She would've bucked P all the way when it came to the image dept. Teena would have been like "You want me to wear what?!". There is no way P could've had the control over Teena like he did with the others. SynthiaRose said "I'm in love with blackguitaristz. Especially when he talks about Hendrix."
nammie "What BGZ says I believe. I have the biggest crush on him." http://ccoshea19.googlepa...ssanctuary http://ccoshea19.googlepages.com | |
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