A little news and trivia about Rick James...

***A few years ago,Rick recorded an acoustic CD.It was rumored that Rod Stewart,Lenny Kravitz and others would appear on this project.In a recent interview,Rick says that he has cancelled this album,and is now working on another funk/R&B/pop CD that he hopes to release before year's end.

***Rick is writing his autobiography and it is called "Confessions of a SuperFreak".Suzanne de Passe(a Motown executive) is planning to turn the book into a TV movie early next year.Who do you think should play Rick?...lol...

***Rick has recently teamed up with Mary J.Blige to re-form The Mary Jane Girls,and they are now signed to Blige's new label.It's not the same old members though;these are new,young girls with a modern sound and style.However,JoJo McDuffie,the lead singer of the old group,continues to tour with three other girls (I saw them at an Oldies Show back in February).Oddly enough,Rick has threatened to sue her.

***Teena Marie has expressed interest in touring with Rick again.She recently joined him at an L.A. concert and they sang their 1981 smash "Fire And Desire".

theC said:

Dream Maker, make my dreams come true tonight
let me ta-a-a-a-ake her to the highest heights that we can reach
Dre-eam Maker, make my dreams come true tonight
let me ta-a-a-a-ake her to the highest heights, yea YEA



I don't know about it influencing P, but I've always dug that song...

Some of my favorite Rick James songs...


***"You And I"(1978)---I remember buying this 45 single!
***"Mary Jane"(1978)---This song is still very popular on Old School radio stations,and the hip-hop crowd seems to love this one,as well(it's constantly sampled by rappers).
***"Hollywood"(1978)---great ballad from his first album
***"Bustin' Out"(1978)---this is FUNKY!!!
***"Fire It Up"(1979)
***"Love Gun"(1979)
***"Big Time"(1980)
***"Give It To Me Baby"(1981)---in the spring of 1981,this was the hottest jam on the radio.The memorable bassline and killer groove makes this one of the best funk hits of the 80s.
***"SuperFreak"(1981)---who doesn't love this one?
***"Ghetto Life"(1981)
***"Call Me Up"(1981)
***"69 Times"(1982)
***"Hard To Get"(1982)---sounds kinda like "SuperFreak",but it still kicks ass
***"Happy"(1982)---a nice duet with Teena Marie
***"Cold Blooded"(1983)---this song was a new sound for Rick.It's more "electro-funk" than earlier efforts.
***"Ebony Eyes"(1983)---a gorgeous duet with Smokey Robinson
***"New York Town"(1983)
***"17"(1984)---"She said she read a magazine that said I was a freak...You'll never know now little girl,until you take a peek"
***"Can't Stop"(1985)---an underrated song which also appeared in the movie 'Beverly Hills Cop'.
***"Loosey's Rap"(1988)---Not much of a song,really,but rapper Roxanne Shante steals the show ("I am what I am and I do what I do...how would you like for me to freak you?")
***"Don't Ever Tell Me You Love Me"(1997)---a kickass love duet with JoJo of the Mary Jane Girls.From his 1997 'Urban Rapsody' CD.

I WAS READY TO THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND HIM

Posted by Pfunkjazz on 7/23/2002, 10:13 am, in reply to "Re: Rick James shares his thoughts on KidRock" 161.149.50.104

BUT I REALLY DON'T SEE THE NEED TO TALK DOWN ABOUT OTHER MUSICIANS LIKE
RICK DOES. A FEW MONTHS AGO IT WAS ALICIA KEYS NOW IT'S KID ROCK. YEARS AGO,
IT WAS GEORGE CLINTON AND THEN PRINCE. WHAT DA FUKK IS SLICK RICK'S PROBLEM?
JUST SHUT DA FUNK UP AND TAKE IT TO THE STAGE.
FOR ME, RICK JUST AIN'T SHOWING ANY KIND OF LEADERSHIP AS A FUNK FOREFATHER
THAT IS WORTHY OF ANY RESPECT. DO YOU HEAR GEORGE, BOOTSY OR JB DOGGIN THEIR
COMPETITION IN SUCH BASE VULGAR TERMS? NAW THEY KNOW THE COMPETITION IS
OUT THERE, BUT RICK FEARS THE COMPETITION. IF RICK WAS A REAL-DEAL MUTHA
FUNKA, HE'D BE OUT CULTIVATIN NEW SOUNDS AND WORKIN' WITH NEW BLOODS LIKE
GC AND BOOTSY OR NEW CONCEPTS LIKE PRINCE. RICK IS JUST A FLATOUT PUNK AND
HE CAN GO SUCK A BIG "D I C K" IN THE SKY HIS OWN DAMN SELF. YOU'D HAVE TO
LITERALLY PAY ME TO GO A RICK JAMES CONCERT!

ALRIGHT. THAT'S MY SOAPBOX SPIEL. MY VENTING IS OVER.

theC said:

theC said:

I'm still deleting emails from the email address I gave you to make room for the mp3. I may have heard this song and just don't remember it.

PFunkjazz said:

See, that's what I'm saying.

Let me explain something to some of the folks in this thread; I do not hate the guy. I just hate the guy's attitude. And had this just been an isolated interview, INSTEAD of a long-running, disgruntled mentality he comes off with year after year after year in interviews, I wouldn't have laid into him like I did. It's a cumulative thing, not just this interview. I actually dig some of Rick's old music, even though he ran out of steam pretty quick it seems. Nothing wrong with being critical of people (including Prince, because there are times I agree with the criticism). It just makes him look like a jealous, spiteful old man when he continuously does this stuff going on 25 years now. It's OLD.

Supernova said:

I Dig&Know where you are Coming from Man.but I think Rick speaking for alot of Acts that might wanna say the same thing but can't or are Afraid to.He isn't alone in His thinking.I have a Interview with Him where He saidHim&Quincy Jones didn't see a Bright Future in Music.I Don't think Rick has ever stopped Being Creative but I think He knows that His Catelog is all the Business wants to Bank on.He Might go Off&Seem out of His Mind or show too Much Swagger but deep in there there is some Hard Hitting Truths there as well just because Bootsy doesn't come out&say things doesn't mean He doesn't think it.Little Richard has spoken out on the Music scene as have Bobby Womack,Chuck D.SugarFoot,the Brothers from Lakeside,Tori Ruffin from the Time did as well.Michael Jackson in His TV Guide Interview back in 2000 said:it's nothing new the same ole thing.He spoke out on the Music Videos looking like Work-Out Videos as to showing any Dancing etc... James Brown in a Interview with Details Magazine was quoted as Saying&I Shit you not that Mariah Carey was the Only Act He felt that wasn't Biting His thing&He liked Her as a Artist.folks in the Media know that they will get a Rise of Rick though.Luther Vandross has spoken out on it as well.Everybody has a Take on the Music scene&the Acts that are getting over but very few speak on it.R.Kelly was in Vibe pointing out how Montell Jordan&Joe were Bting His thing.I think as long as it doesn't become too tacky it's cool.too Many Suck Ups in the Business IMHO nowadays.

the brotha's still hatin on p after all these years. seems like he's holdin an everlastin grudge on the brotha, only cuz he whooped his ass in concert...

...as the openin act, even. now that's bad.

rick's still hot, tho'.


[This message was edited Tue Jul 23 15:13:14 PDT 2002 by Handclapsfingasnapz]

Maxx, :::: you missed my point.

Supernova said:

I Understand Man.one thing about Rick James:Like Prince&Michael Jackson be It Loved or Loathed everybody has a Take on them.You Know you made it then??

Rick is and will always be an icon. Once you become a public figure like that, you are of course judged by the public. You can bounce back from adversity, but not if you talk and act like he does. Giving everybody
open and rude disrespect. He created his own reality. When you choose to take the path of self destruction, you slowly disconnect from the true path creator meant for you to be on. Rick is so gifted, he
should be in the studio producing and mentoring the young artists.

I just wish he would finally put out a new CD!

Prince left Rick James trailing years ago.

I don't think he made much of an impact here in the UK.I remember when they aired Motown 25 back in 83 (i was 13) in the UK there was a short video segment of him and i was like "Who the hell's that?"
[This message was edited Fri Aug 1 6:05:24 PDT 2003 by Marrk]

Supernova said:

Artistically Rick James cannot touch Prince. He hasn't had half the success or talent.