Soul where are you?

I remember R&B radio played the hell out of this song the summer it came out. I always wondered if Rick did this himself or w/ the Stone City Band. A great funk track.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Soul where are you?

I remember R&B radio played the hell out of this song the summer it came out. I always wondered if Rick did this himself or w/ the Stone City Band. A great funk track.

Rick produced & composed the track all by himself, including drum machine (Roland TR-808) programming. The song is about Linda Blair.

I have been playing the hell out of this track recently

I remember I felt like Rick was straining a bit to find a new direction during this period. Not to engage the age old debate, but it seemed to me like he may have been feeling pressure to Prince-up his act a bit. A lot of Funk acts in general were definitely under the gun to come up with their answer to New Wave. For me, "Cold Blooded" was the Rick James "hit" that marked the beginning of the end of his reign. Although he finished out strong in my book with "Urban Rapsody" and "Deeper Still". CD's I loved; that didn't necessarily get a lot of fanfare.

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[Edited 7/3/10 21:01pm]

Rick James - high on your love suite

Kesha - Your love is my drug

Hmmm.?

jk

Rick Rox!

PDogz said:

Although he finished out strong in my book with "Urban Rapsody" and "Deeper Still". CD's I loved

LoveIsTheMessage said:

PDogz said:

Although he finished out strong in my book with "Urban Rapsody" and "Deeper Still". CD's I loved

...it's true, lol. The songs on those albums had a lot of texture, very groovy. Rick was a masterful producer, song writer, and arranger. And I honestly loved every song on his last two albums.

I have to agree. I really liked "Urban Rapsody" too. It took me by surprise the 1st time I heard it because I was expecting "Fire It Up" part 2. The production is great and "Turn It Out", "Good Ol Days" and "So Soft, So Wet" were good songs. I even dug the acoustic ballad.

I think Rick wanted to prove that he still had it but wanted to show something diverse. "Favorite Flava" is a great song too.

SPYZFAN1 said:

I have to agree. I really liked "Urban Rapsody" too. It took me by surprise the 1st time I heard it because I was expecting "Fire It Up" part 2. The production is great and "Turn It Out", "Good Ol Days" and "So Soft, So Wet" were good songs. I even dug the acoustic ballad.

I think Rick wanted to prove that he still had it but wanted to show something diverse. "Favorite Flava" is a great song too.

I actually like "Deeper Still" better- it took me a while to get into "Urban Rhapsody".

I loved 'Urban Rhapsody', a very underrated album IMO, there were a lot of great songs on that album, Rick was certainly out to prove that he could still make great music. That album could've been bigger, but he couldn't really promote it because of his poor health at the time.

'Deeper Still' was also a good album, I think it may have been different had Rick lived, there were a bunch of songs that didn't make it to the final album, so it could've been a lot different. But even still, good album.

TonyVanDam said:

SPYZFAN1 said:

Soul where are you?

I remember R&B radio played the hell out of this song the summer it came out. I always wondered if Rick did this himself or w/ the Stone City Band. A great funk track.

Rick produced & composed the track all by himself, including drum machine (Roland TR-808) programming. The song is about Linda Blair.

yeah,and this song introduced a whole new sound by Rick.It's a stripped-down funk number,without the horns from previous albums.He was adapting to changing trends.By the mid-80s,many funk artists and bands were experimenting with a colder,electronic,synth-based sound.

SoulAlive said:

TonyVanDam said:

Rick produced & composed the track all by himself, including drum machine (Roland TR-808) programming. The song is about Linda Blair.

yeah,and this song introduced a whole new sound by Rick.It's a stripped-down funk number,without the horns from previous albums.He was adapting to changing trends.By the mid-80s,many funk artists and bands were experimenting with a colder,electronic,synth-based sound.

Cameo and the Bar-Kays come to mind as having gone that same route.

PDogz said:

SoulAlive said:

yeah,and this song introduced a whole new sound by Rick.It's a stripped-down funk number,without the horns from previous albums.He was adapting to changing trends.By the mid-80s,many funk artists and bands were experimenting with a colder,electronic,synth-based sound.

Cameo and the Bar-Kays come to mind as having gone that same route.

I like "Cold-Blooded", but for me, it was a slight come-down after the brilliance of "Street Songs" and "Throwin' Down". I felt there was something missing.

PDogz said:

LoveIsTheMessage said:

...it's true, lol. The songs on those albums had a lot of texture, very groovy. Rick was a masterful producer, song writer, and arranger. And I honestly loved every song on his last two albums.

I could tolerate two or three songs on "Urban Rapsody" but I absolutely hated "Deeper Still" from start to finish. Hell, it makes "The Flag" sound like "Street Songs".

SoulAlive said:

TonyVanDam said:

Rick produced & composed the track all by himself, including drum machine (Roland TR-808) programming. The song is about Linda Blair.

yeah,and this song introduced a whole new sound by Rick.It's a stripped-down funk number,without the horns from previous albums.He was adapting to changing trends.By the mid-80s,many funk artists and bands were experimenting with a colder,electronic,synth-based sound.

He gave his horns to Prince.

vainandy said:

PDogz said:

...it's true, lol. The songs on those albums had a lot of texture, very groovy. Rick was a masterful producer, song writer, and arranger. And I honestly loved every song on his last two albums.

I could tolerate two or three songs on "Urban Rapsody" but I absolutely hated "Deeper Still" from start to finish. Hell, it makes "The Flag" sound like "Street Songs".

Don't go hating on The Flag now. I'll admit it wasn't a great album but

Sweet and Sexy Thang, R U Experienced still rocked. Slow and Easy was

one of his better post Ebony Eyes ballads imo.

LoveIsTheMessage said:

PDogz said:

Although he finished out strong in my book with "Urban Rapsody" and "Deeper Still". CD's I loved

The Cold Blooded LP was my cut off point. I dug a couple of songs from the Glow LP, but that's about it.

Maybe I'll find his later recordings and give them a listen.

funkpill said:

(((((((FREEZE!)))))))

StarMon said:

The Cold Blooded LP was my cut off point. I dug a couple of songs from the Glow LP, but that's about it.

Maybe I'll find his later recordings and give them a listen.

I had a similar experience with Rick: I snatched up his first 5 albums the very week they dropped, but never purchased "Throwin' Down", "Cold Blooded", "Glow", "The Flag", "Wonderful", or "Kickin'", though I was familiar with the singles that got airplay. My main reason for not collecting those albums as they were released had more to do with the fact I was traveling a lot during that time, than it had to do with the quality of those productions. By the time I had gotten more settled, Rick's life was already spiraling downward.

And the singles I had heard from those albums did NOT inspire me to search out the complete albums, lol. "Cold Blooded" [the subject of this thread] was probably the ONLY single I remembered or liked from this period of Rick's career. I HATED that duet with Smokey Robinson, lol. Not fond of Smokey in general, lol (Sacrilege! I know).

But if you haven't heard his last two CD's yet you're missing out. I feel that Rick really found his new groove that could have sustained him over many years of new releases. It was like a very funky adult contemporary, rich with texture, strong arrangements, thick bass-lines and such. You can feel all the soul, all the emotion, and all the energy Rick had been storing-up in his years of incarceration, as well as his determination to recapture his crown, come through in these productions ("Urban Rapsody" & "Deeper Still"). It's evident in these two CD's that Rick had found himself.

It's possible Rick's personal life had overshadowed his music by the time his last two CD's were released. Cause he was making some great music right up to his departure.

PDogz said:

StarMon said:

The Cold Blooded LP was my cut off point. I dug a couple of songs from the Glow LP, but that's about it.

Maybe I'll find his later recordings and give them a listen.

I had a similar experience with Rick: I snatched up his first 5 albums the very week they dropped, but never purchased "Throwin' Down", "Cold Blooded", "Glow", "The Flag", "Wonderful", or "Kickin'", though I was familiar with the singles that got airplay. My main reason for not collecting those albums as they were released had more to do with the fact I was traveling a lot during that time, than it had to do with the quality of those productions. By the time I had gotten more settled, Rick's life was already spiraling downward.

I can dig it..


Throwin' Down, the title says it all.

"Glow", is not that bad.. the songs worth giving a listen to are:

"Somebody (The Girl's Got)"

"Melody Make Me Dance"

"Spend The Night With Me"

"Moon Child"

"Rock And Roll Control" are pretty descent. I just prefer "Cold Blooded" more.

I forgot, I do have the Flag album and it's straight wack ..the other albums "Kickin" and "Wonderful", I've yet to hear. I've only heared "Loosey's Rap" from the "Wonderful" album.

And the singles I had heard from those albums did NOT inspire me to search out the complete albums, lol. "Cold Blooded" [the subject of this thread] was probably the ONLY single I remembered or liked from this period of Rick's career. I HATED that duet with Smokey Robinson, lol. Not fond of Smokey in general, lol (Sacrilege! I know).

That's probably my fourth favorite cut from the album, behind "U Bring The Freak Out", "Cold Blooded", and " P.I.M.P. The S.I.M.P."

.. I wasn't crazy about the video, but I dig "Ebony Eyes" and Smokey.

But if you haven't heard his last two CD's yet you're missing out. I feel that Rick really found his new groove that could have sustained him over many years of new releases. It was like a very funky adult contemporary, rich with texture, strong arrangements, thick bass-lines and such. You can feel all the soul, all the emotion, and all the energy Rick had been storing-up in his years of incarceration, as well as his determination to recapture his crown, come through in these productions ("Urban Rapsody" & "Deeper Still"). It's evident in these two CD's that Rick had found himself.

They are on my to get list, I'll check a couple of Used CD shops in my area.

It's possible Rick's personal life had overshadowed his music by the time his last two CD's were released. Cause he was making some great music right up to his departure.

StarMon said:

.. I wasn't crazy about the video, but I dig "Ebony Eyes" and Smokey.

...see THAT's why I could never fault an artist for doing different kinds of music; what one fan hates another adores, lol.

phunkdaddy said:

Don't go hating on The Flag now. I'll admit it wasn't a great album but

Sweet and Sexy Thang, R U Experienced still rocked.

Yah.

I think 'Glow' is a good album.Not great,but very good.There are a few gems on that album.

I didn't like 'The Flag' at all.A very mediocre album.Rick was feuding with Motown at the time and I don't think he really put alot of effort into this album.

'Wonderful' wasn't too exciting either,but I do like several tracks on 'Urban Rapsody'.That album is pretty decent.The slow jam with JoJo "Don't Ever Say You Love Me" is a standout.

'Deeper Still' has a few cool songs.'Cold Blooded' was probably Rick's last truly great album.