New topic
Printable| Author | Message |
Rick James' 1986 album 'The Flag'---what the hell was he thinking?! Several weeks ago,when I was Christmas shopping,I came across an old Rick James CD called 'The Flag'.It's the last album he recorded for Motown Records and it was released in 1986.It was originally a 2-LP set.I had never heard this album before,so I was really interested in seeing what I had missed.Plus,the CD was in the bargain bin so I only had to pay $3.99 for it.
Unfortunately,this album is a mess.Every track sounds alike.Remember Eddie Murphy's 1985 hit "Party All The Time" which Rick wrote and produced? Nearly EVERY song here sounds just like that song! From looking at the tracklist,you would assume that this was some big,important album with some powerful messages... "Freak Flag" "Forever And A Day" "Sweet and Sexy Thing" "Free To Be Me" "Save It For Me" "Freak Flag" "R U Experienced" "Funk In America/Silly Little Man" "Slow And Easy" (interlude) "Slow And Easy" "Om Raga" "Painted Pictures" "Freak Flag"  Instead,it's a complete disaster...overproduced,synth-heavy,watered-down,mid-80s funk.Beginning with 1983's 'Cold Blooded' album,Rick's music began to lose it's edge,although that album still had some solid jams on it ("U Bring The Freak Out",the slammin' title track,etc).The horns virtually disappeared and the synths took over,making his once-mighty funk sound cold and lifeless.This approach is taken to the extreme on 'The Flag'.
Motown wisely released only one single from this project---the predictable "Sweet and Sexy Thing"---and Rick was let go from his contract.I wonder,how many of you like this record? Am I missing something? Do I need to listen to it some more,or is it truly the crap that I think it is?  | |
- E-mail - orgNote -  Report post to moderator |
DavidEye said: Several weeks ago,when I was Christmas shopping,I came across an old Rick James CD called 'The Flag'.It's the last album he recorded for Motown Records and it was released in 1986.It was originally a 2-LP set.I had never heard this album before,so I was really interested in seeing what I had missed.Plus,the CD was in the bargain bin so I only had to pay $3.99 for it.
Unfortunately,this album is a mess.Every track sounds alike.Remember Eddie Murphy's 1985 hit "Party All The Time" which Rick wrote and produced? Nearly EVERY song here sounds just like that song! From looking at the tracklist,you would assume that this was some big,important album with some powerful messages... "Freak Flag" "Forever And A Day" "Sweet and Sexy Thing" "Free To Be Me" "Save It For Me" "Freak Flag" "R U Experienced" "Funk In America/Silly Little Man" "Slow And Easy" (interlude) "Slow And Easy" "Om Raga" "Painted Pictures" "Freak Flag" Instead,it's a complete disaster...overproduced,synth-heavy,watered-down,mid-80s funk.Beginning with 1983's 'Cold Blooded' album,Rick's music began to lose it's edge,although that album still had some solid jams on it ("U Bring The Freak Out",the slammin' title track,etc).The horns virtually disappeared and the synths took over,making his once-mighty funk sound cold and lifeless.This approach is taken to the extreme on 'The Flag'.
Motown wisely released only one single from this project---the predictable "Sweet and Sexy Thing"---and Rick was let go from his contract.I wonder,how many of you like this record? Am I missing something? Do I need to listen to it some more,or is it truly the crap that I think it is? i remember sending the promotional back...it was a disaster. | |
| - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator |