Before he became a meme and running gag as a result of Chappelle's Show, Rick James was considered a solid producer and musician. He began performing in bands in his teenage years, but then to avoid the draft, moved to Toronto, Canada, where he continued his music aspirations. It was in this new country that he formed The Mynah Birds, a group which would later be signed to Motown. Unfortunately, the military would catch up with him, and convict him for desertion. After spending several months in jail, James would relocate to California, continuing his musical work.
Forming the group, Stone City Band, would garner the attention of Motown's Gordy Records, and lead to him signing with the label, releasing his 1978 debut, Come Get It! Led by singles, You And I, and Mary Jane, the album would ultimately be gold certified.
The 1979 sophomore album, Bustin' Out Of L Seven, garnered the top ten hit, Bustin' Out (On Funk), and was followed that same year with his third release, Fire It Up. James was by far burning up the charts at this point, and this trend continued with his 1980 album, Garden Of Love. Probably the best thing to come from James around this time was the discovery (so to speak) of Teena Marie, who had worked with a number of producers at Gordy Records, but never got her material released until James began working with her.
Playing through Street Songs, I definitely endorsed the singles noted above, as well as Ghetto Life, Call Me Up, Below The Funk (Pass The J). I suppose that's a solid entry, considering it's over half the album. I was really hoping to get into the Teena Marie duet, Fire And Desire. Unfortunately, this was a very sappy ballad that just didn't work for me.
In general, Rick James was never really an artist I got into, even in the 80's. Which is why I'm a bit surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did. While I'd be intrigued to hear a bit more of his early to mid 80's stuff, it's not something I would go out of my way to do, nor pay a lot of money to do. I'm talking dollar bin finds would be the only thing that would probably get me to bite.
As for Rick James, his career appears to have piqued in 1985 with his appearance on The A-Team. While he released three albums in that 1981 - 1985 time span, Throwin' Down (1982), Cold Blooded (1983), and Glow (1985), none seemed to compare to his 1981 smash. Further, his album Glow was essentially labeled by Rolling Stones as James having run out of ideas. Ouch! That's mean.
With album sales continuing to drop, Gordy Record's would release James following his 1986 album, The Flag. Reprise would pick him up, and release his 1988 wonderful, and 1989 Kickin' albums. However, they too would then drop the artist.
By the 90's, James's career was hampered by drug addiction, and ongoing legal issues. Following a conviction in 1993 for kidnapping and assault, receiving a three year sentence. After his release in 1996, he released the album Urban Rhapsody (1997) for the Columbia label, Private-I. However, after suffering a stroke in 1998, he announced his semi-retirement. Since then, he has only released one additional album, 2007's Deeper Still under the Stone City label.
Perhaps the best thing that could of happened for James was to become a running gag and meme on Chappelle's Show. Otherwise, would people even be talking about him today?
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS June 22, 1985 |
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