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A View from the Mike
My musical tastes tend to honor the great R&B/Soul/Funk/Jazz musicians, particularly vocalists, and indeed they do. From Cole, Hartman, Wonder, Gaye, Benson, Hathaway, Jarreau, and others, as a singer myself I am a student of the spectrum of vocal greatness. Having mentioned being a Motown head back in the day, I vividly recall the year 1978, just before I graduated from high school. I had just grown my Afro back for the final time, and I was starting to drift away from one of my favorite groups at the time, the Commodores, as I felt they, and Lionel Richie especially, were going from funk to pop, the transition that led to Richie’s departure, the career move that transformed him into an icon. I was helpless as the sellout [lol] began in earnest, forcing some of us to shift our allegiances.
Help arrived in April of 1978 when Motown, still a giant, released a single from a new artist with prior history with the label. The single,’You And I’, a funky piece driven by a rockin’ bass line, infectious horns, and sassy female background vocals was written and produced by James Ambrose Johnson, a native of Buffalo, New York, universally known as Rick James. I heard this new jam as I prepared to make my transition to college, and the album, Come Get It, James’ debut was released around or on the day of my graduation. I do, remember buying that album the very next day, as the album version of You And I ran eight minutes, and the 45 timed out at about four. The song took off, becoming the summer anthem in a program I attended for incoming freshmen at the University of Connecticut. This song was the catalyst for my own vocal journey. With the follow up, Mary Jane, Rick was no one hit wonder, he was a force.
Bustin’ Out of L7, his next piece, dropped just a few short months later, and the title track soared up the charts. James also had time to write and produce for his protege’, a five foot dynamo named Teena Marie. Their funky duet,’Sucker For Your Love’ was the first of many, culminating in the classic ‘Fire And Desire’.His late 1979 offering, Fire It Up, is one of my favorites, with underrated cuts like the title track, the bass-heavy ‘Love Gun,’ and ‘Come Into My Life’ keeping up the tradition. ‘Garden Of Love’ was a disappointment, except for the single ‘Big Time’. Although I liked a song or two it was panned by the critics. James heard his fans and foes and produced the classic ‘Street Songs’ in 1981, and the masterpiece made him a legend in some circles. ‘Give It To Me,’ ‘Super Freak,’ ‘Fire And Desire,’ ‘Call Me Up,’ and my fave, ‘Ghetto Life.’ His 1982 album Throwdown, used a similar formula as the previous piece, a duet with Teena, ‘Happy,’ a hit with his uncle, Melvin Franklin, and the rest of the Temptations, Standing On The Top, a funky dance hit, Dance Wit’ Me, a solid album. The next few albums gave you ‘Coldblooded,’ ‘17,’ ‘Glow,’ ‘Moonchild,’ and a few hidden gems, but toward the end of the 80s it was clear that one of my favorite artists was losing his grip.
James left Motown amid creative differences, signed with Warner Bros., and continued his downward spiral. Caught in the web of drugs and decadence, his music reflected his lifestyle. His signature sound was falling off, and he hit rock bottom with a mid-90s jail sentence. The incarceration forced Rick to take a long look at himself, his life, and the factors that contributed to his predicament. With renewed spirit, as well as new songs, he released Urban Rhapsody, while a very good CD, its effectiveness was muted by the high number of guest artists on the album. That watered down the Rick James signature sound, and put the CD the cut-out bin of many stores.
Over the next few years, Rick wrestled with numerous health issues, no doubt due to of long years of substance abuse. Although clean, he suffered a stroke, and while it slowed his comeback, it did not derail it. In 2004, his voice was stilled, but his music lives on. I hope to put together a Rick James tribute one day, something I was working on a couple years ago when I was actually put in contact with the Stone City Band, his old band. They were looking for a lead vocalist, and although I was qualified, I sent them a recording that was not representative of my true talent, a rush job. After some downright insulting non-constructive criticism, it was clear that they were not an option. We both may have lost with that flirtation.
I guess I can’t talk about Rick James without mentioning Dave Chappelle. Chappelle brought him back into pop culture consciousness,with his hilarious parodies. At first I thought this was a little nuts, but I had forgotten how much of a wisecracker and sometimes bad boy Rick could be. The outtakes of Chappelle’s DVD are downright side-splitting! It was strange, a comedy show re-acquainted me with one of my all-time favorites. A word to the unwise who see Rick James through the punchline, ‘I’m Rick James, bitch!’, need to do some homework. Look at, but then beyond the ‘Superfreak’ image, lifestyle, women, drugs, excess. Stripped down to the core, James Johnson/RickJames, was a talented singer/songwriter/producer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist, and one of the best of his era. Look back to 1978, for prior to ‘Superfreak,’ there was ‘You And I.’ Rick James, R.I.P
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so many people focus on the Dave Chappelle parody (which was great I must add). However, Rick James is one of the most underrated singers and composers in R & B history. It’s good to read something about the man’s music, which I was a HUGE FAN of during those wild College days we had in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Mike, I hope the tribute does happen, one day. It’s needed.
> Carl Elliott
I never really listened to Rick James much during his time but I’ve grown to respect what he did. Your article makes me want to go back and research some of his old material and give it an even closer listen.
Thanks
Jim…
> Jim k.
Nice touch Mike. Rick James was the ‘MAN’ back in the day. I have his greatest hits CD in my car right now. I actually met him at a club in DC many years ago. All we talked about was music.
Thanks for the memories,
QT
> Quentin T.
I had the great opportunity to see Rick James in concert at 4th & B, downtown San Diego, CA. He was phenomenal! There was a guest appearance by none other than Teena Marie, absolutely incredible! A true icon in the music registry; Mike I concur with your analysis. Keep up the FUNK and we all can’t wait to see and hear your tribute. Keep the legend alive!
> Brian Holmes
HI MIKE. FOR EVERYONE WHO IS READING THIS. THE COMMENT THAT MIKE MADE ABOUT BEING QUALIFIED WAS NOT TRUE. IF HE WAS HE COULD HAVE WENT TO THE NEXT STEP. I AM THE DRUMMER FOR THE STONE CITY BAND. WE NEEDED A VERY STRONG LEAD SINGER AND SOME ONE TO PUSH A STRONG BAND.MIKE COULD NOT HANDLE THAT. WE ARE A HISTORY MAKING FUNK BAND AND EVERYONE WILL SEE WHY AT THE TOP OF THE YEAR,09.YOU ARE A GOOD WRITER,DO WHAT YOU DO BEST. THANK YOU, LANISE
> lanise hughes
I DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO A BACK AND FORTH WITH THE BAND THAT I’VE ALWAYS HAD THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR. I SENT A RECORDING THAT WAS LESS THAN MY BEST, AND INSTEAD OF CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, I GOT, HE CAN SING, BUT ‘HE DOSEN’T HAVE ENOUGH BALLS TO HIS VOICE, AND HE WON’T LAST 3 DAYS ON THE ROAD’. I CAN SING RICK JAMES IN MY SLEEP, AND WHILE THE STONE CITY BAND MAY NOT HAVE DUG ME, THEY DIDN’T GET THE REAL ME.
> MICHAEL DUNHAM
Wow! the song titles in this article took me way back, now I’ve got to do some downloading.
> Kat C.
Mike. You don’t have to explain sh#! to the Stone City Band. No disrespect to them but if it wasn’t for Rick, they would have been just another good local Band. However, they are entitled to their opinions. I just think it’s disrespectful to “dog” a man’s singing voice on his Blog without hearing him perform Live.
> Carl Elliott
Mike, you don’t have to explain a damn thing. That liqored euphoric Bama, who started in a garage, before Rick’s discovery, that needed extreme polishing, does not know or owe you from Adam.
I witnessed you at the starting gate, 24 years ago at the (Marquee) where raw talent was very rare in our hood, and watched you come up to the true artist you are today, not ricshawing some ones coat tail for the last 40 years. You paid your dues, got your own band, MD3, and leading the tempo for the Bernadettes. Tell that lethargic MF, who made those backstatements,go find a meeting.
> "BAKE"
Carl, Bake my dogs from waaaaaaay back, you cats know the deal, they don’t, only have a 5 minute mediocre recording on which 2 JUDGE me. Its sad that people feel the need to make these comments. Put me in front of that band, tell them to close their eyes, and listen to what comes out,they’d swear Rick was in the room[vocal quality anyway]. I don’t have to answer to this, but I refuse to kowtow to them because of who they are, not at my age.
> MICHAEL DUNHAM
Great job Michael, excillent writer
> B trostonoff
I never liked the person of Rick James, but loved his music. I abhorred the times while watching him received various musical awards, I felt ashamed to be black based on his acceptance speeches that was so uncouth! I felt embarrassed to be an African American.. The reason is because he represented me and the African American community, and his behavior was so unacceptable, But I truly enjoyed his music!
> Prettylegs
Rick James was an extraordinary talent. He also created one of the most talented, female groups ever (Destiny’s Child included), The Mary Jane Girls.
> AndreaDenise
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