Search - Rick James :: Street Songs

Could Easily Be A Greatest Hits CD

Dorrie Wheeler | 10/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I looked at the track listing for "Street Songs" I thought maybe it was a Re-issue greatest hits compilation with the same name as his earlier album then I realized that this was the same "Street Songs" only with two bonus tracks. Artists today are lucky to have one or two hits on an album, but this album is packed with hits. The first song "Give It ToMe Baby," sounds great remastered. The second song "Ghetto Life," man Rick really signs from the heart when he says "Ain't no need to hurry," basically saying their is no need to rush in the ghetto because everything will be there tommorrow. "Ghetto Life" also gained new fans as it was featured on the soundtrack for the video game Grand Theft Auto Vice City. This album also includes "Superfreak," a song that is over 20 years old that still bumps and sounds great and makes you want to get up and dance. "Street Songs" also includes the Teena Marie duet and classic song "Fire and Desire." This is a GREAT CD. The bonus tracks are 12 inch mixes of "Give It To Me Baby" and "Superfreak.""

Pass The Funk

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 11/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rick James is more remembered for his drug and criminal problems but in his hey day, he produced some superior funk music. Street Songs ranks with any funk album and Mr. James has never been better. The album features the ubiquitous "Super Freak" which has taken on a life of its own. Despite the saturation of it, the song has a vicious bass line and is a master groove. There are other superb cuts on the album like the sultry "Give It To Me Baby", the open come on of "Make Love To Me", the smoldering "Fire & Desire" and "Call Me". The album isn't all about parties as he speaks of inner city troubles in "Ghetto Love" that is set over a sweet groove, the scathing indictment of police indifference in "Mr. Policeman" and the drug scene in "Below The Funk (Pass The J)"."

"gotta fill the groove ~ Rick James"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 12/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great musicial genius---Rick James is Funky, but also has many other attributes. James blends so many styles all at once---just take a listen to "GIVE IT TO ME BABY", the lyrics grab you ~ "GHETTO LIFE", a beat to die for ~ "CALL ME UP", get yourself a cell phone for this classic conversation ~ and "SUPER FREAK", he has his own sound. Trust me, if you haven't heard those songs, you have not lived - hot smoldering Funk at its absolute zenith, very essential material. Little bit of everything is the remastered album "Street Songs", completely composed, produced and arranged by the man himself. This CD has a whole lot of "funk" and a little bit of blues all rolled up into one. Soul-ful and a classic to this day. The punk funk king is in full-effect on this album---Rick James was front and center on the street tip, long before any of the gangsta rap---less we mention the two bonus tracks "GIVE IT TO ME BABY" and "SUPER FREAK", twelve inch mixes from 1981, all arranged by Rick with one thought in mind---to fill your groove, gotta love it!Total Time: 47:58 on 10 Tracks ~ Motown 440-064-023-2 ~ (2002)"