Customer Reviews

The Confessions of Rick James: Memoirs of a Super Freak

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4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
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This book was excellent. It was incredible to learn so much about Rick James. I had no idea that he worked with so many artists. Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young... He knew Jim Morrison...He was close friends with Robin Williams... Rick James had an incredibly fascinating life. This book, written in his own words is powerful and interesting. I found myself thinking about it for days after I finished it. It is a great read, and your friends will be impressed by it.

I don't agree with the few people who said the book was bad due to editing etc. Of course the book wasn't cleaned up from the way Rick wrote it but that's what made it so Rick James to me and afterall it was his biography written the way he wanted to tell it.

As I read Super Freak, it was as if Rick himself was reading it to me. The raw, gritty, rauchiness that he tells his story with with, makes it even more heart felt. You could really feel his love for the art of music from the way he described the instruments with different layers and textures. I never paid attention to all this big band talk he did but now that you think about it, you really don't get that kind of music anymore, it's all studio based now.

I can tell a lot of the book was cut due to maybe lawsuits being filed, if nothing else Rick was RAW when writing his story! Rick dropped some heavy stuff and kept it real, like Teena being possibly gay and her obsession with him. His drug binge partners Steven Tyler, Rod Stewart, Christopher Reeves, Jack Nicolson, Herbie Hancock and even a Russian Princess and the list goes on.

Rick was before my time since when he was at the top I was in the first grade hollering super freak not knowing what I was really talking about but I like everyone else, just liked the song. I've had this book for three years and could never bring myself to read it until after I was doing reseach on fire and desire. Reading the little I did on the internet made me run to my bookcase and snatch this biography out. I started reading it Friday and was done with it in three days and this is reading while at work and in between time. Otherwise, I'm sure I would've read it in one day. This is by far the best biography I've ever read. Patti LaBelle's Don't Block the Blessing was my fav life story, but it has been replaced by Rick James's Memoirs of a Super Freak.

Besides all of the journeys he took you through that spanded darn near forty years of his life, Rick James gave you insight into the mind of an addict. It wasn't all pretty or glamourous even though he lead the life of a mega super star, it was in your face real. I love the stories about Prince. I can see him running and jumping over a fence trying to get away from Rick lol!

Super Freak is a wake up call if nothing else. Just imagine the career Rick James would've had if not for drugs. Think of the happiness he could've really expeirienced being drug free. The saying goes sex, drugs and rock-n-roll go hand in hand but it's just a cliche and up to the person on what goes for them. Before reading this book, when I heard the name Rick James I would immediately think drug addict, what a joke, worthless, mean and down right nasty based on the stories I've heard from the media. Now when I think of Rick James I'm like, what a talented, generous and loving man he was despite his short comings. I would LOVE to see a movie made about Rick James's life it would be a blockbuster I'm sure.

In closiing: When Rick was good he was good but when he was bad...because he's Rick James BYOTCH!!

The Confessions of Rick James Memoirs of a Super Freak a must read!

Despite appearing hastily written, the late recording artist Rick James' THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES: "MEMOIRS OF A SUPER FREAK" commands attention. Maybe the chapters are too short and the typographical errors too many, but the life Rick James lived and his honesty in telling about it keeps the pages turning. A biographer-writing partner would improve this book's fluency, but as his musings make you realize James is one who calls the shots rather than delegate responsibility, the unvarnished style of prose proves part of this autobiography's charm.

It could be that Rick James was still working on THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES when he died, as:

- the book could use more details on Rick James' relationships with his three children

- most THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES pictures lack photo captions

- like too many musician biographies, the book says too little about the music

- THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES doesn't discuss Motown not having Rick James perform at the 1984 television special celebrating its 25th anniversary, even though he was one of their biggest acts

- other than a printing a picture, the book says nothing about Rick James's role in the great Eddie Murphy-Martin Lawrence film LIFE, where he turns in a fine performance as a menacing yet astute organized crime boss; not aware he was in the movie when I saw it, I missed his name in the opening credits and did not recognize James, only realizing it was him as the closing credits appeared

Rick James's long-time personal assistant Linda Hunt, whom he praises in his 1985 song "Moonchild" and is not to be confused with the actress of the same name, closes THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES with details of the man's final days. It's a touching remembrance and makes me wish Hunt would fill in more of the book's gaps. Heaven must have sent her, hallelujah.

As for what Rick James does have to say in THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES, fasten your funky seatbelt:

- Age 18, alone and A.W.O.L. from the military, Rick James flees to Toronto where a bizarre stroke of luck leads to connecting with local musicians including Neil Young and making his first inroads to the recording industry

- I always thought it was a publicity stunt, but the rivalry with Prince was real; to his credit, Rick James says he admires Prince's talent, objecting only to his attitude

- not afraid to name names when it comes to those who did him wrong, Rick James purposely refers to Berry Gordy, Jr., as "Barry" - or the publisher, unaware of one of the most famous record company executives ever, thought "Berry" was a typo and changed it

- Rick James was friends with athlete/actor/philanthropist Jim Brown, whose 1990 autobiography OUT OF BOUNDS includes a sobering recollection about the musician's loneliness; yet while he tells of disappointing relationships in THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES, James doesn't follow up on Brown's observation

- the women and drugs in Rick James's life were even more plentiful than I, for one, imagined

Read THE CONFESSIONS OF RICK JAMES: "MEMOIRS OF A SUPER FREAK."

I loved this book. Rick goes into great detail about his drug abuse and his womanizing ways. I couldn't put the book down and read it in 2 days flat! Although he would go from one subject to the next a lot, I thought it was a very telling story and it made me look at Rick James in a different light. The book was honest, funny, and sad all at the same time. I say sad because it's sad that Rick felt like he couldn't live without the drugs. I know he tried rehab a few times but just couldn't shake the drugs in the end and went back to them time and time again. If you were never a Rick James fan, you surely would become a fan of his after reading his story. May the King of Punk Funk rest in peace!

Mr. Johnson (bka James) seemed to be intelligent enough to write this on his own but I'm barely into the fourth chapter and have counted about 20 typos.

Sans the heavy drug use and racism, I'd imagine many would like to momentarily live vicariously through him - especially if you seek extreme adventure.

On a personal note, the "Me and Prince (Chapter 41)" chapter may have some merit as far has James being an influence on Prince's stage presence. Yet it does not take a marketing genius to see that there was a transitional period [for Prince] that meant carefully choreographed dance numbers, the presence of universally beautiful women and outfits that did not look like they came from the second-hand store. It's called Warner Bros. making $$$$$$ on their investment - which they did several times over.

Until I started reading the book, I cracked up anytime I heard a Rick James record or saw him parodied on Chappelle's Show, South Park or the Simpsons. I kept forgetting that many turn to drugs because they feel pain in their lives. It is not excusing his behavior but it just that his behavior comes to mind before musicianship and the fact that he may have been underrated while he was here.

This book was very informative but you can tell a lot of stuff was edited out. One paragraph introduction he talks about Teena Marie liking women one in particular, giving you the impression that he was going to elobrate more in the book. That teaser is all we get. It is never mention in details the reason he and Teena fell out. It seems like some of the story regarding his mother illness in the beginning was cut out and his dealings with Vanity. MC Hammer sampling his song Super Freak is not mention at all. Very surprising since he was very vocal about it in past interviews.

By the time I got to the last chapter I was weeping like a baby! I have never read a book that so vividly described the battle with drugs! It was painful to read, especially that I love me some Rick James! I had to keep stopping to compose myself before I could continue. He was such a beautiful (inside and out) person that got caught up in drugs and he fought and battled so hard, yet it was still the demise of this greatest entertainer! He was also so funny in some of the things that he would say and how descriptive he was. He had me laughing out loud! Intelligent and ahead of his time. There will never again be magic like the magic of Rick James and Tenna Marie. R.I.P. to the both of them! I think that I learned a valuable lesson, and that is put your professional and personal lives into perspective. Rick had to constantly live up to his partying-superfreak images even when he felt it no more and that must have been difficult for him. If he didn't act like a superfreak or a partying person, people would have been disappointed in him and call him lame. No matter what he was into, his true fans would have supported and loved him unconditionally.

This book reads like Rick is sitting in your home having a drink and telling you the way it was back in the day. Rick James was running around with the whole Folk-Rock/Los Angeles music scene before half of them had record deals. This is a brilliant tale of one opportunity after another missed (mostly through some fault of his own making). From finding Crosby, Stills and Nash a bass player for Woodstock to punkin' Prince in his "high heels, trench coat and panties" early days, Rick James has left behind a masterpiece worthy of his best music.

A stellar writer Rick James is not, hence, you can actually tell he authored this work. It was a decent read which revealed many things I didn't know nor suspected Rick had done or suffered through in the music industry...highly recommended...

One of the best books I have read, along with Richards Pryors bio due to its (somewhat) honesty in discussing matters of sexuality, drugs and excess.