Street Songs

Rick James | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000001AHX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #261,157 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Give It to Me Baby

2. Ghetto Life

3. Make Love to Me

4. Mr. Policeman

5. Super Freak

6. Fire and Desire

7. Call Me Up

8. Below the Funk (Pass the J)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rick James later made ludicrous attempts to keep up with Prince, but on 1981's Street Songs, he stands in no one's shadow. This is, of course, the album that gave us "Super Freak," but James also scores with several funk protest numbers, including the bitter "Mr. Policeman" and the celebratory "Below the Funk (Pass the J)." Prince ended up running a much longer way with the "punk funk" ball; still, James executed more than one or two good plays here. --Rickey Wright

Product Description

180-gram vinyl LP pressing. Includes a download code. Universal. 2009. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FUNK FANS....RECOGNIZE!, October 9, 2001

By 

Jazzman98 (Musicland, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Street Songs (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

Anyone, I mean, anyone considering themselves a TRUE Funkateer should run (not walk) and purchase this disc!!

Why? Beacuse the sound quality has been upgraded to "short of spectacular". Additionally, it contains many hit songs such as 'Give it to me Baby" (try to resist replying "give me a Bud"); "Super Freak" and, of course, the SLOW JAM classic, long version of "Fire & Desire" with Teena Marie (Lady T).

The other reason to buy this disc (actually the MAIN reason) is to listen to one of the BEST live shows I've heard in a while! Motown should be ashamed for sitting on this for 20 years!! Rick & the Stone City Band are hot to the core on classics like "Love Gun" and "Mary Jane" (the audience was really into this song). Lady T also "turns it out" with 'Sucka for Love" and "Square Biz". And, our good Motown friends captured it all in pristine condition! Go figure....

But, I don't want to talk to you anymore about it....Go out & buy it!! Now!!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Takin' It To The Streets, November 29, 2001

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Street Songs (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

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 overplay 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)". The remastered version contains great 12" mixes of "super Freak" and "Give It To Me Baby" as well as a second disk with blazing live performances.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funk and roll, baby!!!!, November 9, 2001

By 

Jeffrey Harris (South San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Street Songs (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

The good folks at Universal have given another classic album the red carpet treatment. Rick James' fifth(and best)album "Street Songs" is the one that best represents the man and his music. Known for the classic singles "Give It To Me Baby" and the ever ubiquitious "Super Freak", this album has great album tracks such as the reggae tinged "Mr. Policeman", the autobiographical "Ghetto Life", and the quiet storm staple "Fire And Desire" with Teena Marie. Some great extras come with this deluxe edition including the rare 12" versions of "Give It To Me Baby","Super Freak", and their instrumental B-sides. The final slam dunk to this package is an unreleased live concert recorded just a couple of months after this album's release. The live versions are great. It's surprising that this sat on a shelf for 20 years! All of Rick's hit's up until that point are included, and there are even two cuts by Teena Marie("I'm A Sucker For Your Love" and "Square Biz"). The booklet and digipak have some cool previously unseen photos including some from the original album cover photo shoot. Sonically this reissue is light years better than the poorly mastered original CD. One of the best R&B albums of the decade and another first rate deluxe edition.