Rick James

[the whistler]

Can someone please tell me what ever happened to
Rick James ,last time I heard he was in the CAN
Cheers

[originalbigm]

He's been out for a while.I believe he was paroled in 2000.He's back touring.Check out his website.

Rick James

[K-Bee]

James has been in and out of jail for years and even before that, the more addicted to drugs he got, the worse his recordings were.
I heard something about James becoming a born again Christian at some point. can anyone confirm this?

[efunk_adelic]

K-bee, you are correct. Rick is a changed man :)

[Leatherman]

Originally Posted by K-Bee

James has been in and out of jail for years and even before that, the more addicted to drugs he got, the worse his recordings were.
I heard something about James becoming a born again Christian at some point. can anyone confirm this?

Shame about that, I'd rather liked his bad boy of funk persona. At least he was different! The whole born again stuff gets on my wick a bit. I think Rick is being bit selfish.

Anyway, I'm sure that whole thing with the girl being held captive at his house was just a mis-understanding. Haven't most of us detained sexual partners against their will on the odd occasion - or the other way round. Some of my fondest memories are those of being tied up, gagged and shut in a dark cuboard for the weekend. Especially in 78/79.

Anyone know about the Canadian Polydor 7" Rick did before signing to Motown?

[efunk_adelic]

Originally Posted by Leatherman

Anyone know about the Canadian Polydor 7" Rick did before signing to Motown?

I don't, but it sure sounds interesting Leatherman.... now this will be a RARE track. What is it?

[the whistler]

Originally Posted by K-Bee

I heard something about James becoming a born again Christian at some point. can anyone confirm this?

efunk_adelic quote" K-bee, you are correct. Rick is a changed man


Leatherman quote" Shame about that, I'd rather liked his bad boy of funk persona. At least he was different! The whole born again stuff gets on my wick a bit. I think Rick is being bit selfish. Agreed

Another one that's gone down the same path is PRINCE (Johavis Witness)he kicked off his world tour last month in Australia (it was Awesome),but he didn't play one song with any sexual references.
Those songs are pretty much what made him today.
I can't see this working for him in the future, a big loss for the punters.
Thanks for the memories Prince ,you sexy mother f*cker,good luck in the years ahead
Prince one of the ALL time GREATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Leatherman]

Originally Posted by efunk_adelic

I don't, but it sure sounds interesting Leatherman.... now this will be a RARE track. What is it?

I have a copy but can't actually be sure of the title, I think maybe "Get Up" (I can check if you are interested). I got it in a recent purchase of a few old 7"'s but I've not listened to it very many times. I remember it being pretty ordinary 70's funk. I don't think Rick had quite found his own sound at this time. So not the killer it could have potencially have been, but still intersting for us RJ fans.

[efunk_adelic]

[quote="Leatherman
I have a copy but can't actually be sure of the title, I think maybe "Get Up" (I can check if you are interested). I got it in a recent purchase of a few old 7"'s but I've not listened to it very many times. I remember it being pretty ordinary 70's funk. I don't think Rick had quite found his own sound at this time. So not the killer it could have potencially have been, but still intersting for us RJ fans.[/quote]


efunk <--- is not a huge fan.... so if you happen to stumble upon it... you can enlighten me with the info :D

[Forrrce]

There's also this so-so offering that he made after his involvement with Neil Young and the Mynah Byrds.

[K-Bee]

Wow :lol: They sure don't make covers like that one anymore!! (or haircuts :lol: I might add)

[originalbigm]

[quote=efunk_adelic]

Originally Posted by "Leatherman
I have a copy but can't actually be sure of the title, I think maybe "Get Up" (I can check if you are interested). I got it in a recent purchase of a few old 7"'s but I've not listened to it very many times. I remember it being pretty ordinary 70's funk. I don't think Rick had quite found his own sound at this time. So not the killer it could have potencially have been, but still intersting for us RJ fans.[/quote

efunk <--- is not a huge fan.... so if you happen to stumble upon it... you can enlighten me with the info :D

Actually I have this song on a 12" promo.Here are the credits
Title: Get Up And Dance
Artist: Rick James and The Stone City Band
Composers: Rick James and A.Mason
Engineer: John Richardson
Producer: Rick James
Year:1976
Label:Polydor
Time:6:00

This was a mid tempo funk number in the Rick James style however it wasn't as hard edged as his later stuff such as Super Freak or Give It to Me Baby.
Interestingly enough there is no mention of this song in his various biographies or discographies.The other interesting bit of info I came up with is quote.

"Not easily deterred, Rick went to London(1970?) where he formed the blues band "The Main Line." He commuted between London and North America (where he was a staff songwriter for Motown in the late sixties) for the next seven years. In 1977 he finally returned to the US completely, forming a band (the Stone City Band)"

Maybe Forrce or Quinny can offer us some insight on this.I note that the biographer states he returned to the U.S in 1977 and formed the Stone City Band however as noted he had already released "Get Up and Dance" in 1976.

For a good update into his life past and present check out

http://www.rickjames.com/bio1.html

[Forrrce]

I like Rick, but can't claim to be a major-league fan, or historian.

I've never seen nor heard of that 12", so mad props for dropping yet another bomb on this wonderful world of records.

I didn't know anything in the text, either (staff writer for Motown???) so it looks as if Rick had a deeper background than some of us may have imagined.

originalbigm, the 'floor is yours. 8)

[originalbigm]

Forrce-I was just curious as to whether or not you knew of anything regarding his days as The Main Line over in The UK.Were they just a bar band or did they produce any commercial records.

[originalbigm]

Managed to dig up this reference to Rick James early career and the single Get Up and Dance.

"Rick James, who was AWOL from the US naval reserves arrived in Toronto in early 1964 and formed a band called The Sailor Boys. The group, with several personnel changes including future Steppenwolf bass player Nick St Nicholas, subsequently became The Mynah Birds. The group recorded a novelty single in late 1964 for Columbia Records which bombed. The group then underwent a lot of changes in personnel - St Nicholas was swapped for Bruce Palmer in Jack London & The Sparrows, and keyboardist Goldie McJohn joined amongst others. During late 1965, McJohn left to join The Sparrows (now without Jack London) and that group evolved into Steppenwolf. Shortly afterwards, Neil Young joined and The Mynah Birds were signed to Motown Records. An album of material was recorded in February 1966 in Detroit, before James was arrested for being AWOL and the record was shelved. Young and Palmer returned to Toronto but soon moved to L.A. and formed Buffalo Springfield. James later worked as an in-house writer for Motown before returning to Toronto in late 1969 and joining Mike McKenna's band Mainline for a tour. He then moved to L.A. and appeared on Bruce Palmer's solo album, The Cycle is Complete. Shortly afterwards, he headed back to Toronto and joined Heaven & Earth, a studio band including ex-Maple Oak member Stan Endersby (guitar), Denny Gerrard (bass) formerly of The Paupers and Ed Roth (keyboards). The Group recorded two singles for RCA Victor before evolving into Great White Cane, which made an album for Lion Records in 1972 in Los Angeles. James subsequently returned once more to Toronto and recorded with Gorilla and the Stone City Band (which are one point featured former Rhinoceros members, Peter Hodgson and Malcolm Tomlinson). He then struck lucky with the single, Get Up and Dance, which helped launch him in the US. He signed to Motown again and became a funk star in the late '70s with the hit single, You and I.