Wanna talk about exploiting an album? Last week Motown released "Street Songs", again.
Observe: "Street Songs" was released as an LP in 1981. In 1992, the CD. Then, as a "20 year" tribute, in 2001, the same CD in a "remastered" edition, with just two 12'' versions of "Superfreak" and "Give It To Me Baby". Same year, a "Deluxe Edition" with a bonus CD from a live show at Long Beach from July 1981). 2010, "Rarities Special" edition with the CD version with nothing new to add. Dear folks at Motown, wake up: I'm a fan and even I don't care anymore about the same album I have in 4 editions. And I also have all 6 best-of albums of Rick, bitch.
But then, really, do we have anything even remotely close to Rick James today? I mean, just think about it: in a crisis era, this is exactly what the world needs: pure, true, heavy funk by an extravagant, endlessly talented performer. But there is none of such greatness. Sad but true. (Ok, Snoop comes to mind, but he's no funk performer. I've worked with the man for his show in Athens, he's God, but he's no funk performer).
Rick is exactly what I call "larger than life". His life is a movie you don't believe, because it just is unbelievable. Success came in the form of 4 no1 hits, but also with a price of 7.000$/month on drugs(!), jail because of abductions(!) and tortures(!). He played with Neil Young in The Mynah Birds, worked with Smokey Robinson and Eddie Murphy, etc. Even his death in 2004 is a story on it's own: they found cocaine and 7 others substances in him, when he already had diabetes, a stroke, a heart attack and a pacemaker. But, according to the coroner, he died because his heart was too big!
With all that in mind, it is no wonder that "Street Songs", a concept album about prostitutes(!), became such a huge success. Just listen to the live version of the album, with the crowd of Long Beach roarrirng again and again during "Big Time", after Rick says "You pay too much money to just come here and sit on your ass!". The songs and the music are so good, everything else is details.
Jay-Z (Kingdom Come), Busta Rhymes (In The Ghetto), DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Give It To Me Baby) and of course MC Hammer (U Can't Touch This) have used samples from "Street Kings".
Listen to "Street Songs" here
p.s. I know you noticed I haven't mentioned Prince and Superfreak. Good one, right?Observe: "Street Songs" was released as an LP in 1981. In 1992, the CD. Then, as a "20 year" tribute, in 2001, the same CD in a "remastered" edition, with just two 12'' versions of "Superfreak" and "Give It To Me Baby". Same year, a "Deluxe Edition" with a bonus CD from a live show at Long Beach from July 1981). 2010, "Rarities Special" edition with the CD version with nothing new to add. Dear folks at Motown, wake up: I'm a fan and even I don't care anymore about the same album I have in 4 editions. And I also have all 6 best-of albums of Rick, bitch.
But then, really, do we have anything even remotely close to Rick James today? I mean, just think about it: in a crisis era, this is exactly what the world needs: pure, true, heavy funk by an extravagant, endlessly talented performer. But there is none of such greatness. Sad but true. (Ok, Snoop comes to mind, but he's no funk performer. I've worked with the man for his show in Athens, he's God, but he's no funk performer).
Rick is exactly what I call "larger than life". His life is a movie you don't believe, because it just is unbelievable. Success came in the form of 4 no1 hits, but also with a price of 7.000$/month on drugs(!), jail because of abductions(!) and tortures(!). He played with Neil Young in The Mynah Birds, worked with Smokey Robinson and Eddie Murphy, etc. Even his death in 2004 is a story on it's own: they found cocaine and 7 others substances in him, when he already had diabetes, a stroke, a heart attack and a pacemaker. But, according to the coroner, he died because his heart was too big!
With all that in mind, it is no wonder that "Street Songs", a concept album about prostitutes(!), became such a huge success. Just listen to the live version of the album, with the crowd of Long Beach roarrirng again and again during "Big Time", after Rick says "You pay too much money to just come here and sit on your ass!". The songs and the music are so good, everything else is details.
Jay-Z (Kingdom Come), Busta Rhymes (In The Ghetto), DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Give It To Me Baby) and of course MC Hammer (U Can't Touch This) have used samples from "Street Kings".
Listen to "Street Songs" here
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