What a shame. Rick lived hard and got it somewhat together in the last few years. He'll be missed. God Bless Rick, RIP.
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Rick James RIP
- Thread starter Mike Dimin
- Start date
me said:
now id like to pay homage to rick by posting the rhyme street songs:
on the street where game is beast
where beauty tricks on the corner east
while junkies lay for the morning due
and winos stumble from too much brew
where heartbroken women meet heartbroken men
just looking for something unbroken to mend
and the poets said feel it
and write it all down
but the pencil and paper just cant make the sound
and the profit said what will you write off the street
and the poet said i will write music for feet
and the profit said only for feet
what for the mind
then the poet was silent for just a short time
then broke out in laughter and spoke this is ryhme
i am the poet that comes from the street
and the music i write shall be music for feet
the words that i sing i will sing to the mind
and lock them in the heart for all time
the profit then smiled and said go spread your word
sing it loud on the street and your song will be heart
street songs by rick james
may you rest in peace rick, may the funk make you freak and we will keep the funk alive for you
now im playing rick live at long beach '81, part of the street songs deluxe edition.....
I never really got into him. But I have been meaning to go back on a funk kick. I'm sure I'll pick up something of his along the way. Recommendations?
RIP
RIP
Adam C.T. said:
I had no idea that song was his! My perspective is all twisted now.
RIP Brother funk.
man, street songs should be the starter album, if you can try and find the deluxe edition, it comes with a 2nd cd, live at long beach, with teena marie, its such a great album and the live album is even better
Did Rick usually play bass in his live shows?
I once saw a live performance of Superfreak on TV (SNL or something like that) and Rick performed only the lead vocals - another cat played the cool bass groove.
Also, the bassist used a pick on that performance. But Rick always played fingerstyle, right?
His death is sad news.
I once saw a live performance of Superfreak on TV (SNL or something like that) and Rick performed only the lead vocals - another cat played the cool bass groove.
Also, the bassist used a pick on that performance. But Rick always played fingerstyle, right?
His death is sad news.
i dont think rick ever played bass live, well not that ive seen anyway, but again from what ive seen its mostly been oscar alston thats played for him
This hits really close to home here in Denver Colorado. Early this year, Rick James help facilitate the signing of Denver local band, (and good friends of mine) Love .45 to Studio E records. He was in on the engineering and production phases of their new album recorded for that label in Seattle. He has flown all the way out here on a couple of occasions to hang with them at their gigs...and soon they will be off to tour with Three Doors Down and Nickleback, and they owe it all to one guy...the PunkFunk Master himself.
RIP Superfreak!
RIP Superfreak!
- Nov 27, 2003
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- Disclosures
- Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars
heath_the_great said:
"Rick's style on the bass was aggressive and raw because he never practiced enough to get his technique refined. He'd play a lot of up-and-down slides and then jump headfirst into a line. That was his main influence on my playing - the attitude, abandon and presence he had on any instrument. It would pump you up and go 'Wow, I wanna play along with that.' " - Oscar Alston
According to the Interview that Bassplayer had with Alston (the november edition with The Pixies' Kim Deal on the cover) Rick DID play bass live but only to play flashy fills and slides leaving it to Alston to provide the low end.
Alston also said that Rick would play EVERY instrument himself when making demoes for an album, making the songs completely as he wanted the band to play them on the actual recordings, the band just copied Rick's own parts.
As for Rick James's bassplaying, he usually had a custom made all white Musicman Stingray as his main instrument and his own playing style can be heard on "Big time" from "Gardens of love" when Alston couldn't make the recording session. According to Alston Rick nailed that part perfectly.
And just a few weeks before his passing Rick James met up with Oscar Alston at a Mary Jane girls concert, Alston had the daughter of one of his friends with him and Rick brought him to tears when saying.
"Do you see that man overthere, he's responcible for all the success I had."
but what was so good about reading this interview it showed just how much he respected,and appreciated his musicians (especially Oscar)and the musicianship that everybody in the Stone City brought with them whether it was in the studio or live.Blazer said:
Rick my brother....you did get to the L7 like you said that you would...also say hello to Lucy !
To the Stone City Prince...RIP
Bringing an old one back!
I picked up the remasterd "Street Songs" CD the other day only knowing Super Freak and Give it to Me Baby and i am blown away. What an incredible talent he was! A great singer and a great bass player. He is credited with bass, guitar, drums, percussion, vocals. That album is a masterpiece! Do yourself a favor and pick it ip if you are into funk at all!
I picked up the remasterd "Street Songs" CD the other day only knowing Super Freak and Give it to Me Baby and i am blown away. What an incredible talent he was! A great singer and a great bass player. He is credited with bass, guitar, drums, percussion, vocals. That album is a masterpiece! Do yourself a favor and pick it ip if you are into funk at all!
Bringing an old one back!
I picked up the remasterd "Street Songs" CD the other day only knowing Super Freak and Give it to Me Baby and i am blown away. What an incredible talent he was! A great singer and a great bass player. He is credited with bass, guitar, drums, percussion, vocals. That album is a masterpiece! Do yourself a favor and pick it ip if you are into funk at all!
+1
Bringing an old one back!
I picked up the remasterd "Street Songs" CD the other day only knowing Super Freak and Give it to Me Baby and i am blown away. What an incredible talent he was! A great singer and a great bass player. He is credited with bass, guitar, drums, percussion, vocals. That album is a masterpiece! Do yourself a favor and pick it ip if you are into funk at all!
I picked a remastered copy a few years ago that came with a extra disc featuring a live show, that whole band could throw down! Can never forget Rick's work with Teena Marie either.
Rick, RIP. Great musician and song writer. Street Songs is indeed a masterpiece. It didn't hurt to have Oscar Alston funking things up and down!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!
I took this last year when I took a tour of the cemetery that Rick is buried in. Someone in the family is getting a hefty check from Rickenbacker. Is this the ultimate bit of advertising? Imagine 100 years from now when Rickenbacker is still making the same style bass in the same colors! Someone is going to stumble on the headstone and tell their children that this is where the inventor of the Rickenbacker bass is buried. I bought my first Ric today and now I need to find a way to get it yesterday.
