Street Songs

Street Songs is the fifth studio album by American musician Rick James, released in April 1981 on Gordy Records. "Give It to Me Baby", the lead single from the album, became James' second number one single on the R&B chart, spending five weeks at the top spot. The fifth song on the album, "Super Freak", was also one of James' biggest hits. A Deluxe Edition was released in 2001 containing an additional 17 mixes and live versions of the album tracks. Although the song "Fire and Desire" (a duet he performed with singer Teena Marie) was not originally released as a single, the song itself received much airplay on R&B radio stations and has since become a classic hit (James and Marie would reunite to perform the song at the 2004 BET Awards 5 weeks before James' death).

This article is about the Rick James album. For the King's Singers album, see The King's Singers.
Street Songs
Studio album by
Rick James
ReleasedApril 7, 1981
RecordedDecember 1980 – January 1981
Studiothe Record Plant,
in Sausalito, California
and
Motown / Hitsville U.S.A. Recording Studios,
Hollywood, California
Genre
Length34:45
LabelGordy
ProducerRick James
Rick James chronology
Garden of Love
(1980)		 Street Songs
(1981)		 Throwin' Down
(1982)
Singles from Street Songs
  1. "Give It to Me Baby"
    Released: February 20, 1981
  2. "Super Freak"
    Released: July 10, 1981
  3. "Ghetto Life"
    Released: 1981
  4. "Fire and Desire"
    Released: 1981

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauA−[2]

The album became an immediate success upon its release, eventually reaching number three on the US Pop chart—James's highest-charting album during his career—and spending twenty weeks at number one on the US R&B chart. The album was certified platinum in the US in July 1981.[3] By 1983, the album had sold nearly 4 million copies worldwide.[4] At the 1982 Grammys, James was nominated for Best Male Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance for the album while being the first African American male artist to be nominated in the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance category for the song "Super Freak".[5]

Track listing

All tracks composed and arranged by Rick James, except where noted.

Side A

  1. "Give It to Me Baby" – 4:07
  2. "Ghetto Life" – 4:20
  3. "Make Love to Me" – 4:48
  4. "Mr. Policeman" – 4:17

Side B

  1. "Super Freak" (James, Alonzo Miller) – 3:24
  2. "Fire and Desire" (Duet with Teena Marie) – 7:17
  3. "Call Me Up" – 3:53
  4. "Below the Funk (Pass the J)" – 2:36

2001 Deluxe edition

Disc one

  1. "Give It to Me Baby" (12" version) – 5:42
  2. "Give It to Me Baby" (instrumental) – 6:48
  3. "Super Freak" (12" version) – 7:05
  4. "Super Freak" (instrumental) – 3:33

Disc two (Recorded Live at Long Beach, California, July 30, 1981)

  1. "Introduction" – 1:46
  2. "Ghetto Life" – 4:21
  3. "Big Time" – 7:08
  4. "Come Into My Life" – 4:14
  5. "I'm a Sucker for Love" – 8:28
  6. "Square Biz" – 7:01
  7. "Fire It Up" – 3:35
  8. "Love Gun" – 5:42
  9. "Do You Want Some Funk (Interlude)" – 2:22
  10. "Mary Jane" – 10:39
  11. "Super Freak" – 4:21
  12. "You and I" – 11:48
  13. "Give It to Me Baby" – 6:05

2002 remastered edition
  1. "Give It to Me Baby" (12" version) – 5:42
  2. "Super Freak" (12" version) – 7:05

Personnel

Performers

Musicians

  • Gerald Albright – flute ("Make Love to Me", "Fire and Desire")
  • Oscar Alston – bass, handclaps, percussion
  • Reggie Andrews – string arranger
  • Rollice Dale – string contractor
  • Clifford J. Ervin – flugelhorn, piccolo, trumpet
  • John Ervin – flute, trombone
  • Fernando Harkless, Roy Poper – trumpet
  • Nathan Hughes, Armando Perzara, Raul Rekow, Bugsy Wilcox – percussion
  • Rick James – arranger, bass, composer, drums, guitar, horns, percussion, producer, timbales, timpani
  • Daniel LeMelle – flute, handclaps, horn arrangements, alto and tenor saxophone, string arrangements
  • Tom McDermott – guitar, percussion
  • Alonzo Miller – producer, composer
  • Narada Michael Walden – drums
  • Stevie Wonder – harmonica soloist ("Mr. Policeman")
  • Levi Ruffin – synthesizers

Charts

Singles
Year Single Chart positions[13]
US US
R&B		 US
Dance
1981 "Give It to Me Baby" 40 1 1
"Super Freak" 16 3 1
1982 "Ghetto Life" 102 38 —

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[14] Platinum 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r10188/review
  2. Robert Christgau Review
  3. RIAA Gold and Platinum Database
  4. Newsweek: Volume 101, Part 2; Volume 101, Part 2, page 81. Newsweek. 1983. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  5. "Grammy Award Nominees 1982 - Grammy Award Winners 1982". Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 154. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Rick James Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  8. "Rick James Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  9. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  10. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1981". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  11. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  12. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  13. "Rick James US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  14. "Canadian album certifications – Rick James – Street Songs". Music Canada. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  15. "American album certifications – Rick James – Street Songs". Recording Industry Association of America.
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