Wonderful (Rick James album)

Wonderful is the 10th studio album by American musician Rick James, released in 1988 via Reprise Records.[1][2] It includes the hit song "Loosey's Rap", which topped the US R&B Charts.[3][4]

Wonderful
Studio album by
Rick James
ReleasedJuly 5, 1988
Recorded1987–88
Length52:21
LabelReprise
ProducerRick James
Rick James chronology
The Flag
(1986)		 Wonderful
(1988)		 Kickin'
(1989)

The album peaked at No. 148 on the Billboard 200.[5]

Production

James wrote and produced the album.[6]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Robert ChristgauC+[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[9]
Los Angeles Times[10]
Orlando Sentinel[11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[13]

The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "despite the dumb lyrics, Wonderful sports some great dance-party music."[11] The Los Angeles Times praised "Loosey's Rap", writing that featured rapper Roxanne Shanté is "tougher than a truckload of leather-wearing Mary Jane Girls, and her B-girl boasting—which she sounds fully capable of backing up—makes her a formidable foil for James and his sly, teasing innuendoes."[10]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Rick James.

  1. "Wonderful" – 4:19
  2. "Judy" – 4:58
  3. "Loosey's Rap" (duet with Roxanne Shanté) – 3:54
  4. "So Tight" – 4:28
  5. "Sexual Luv Affair" – 5:13
  6. "Love's Fire" – 4:43
  7. "I Believe in U" – 5:53
  8. "In the Girls' Room" – 4:41
  9. "Hypnotize" – 4:19
  10. "Sherry Baby" – 4:43
  11. "Hot Summer Nights" (duet with Chrissi Scinta) – 5:10

Note

  • Track 11 available on CD only.

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.[14]

  • Rick James – lead vocals, backing vocals, bass guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards

Stone City Band:

  • Levi Ruffin, Jr. – strings, synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Tom McDermott – lead guitar
  • William Echols – bass guitar
  • Gregory Treadwell – keyboards, strings
  • Kenny Hawkins – guitar
  • Val Young – backing vocals
  • Jackie Ruffin – backing vocals

Other musicians

Production
  • Produced and arranged by Rick James
  • Mixing engineers: Rick James, Bruce Kane and Levi Ruffin, Jr.
  • Assistant engineer: Michael Nally
  • Recorded and mixed at The Joint Studios, Buffalo, New York
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York by Jack Skinner
  • Album coordinators: Levi Ruffin, Jr and Ann Mabin
  • Art Direction and design: Mary Ann "My Thang" Dibs
  • Cover concept: Rick James
  • Photography: Caroline Greyshock, Stuart Watson
  • Executive producer: Benny Medina
  • A&R management: Karen Jones

References
  1. "Rick James | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. Thompson, Dave (May 14, 2001). "Funk". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  3. Aaron, Charles (August 8, 2014). "Rick James: 10 Essential Tracks". Rolling Stone.
  4. Baker, Soren (October 2, 2018). "The History of Gangster Rap: From Schoolly D to Kendrick Lamar, the Rise of a Great American Art Form". Abrams – via Google Books.
  5. "Chart History Rick James". Billboard. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  6. Wilker, Deborah (10 July 1988). "RICK JAMES STILL HAS TOUCH". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.
  7. "Wonderful - Rick James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  8. Robert Christgau Review
  9. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 571.
  10. Johnson, Connie (11 Sep 1988). "RICK JAMES 'Wonderful'". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 70.
  11. Cote, Mike (24 July 1988). "RICK JAMES". Orlando Sentinel. Calendar. p. 7.
  12. Tucker, Ken (10 July 1988). "Rick James Wonderful". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I12.
  13. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 359.
  14. Wonderful (liner notes). Rick James. Reprise. 1988.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.