Rick James
 

I’ve always been into Rick James, but I’m just now exploring his collaborations and side projects. I’m familiar with Teena Marie (and of course the amazing Eddie Murphy album!) but I don’t know much about the Mary Jane Girls, Process & the Doo Rags or Val Young. Can someone recommend tracks to check out? What about is collaborations with Temptations and Smokey Robinson…anything specific recommendations?

He played in a band called The Mynah Birds, in the mid 1960's. Neil Young was in the band with him.

Happy Birthday Rick James!
 

Today was Rick’s 52nd birthday. I’m going to spend the day listening to Rick’s catalog to celebrate the man’s legacy. Everyone should at least take a minute to listen to their favorite RJ track or two. Anyone know of any events going on today in honor of Rick?

Happy Birthday to Rick James! What a great album Street Songs is.

Busting Out is tight! Great song!

The Mynah Birds are nice too...I've found 2 or 3 tracks of theirs online. Thanks for the help!

Rick James Produced Reflection Eternal?
 

It’s common knowledge that just about every Hip Hop artist has sampled Rick James at one point or another in their career, but did you know Rick James was behind one of Hip Hop’s most classic albums? Despite being a huge Talib Kweli fan, I just read that Rick James was a producer on Train of Thought, the debut album from Reflection Eternal, the classic pairing of Kweli and with DJ Hi-Tek. This album stands as a high water mark for conscious Hip Hop, not only for it’s positive lyrical content but also it’s smooth, funky beats that stood out from the overproduced mainstream rap of the late 90’s. Knowing that James had a large role in the direction of this project, you can almost instantly hear his influence all over the album. If you havn’t listened to this record in awhile (it came out 10 years ago on Oct 17th…) take a minute today to revisit this Hip Hop classic.

cold blooded
 

You know what i'd love to see? remastered versions of Rick James lesser known classics like Bustin Out of L Seven, Cold Blooded, and Throwin Down, with new bonus tracks or outtakes or something. It's time the King of Punk Funk got the royal treatment, you know?

You could check out
1. Mary Jane "All Night Long"
2. Rick James and Smokey Robinson "Ebony Eyes"
3. " " " The Temptations "Standing on the top"

Here are a few of my favorite singles by Rick James. Bustin Out and You and I.

Rick James is one of my favorites as well. his "side projects" were really good, quality stuff.
Some of my favorites:
the whole Mary Jane Girls LP is a must have album, i think it was 1983?
for Val Young the best by far were "SEDUCTION" and "IF YOU SHOULD EVER BE LONELY"
very good 80's electro funk/dance songs and better yet if you got the EXTENDED versions.

All three STONE CITY BAND albums were pretty good. Rick sings on some songs and of course plays guitar. i like this song called "GANJA", its all about SMOKIN' IT UP LOL