Superfly Deluxe 25th Anniversary Edition (Dig)

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The term "classic" is tossed about a lot these days, and when it's being used to describe everything from Coke to a Janet Jackson CD, the term is shady. But take my word that the 1972 soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly is a true classic. Why? Because 25 years after its release, the songs still ring true and sound fresh. A morality tale set to funky grooves and plaintive vocals, Superfly is the zenith of Mayfield's socially aware songwriting, recounting the highs and lows of the thug life and the no-win ghetto game of hustling. It's hard to believe, but a doom-filled ode to screwing up ("Freddie's Dead") was actually a big hit during the Nixon years. Truth be told, the record sounds as good, if not better today and should be in everyone's collection. --Amy Linden

Product Description
The classic original 'Superfly' album coupled with a bonus CD featuring 13 unissued alternate versions & additional tracks, including 'Pusherman', a demo of 'Little Child Runnin' Wild' and an instrumental of 'Freddie's Dead'. NOTE:contains all but one of the tracks from Rhino's 1997 '25th Anniversary Edition' of 'Superfly' (the interview with Mayfield). Double slimline jewel case within a full color slipcase cover. 1998 Charly release. NOTE: slightly different packaging than Rhino's release.

Superfly Deluxe 25th Anniversary Edition (Dig),Curtis Mayfield,Rhino / Wea,Pop,Soul/R & B,Soundtrack,Soundtracks & Film Scores

Street Songs (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

Average customer rating:

Old Times(Good Times) Revisited....
"PASS THE R!"
Hands down, the best
Incredible live cd...motown bad decision
RICK JAMES WAS IN A LEAGUE BY HIMSELF

Street Songs (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
Rick James
Manufacturer: Motown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Come Get It!
Anthology
Bad Girls
What's Going On
The Time

ASIN: B00005O6HV
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

Give It To Me Baby
Ghetto Life
Make Love To Me
Mr. Policeman
Super Freak
Fire And Desire (with Teena Marie)
Call Me Up
Below The Funk Pass (Pass The J)
Give It To Me Baby (12" mix)
Give It To Me Baby (instrumental)
Super Freak (12" mix)
Super Freak (instrumental)

Tracks:

Introduction (live)
Ghetto Life (live)
Big Time (live)
Come Into My Life (live)
I'm A Sucker For Love (live; with Teena Marie)
Square Biz (live) - Teena Marie
Fire It Up (live)
Love Gun (live)
Do You Want Some Funk? (live)
Mary Jane (live)
Super Freak (live)
You And I (live)
Give It To Me Baby (live)

Amazon.com

Rick James later made ludicrous attempts to keep up with Prince, but on 1981's Street Songs he stands in no one's shadow. This is, of course, the album that gave us "Super Freak," but James also scores with several funk protest numbers, including the bitter "Mr. Policeman" and the celebratory "Below the Funk (Pass the J)." Prince ended up running a much longer way with the "punk funk" ball; still, James executed more than one or two good plays here. The new deluxe edition adds 12-inch mixes of "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak" as well as a second disc featuring previously unreleased live material recorded in Long Beach, California, in July, 1981. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Old Times(Good Times) Revisited...........2006-08-25

This record is what made Rick James a bona fide superstar as well as earning him his status as an innovator in R&B music as he carefully crafted his music and career moving from the late 1970's into his prime during the early 1980's. I remember when the first single; "Give It To Me Baby", launched on radio; an instant 'hit' with its' rolling bassline, squiggling synthesizers, and spittin' horns(it was the first song I ever heard played back in 'surround' sound - and a great tune to demo any audio system with); followed by the album which also rapidly climbed up the charts. Then "Super Freak" quickly put him into the "a cut above" class and served as a template for much of what came later in the funk/rock genre and led up to the rap/hip-hop explosion which followed it. Much of the focus on James' career and music centered on the negative aspects and his personal problems as he tried to live the "bad boy" image and lifestyle he chronicled through his music. But with this deluxe reissue of his strongest studio album and the long - withheld live recording of the Rick James/Teena Marie/Stone City Band tour package that followed the album's release; you now get both sides of this multi - talented artist's total spectrum; both as a performer and a savvy studio producer/singer/musician - and controversial rebel; before that became the fashionable mode of promoting a musical career(although Prince worked it better than anyone else). The comparisons between the two 'revolutionaries' will always be made; however; since both artists employed the same basic marketing strategy and both effectively mined the funk/rock movement pioneered by Sly & The Family Stone in the late 60's(another one of rock's icons who parlayed his 'bad boy image' into commercial success). But while Prince delved into his personal self - created fantasy explorations in his studio productions; 'Slick Rick' focused more on his own life experiences growing up on the streets; as writer's material. And this record was his 'personal' musical statement; preserved for all to reflect on as we now move into the next millenium. This disc; more so than his other releases; best showed his maturity and growth; especially as a writer and vocalist(besides being a multi - instrumentalist and producer of his own albums and other artists as well); where in just eight tracks he covers numerous social topics along with, naturally; 'dancin' and 'romancin'. The additional disc of one of his live shows is a real bonus; and particularly memorable for me as well. I saw basically the same performance that's on the music CD; but at a different venue(in San Bernardino)on that summer's tour(the music video released recently is a slightly different presentation of nearly the same lineup of songs; recorded a while later). I had purchased a ticket for the show - but I unexpectedly bumped into a musical compatriot whose own band had recently signed with Motown(I'd helped out during some rehearsals)and was opening as the warmup act on several of the tour stops; but didn't have an engineer that night to handle the sound mix - so he grabbed me before I could make my way to the front entrance; hustled me backstage and got me a stage pass - I sold my ticket - went inside and mixed the 45-minute warmup set(and got some great backstage photos, to boot!) - then went out in front and enjoyed Rick & Teena's performance afterwards - and both acts were on fire that night! If you want one album(or the combo with the video)that epitomizes Rick James' musical impact and fully delivers on the 'punk funk' experience - either way; this is the real deal!

"PASS THE R!".......2006-02-12

Rick James is tha man!! Street Songs was his strongest lp, allowing Superfreak to reach the top 20 in the billboard as well as #4 on the R&B charts. "TEMPTATIONS SING!" Hammer really ruined it 9 years latter and Rick should have continued to get money from him. Give It To Me Baby (#1 R&B) and Ghetto Life are dancable tracks far from the disco scene, but my favorite from here is definitely Below The Funk (Pass The J) - Reppin' his hometown in this 2 and a half minute funky lp track. Fire & Desire with Teena Marie was what sparked Fire & definitley Desire for the whole album. Too bad this was never a single, but it is probaly the most famous lp track by the ol' boy Rick James!

Just git this cd!!! "It's a Celebration!!!"

Hands down, the best.......2004-10-01

With the release of 1981's "Street Songs", The king of Funk,the late, great Rick James was catapulted into superstardom, and now his memory is etched forever into the hearts and minds of millions of loyal followers. This is one of, if not THE best album of the 80s in the R&B/Pop genres, in addition to Prince's "Purple Rain". While people compare Rick James to Prince, and I am hooked on both, there is NO comparison, since each artist has his own unique ways of presentation. 23 years later, I still play this album, and it sounds as fresh and new as the first day I bought it. Possibly one of the best duets of all time, Rick and the lovely Ms. Teena Marie's "Fire and Desire" is reason enough alone to get this masterpiece. F&D is stunning, intoxicating and mezmerizing like no other duet. In the song "Ghetto Life". Rick tells it like it is, not based on fantasy, but his own personal reality. Despite the trials and tribulations that plagued his life, Rick is a legend, and always will be. Get this album while it is still readily available. Mr James may be physically gone, but he will always live in us through his music.

Incredible live cd...motown bad decision.......2004-09-22

Motown bad decision not to release this CD much earlier is really all their fault. What an incredible package I will admit, but the live CD should have been released much earlier. Now I wonder what kind of material is out there of Teena Marie and other Rick James' albums promoting Glow or The Flag or the Mary Jane Girls.

RICK JAMES WAS IN A LEAGUE BY HIMSELF.......2004-08-21

I LOVE PRINCE,, BUT DO NOT ,, DO NOT,, MAKE SUCH AN ABSURED COMMENT LIKE RICK WAS IN PRINCE'S SHADOWS. FOR THE PEOPLE WHOM RICK MADE HIS MUSIC FOR,, HE IS THE KING OF PUNK FUNK. YOU HAD TO HAVE REALLY BEEN THERE. FROM THE SUMMER OF 1978 TO 1984, RICK JAMES MUSIC OWNED THE HOOD NIGHT CLUBS AND DISCO'S. NOTHING GOT A PARTY JUMPING FASTER. I MET MY FUTURE WIFE SLOW DANCING AT RANDOM AT NTC SAN DIEGO TO FIRE AND DESIRE. RICK JAMES PUT DOWN THE FUNK. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE RICK JAMES AND LISTEN TO HIM 69 TIMES (INSIDE JOKE TO THOSE WHO REALLY LOVED HIS MUSIC) RICK JAMES WAS A WESTCOAST PHENONEMON. AND HIS MUSIC REPRESENTS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MORE THAN ANY OTHER ARTIST.