Rick James - Street Songs

 

Today Marks The 43rd Anniversary of Rick James' Classic Album "Street Songs" Originally Released on April 7, 1981.

Street Songs is the fifth album by American musician Rick James, released in April 1981 via Gordy Records. 

The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at #3 on the Billboard 200.

Three singles were released from the album, "Give It to Me Baby", “Super Freak” and “Ghetto Life”.

"Give It to Me Baby", the lead song and single from the album, became James' second number one single on the R&B chart. It peaked at #1 on both the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and the Billboard Dance Club Songs charts.

The fifth song on the album, "Super Freak", was also one of James' biggest hits. The song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

“Ghetto Life” reached #38 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #102 barely making the Billboard Hot 100.

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 a few months before James' death).

A Deluxe Edition was released in 2001 containing an additional 17 mixes and live versions of the album tracks.

Track-listing

1. Give It To Me Baby

2. Ghetto Life

3. Make Love To Me

4. Mr. Policeman

5. Super Freak

6. Fire And Desire

7. Call Me Up

8. Below The Funk (Pass The J)

By Romie Rome For Musique Funkology.