Rick James Deeper Still (2007)
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Rick James â Deeper Still (2007): A Respectable and Dignified Swan Song
Rick James was one of the most influential and talented funk/soul artists of his generation, but he also had a turbulent and self-destructive life that ended with his death in 2004 at the age of 56. Three years later, his posthumous album Deeper Still was released, showcasing his musical diversity and introspection in his final recordings.
Deeper Still is not a typical Rick James album. It does not feature the hard, aggressive, and catchy funk that made him famous with hits like \"Super Freak\" and \"Love Gun\". Instead, it is a smoother, more polished, and refined album that resembles his underrated 1980s work Garden of Love. The album is mostly soulful and urban, but it also incorporates elements of jazz, rock, and pop.
The title track \"Deeper Still\" is a mellow and romantic song that features saxophone player Daniel LeMelle. James covers David Crosby's \"Guinnevere\", giving it a soulful and atmospheric twist. He also experiments with rock/pop on \"Maybe\", a catchy and upbeat song that showcases his vocal range. On \"Sapphire\", he blends jazz and funk in a smooth and elegant way.
The album also has some more typical Rick James songs, such as \"Stop It\", \"Taste\", \"Stroke\", and \"Do You Wanna Play\", which are funky and sensual tracks that display his trademark swagger and humor. On \"Not Alone\", he sings about overcoming loneliness and finding love with the help of God. On \"Secrets\", he confesses his sins and regrets in a heartfelt ballad. The album closes with \"Funk wit Me\", a funky and playful song that features rapper Ron Spearman.
Deeper Still is not among Rick James' essential releases, but it is a solid and consistent album that demonstrates his broad talent and sincere delivery. It is a respectable and dignified swan song from the influential funkster who left behind a legacy of music that will never be forgotten.
Rick James â Deeper Still (2007): A Look Back at His Life and Legacy
Rick James â Deeper Still (2007) was not only his final album, but also a reflection of his life and legacy as one of the most influential and talented funk/soul artists of his generation. James had a turbulent and self-destructive life that started from his childhood in Buffalo, New York, where he was born as James Ambrose Johnson Jr. on February 1, 1948. He was raised by his single mother in a strict Catholic household, along with seven siblings. His uncle was Melvin Franklin, the bass vocalist of The Temptations.
James pursued a music career from an early age, singing on the street corners of Buffalo and joining various bands. He fled to Toronto, Canada in 1964 to avoid being drafted into the army and formed the rock band The Mynah Birds, which included future Buffalo Springfield members Neil Young and Bruce Palmer. The band signed with Motown Records, but their album was never released because James was arrested for desertion by the U.S. Navy. He spent several months in jail before returning to Motown as a songwriter and producer under the name Terry Johnson.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, James moved to Los Angeles, California, where he played bass for several short-lived bands, such as Salt, Pepper 'N' Cocaine and Great White Cane. He also experimented with different genres of music, such as rock, jazz, and pop. In 1977, he returned to Motown and started a solo career as Rick James. His debut album Come and Get It!, released in 1978, featured the hits \"You and I\" and \"Mary Jane\", which established him as a star of funk/soul music.
James reached his peak of success in 1981 with his album Street Songs, which included his most famous song \"Super Freak\", a crossover hit that mixed elements of funk, disco, rock and new wave. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award and was later sampled by rapper MC Hammer for his hit \"U Can't Touch This\", which won James his only Grammy as a songwriter. Street Songs also featured other popular singles like \"Give It to Me Baby\", \"Fire and Desire\" (a duet with Teena Marie), and \"Ghetto Life\". James was known for his wild brand of danceable funk music and his trademark braids, earning him the nickname The King of Punk-Funk.
James also had a successful career as a songwriter and producer for other artists, such as Teena Marie, The Mary Jane Girls, The Temptations, Eddie Murphy , and Smokey Robinson . He collaborated with many other musicians, such as Prince , Stevie Wonder , Lionel Richie , Chaka Khan , and Tina Turner . He also appeared in movies and TV shows, such as Colors , The A-Team , New Attitude , and Dave Chappelle's Show .
However, by the early 1990s, James' cocaine use was spinning out of control. He was involved in several legal troubles, including two convictions for assaulting two women while under the influence of crack cocaine. He spent two years in prison and paid $2 million in a civil suit. After his release in 1995, he attempted a comeback but suffered a mild stroke in 1997 that ended his career. He died on August 6, 2004 at his home in Burbank, California from pulmonary and cardiac failure.
Rick James â Deeper Still (2007) was his last testament to his musical genius and diversity. It was a smoother, more polished, and more introspective album than his previous ones. It showed his soulful side on songs like \"Deeper Still\", \"Guinnevere\", \"Not Alone\", and \"Secrets\". It also showed his experimental side on songs like \"Sapphire\" (a jazz-funk fusion) and \"Maybe\" (a rock-pop song). It also had some of his trademark funky songs like \"Stop It\", \"Taste\", \"Stroke\", \"Do You Wanna Play\", and \"Funk wit Me\". The album was well-received by critics and fans alike.
Rick James â Deeper Still (2007) was not only a respectable and dignified swan song from the influential funkster who left behind a legacy of music that will never be forgotten. It was also a look back at ec8f644aee