Throwin' Down

Throwin' Down
Studio album by
Rick James
ReleasedMay 13, 1982
Recorded1981–1982
StudioRecord Plant (Sausalito), Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Studios (Hollywood)
GenreFunk, soul, R&B
Length40:43
LabelGordy
ProducerRick James
Rick James chronology
Street Songs
(1981) 		Throwin' Down
(1982) 		Cold Blooded
(1983)
Singles from Throwin' Down
  1. "Dance Wit' Me"
    Released: April 22, 1982
  2. "Hard To Get"
    Released: 1982
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB+[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

Throwin' Down is the 6th studio album by Rick James, released in 1982 via the Gordy imprint of Motown Records.[5][6] It peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200.[7] Although not as popular as Street Songs, Throwin' Down is certified gold by the RIAA. It was nominated for an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album.[8]

Production

Michael Walden, Roy Ayers, and Grace Slick appear on the album.[9]

Critical reception

Robert Christgau wrote: "Stealing his licks from G. Clinton & Co. (or maybe himself, who cares anymore?), he's the nearest thing to a pop musician in the rock and roll sense that today's black charts—not to mention today's white charts—can offer."[2] The Washington Post wrote that "the musical settings are clumsy reworkings of Parliament's funk and the Temptations' psychedelic soul."[10] The Boston Phoenix said that the album "is the sort of follow-up record you'd expect from a journeyman rocker who’s just stumbled into the Top 10 with a hot single. ... [It] chugs along with throwaway fun, staying just a notch below Street Songs in general utility."[11]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Rick James, except where noted.

Side A

  1. "Dance Wit' Me" 7:16
  2. "Money Talks" 4:50
  3. "Teardrops" 4:49
  4. "Throwdown" 3:17

Side B

  1. "Standing on the Top" (with The Temptations) 3:51
  2. "Hard to Get" 4:07
  3. "Happy" (with Teena Marie) 5:29
  4. "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" 4:11
  5. "My Love" (James, Le Roi Johnson) 2:53

2014 digital remaster bonus tracks / 2014 Complete Motown Albums bonus tracks

  2. "Standing on the Top" (Long Version) - 9:50
  3. "Hard to Get" (12" Instrumental) - 4:12
  4. "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" (12" Extended Mix) - 6:30
  5. "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" (12" Instrumental) - 7:28

Personnel

  • Rick James - vocals, guitars, bass guitar, harmonica, keyboards, synthesizers, Linn Drum programming, percussion
  • Daniel LeMelle - flute, saxophone, trumpet, string synthesizers, backing vocals
  • Levi Ruffin, Jr. - electric and acoustic piano, synthesizers, backing vocals
  • John McFee, Tom McDermott - guitars
  • Erskine Williams - piano
  • Oscar Alston - bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Lanise Hughes, Narada Michael Walden, Paul Hines - drums, percussion
  • Nate Hughes - percussion, handclaps, backing vocals
  • Roy Ayers, Donny Keider - vibraphone
  • Teena Marie - Duet Lead vocals on Happy.
  • Grace Slick, Jean Carn, Julia Tillman Waters, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Maxine Willard Waters, Patti Brooks, Tabby Johnson, Diane Nixon, Jeri Fields - backing vocals
  • Moses Johnson, JoAnne McDuffe, Lisa Sarna - handclaps, backing vocals
  • Aaron Dublin, "Bi"g John Main, "Jennifer", Ronald Byrd - handclaps
  • Karat Faye - Engineer @ Record Plant L.A.

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Throwin' Down - Rick James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Rick James". www.robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 571.
  4. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 358–359.
  5. ^ "Rick James | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  6. ^ Thompson, Dave (May 14, 2001). Funk. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306298 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ "Rick James". Billboard.
  8. ^ Benjaminson, Peter (March 1, 2017). Super Freak: The Life of Rick James. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781613749609 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "The Rhythm & The Blues". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 29, 1982 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ "Less Than Funk, and a Bit More". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  11. ^ Moses, Mark (6 July 1982). "Standing on the top: Rick James tears it up". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  12. ^ "American album certifications – Rick James – Throwin' Down". Recording Industry Association of America.


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