Wonderful (Rick James album)

Wonderful
Studio album by
Rick James
ReleasedJuly 5, 1988
Recorded1987–88
Length52:21
LabelReprise
ProducerRick James
Rick James chronology
The Flag
(1986) 		Wonderful
(1988) 		Kickin'
(1989)

Wonderful is the 10th studio album by American musician Rick James, released in 1988 via Reprise Records.[1][2] It includes the hit song "Loosey's Rap", which topped the US R&B Charts.[3][4]

The album peaked at No. 148 on the Billboard 200.[5]

Production

James wrote and produced the album.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Robert ChristgauC+[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[9]
Los Angeles Times[10]
Orlando Sentinel[11]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[13]

The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "despite the dumb lyrics, Wonderful sports some great dance-party music."[11] The Los Angeles Times praised "Loosey's Rap", writing that featured rapper Roxanne Shanté is "tougher than a truckload of leather-wearing Mary Jane Girls, and her B-girl boasting—which she sounds fully capable of backing up—makes her a formidable foil for James and his sly, teasing innuendoes."[10]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Rick James.

  1. "Wonderful" – 4:19
  2. "Judy" – 4:58
  3. "Loosey's Rap" (duet with Roxanne Shanté) – 3:54
  4. "So Tight" – 4:28
  5. "Sexual Luv Affair" – 5:13
  6. "Love's Fire" – 4:43
  7. "I Believe in U" – 5:53
  8. "In the Girls' Room" – 4:41
  9. "Hypnotize" – 4:19
  10. "Sherry Baby" – 4:43
  11. "Hot Summer Nights" (duet with Chrissi Scinta) – 5:10

Note

  • Track 11 available on CD only.

Personnel

Adapted from the album's liner notes.[14]

  • Rick James – lead vocals, backing vocals, bass guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards

Stone City Band:

  • Levi Ruffin, Jr. – strings, synthesizer, backing vocals
  • Tom McDermott – lead guitar
  • William Echols – bass guitar
  • Gregory Treadwell – keyboards, strings
  • Kenny Hawkins – guitar
  • Val Young – backing vocals
  • Jackie Ruffin – backing vocals

Other musicians

Production

  • Produced and arranged by Rick James
  • Mixing engineers: Rick James, Bruce Kane and Levi Ruffin, Jr.
  • Assistant engineer: Michael Nally
  • Recorded and mixed at The Joint Studios, Buffalo, New York
  • Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York by Jack Skinner
  • Album coordinators: Levi Ruffin, Jr and Ann Mabin
  • Art Direction and design: Mary Ann "My Thang" Dibs
  • Cover concept: Rick James
  • Photography: Caroline Greyshock, Stuart Watson
  • Executive producer: Benny Medina

References

  1. ^ "Rick James | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Thompson, Dave (May 14, 2001). "Funk". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Aaron, Charles (August 8, 2014). "Rick James: 10 Essential Tracks". Rolling Stone.
  4. ^ Baker, Soren (October 2, 2018). "The History of Gangster Rap: From Schoolly D to Kendrick Lamar, the Rise of a Great American Art Form". Abrams – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Chart History Rick James". Billboard. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  6. ^ Wilker, Deborah (10 July 1988). "RICK JAMES STILL HAS TOUCH". Sun Sentinel. p. 3F.
  7. ^ "Wonderful Rick James". AllMusic.
  8. ^ Robert Christgau Review
  9. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 571.
  10. ^ a b Johnson, Connie (11 Sep 1988). "RICK JAMES 'Wonderful'". Los Angeles Times. Calendar. p. 70.
  11. ^ a b Cote, Mike (24 July 1988). "RICK JAMES". Orlando Sentinel. Calendar. p. 7.
  12. ^ Tucker, Ken (10 July 1988). "Rick James Wonderful". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. I12.
  13. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 359.
  14. ^ Wonderful (liner notes). Rick James. Reprise. 1988.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)