Throwin' Down

Last updated
Throwin' Down
Rick James Throwin Down.jpeg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 13, 1982
Recorded1981–1982
StudioRecord Plant (Sausalito), Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Studios (Hollywood)
Genre Funk, soul, R&B
Label Gordy
Producer Rick 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 Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Robert Christgau B+ [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [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]

Contents

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

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

Personnel

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [12] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. "Throwin' Down - Rick James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  2. 1 2 "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.