Wonderful (Rick James album)

Wonderful
Studio album by Rick James
Released	July 5, 1988
Recorded	1987–88
Length	52:21
Label	Reprise
Producer	Rick James
Rick James chronology
The Flag (1986) Wonderful (1988) Kickin' (1989)

Wonderful is the tenth 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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Robert Christgau	C+ [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

• Roxanne Shanté – rapping (track 3)
• Chrissi Scinta – vocals (track 11)

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.
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.
5. "Chart History Rick James". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
6. Wilker, Deborah (July 10, 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. Johnson, Connie (September 11, 1988). "Rick James 'Wonderful'". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 70.
11. Cote, Mike (July 24, 1988). "Rick James". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 7.
12. Tucker, Ken (July 10, 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.