Throwin' Down
| Throwin' Down | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 13, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981-1982 | |||
| Studio | Record Plant (Sausalito), Motown/Hitsville U.S.A. Studios (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | Funk, soul, R&B | |||
| Label | Gordy | |||
| Producer | Rick James | |||
| Rick James chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Throwin' Down | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[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]
Track listing
All tracks composed by Rick James, except where noted.
Side A
- "Dance Wit' Me" 7:16
- "Money Talks" 4:50
- "Teardrops" 4:49
- "Throwdown" 3:17
Side B
- "Standing on the Top" (with The Temptations) 3:51
- "Hard to Get" 4:07
- "Happy" (with Teena Marie) 5:29
- "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" 4:11
- "My Love" (James, Le Roi Johnson) 2:53
2014 digital remaster bonus tracks / 2014 Complete Motown Albums bonus tracks
- "Standing on the Top" (Long Version) - 9:50
- "Hard to Get" (12" Instrumental) - 4:12
- "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" (12" Extended Mix) - 6:30
- "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)[11] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ "Throwin' Down - Rick James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Rick James". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 571.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 358–359.
- ^ "Rick James | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (May 14, 2001). "Funk". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
- ^ "Rick James". Billboard.
- ^ Benjaminson, Peter (March 1, 2017). "Super Freak: The Life of Rick James". Chicago Review Press – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Rhythm & The Blues". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. May 29, 1982 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Less Than Funk, and a Bit More". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "American album certifications – Rick James – Throwin' Down". Recording Industry Association of America.
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